Tag: contemporary romance

ARC Book Review: One More Made Up Love Song (Midnight Rush #2) by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 341 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 29th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Rule #1: Do not fall in love with your very famous boss. Rule #2: See Rule #1.

As the personal assistant of rockstar Freddie Ridgefield, Ivy Conway knows most women would love to have her job. It definitely has its perks. She gets to travel, the pay is great, and she’s among the first to hear Freddie’s new music.

The only problem? When she got the job, Ivy promised herself she would never fall in love with her boss. And it’s taking everything in her to stay true to her word.

Then Freddie kisses Ivy—an impulsive move to save himself from a little bit of bad press—and everything changes. Now, the whole world thinks they’re in love.

Even more Ivy could swear Freddie felt the same fireworks she did when he pressed his lips to hers.

What starts as an accidental publicity stunt quickly turns into something more, but fame makes everything more complicated. As Freddie’s spotlight grows to include her—and her family—Ivy starts to wonder if the life Freddie can offer her is worth the life she’ll give up. And how she’ll ever survive without him if it isn’t.

One More Made Up Love Song is a fake-dating rockstar romance with all the crackling chemistry and tension you want in a closed-door romcom. Perfect for fans of romance with a little less heat.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

MY NEWEST OBESSION.

GOSH I LOVED IT SO MUCH. This was exactly what friends to lovers, boss x assistant trope romance that I WAAAAAANT. The subtle moments about took me out because it was beautifully nuanced and left this sense of longing and yearning that I CRAVE. CRAVE Y’ALL. Bring back these kind of romances and I will be a happy camper forever.

I can’t even begin to list all of the scenes I loved. The pining was intense and I could not get enough of the glances and touches and the KISSES THAT LIT MY KINDLE ON FIRE.

And I really appreciated the strong friendships for both Freddie and Ivy. There’s something magical about the side characters adding genuine connection to the story that makes it even better. One of my new favorites from Jenny Proctor.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Content warnings: loss of a sibling from drunk driving (recounted)

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ARC/ALC Book Review: Falling Into Place by Allison Ashley

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Allison Ashley
Publisher: Montlake
Release Date: August 19th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Finding a date for a reclusive bachelor is her job. It’s also a risk when she becomes the perfect match in an emotional and hopeful romance by the author of If Tomorrow Never Comes .

Accountant and freelance personal stylist Carly Porter, daughter of a compulsive gambler, knows the personal cost of a bad bet. But when she partners with her best friend, Sasha—publisher of a floundering fashion magazine—Carly can’t resist. The highly publicized makeover of an Oklahoma City bachelor could boost sales and be Carly’s ticket to her dream profession. The bachelor in question is none other than Sasha’s older brother, Brooks.

Hardly the party boy Carly remembers from high school, Brooks is now an antisocial, work-obsessed physician still struggling with a devastating loss. But if it means helping his sister, he’s in. It’s Carly’s job to get him out of those lived-in scrubs, style him to the nines, and bring Brooks back to life. But so far, the only real connection is between Brooks and Carly—and falling for a client could cost Carly the career she’s worked so hard for.

To move forward, they’ll both have to overcome their painful pasts. And whatever the risk, maybe even take a chance on love.

Thank you to BookSparks and Montlake for the gifted ARC.

ADORED.

Oh yes, this was everything!! I loved how sweet this story was. Gosh it was adorable. The low angst books are really hitting right now and I can’t get enough of them. I loved the set-up for this book. It was realistic and charming and there’s something about two people finding their passion and pursuits for the future that soothe the soul.

Carly and Brooks feel like soul mates. They have this beautiful chemistry that constantly brought them near each other and an undeniable need to be together. I think the heaviness of this book was balanced well between the flirting and dates and all of the sister moments. I didn’t feel weighed down by reading Falling Into Place, rather it brought hope that love (from family or a partner) can help us be better and accept that love in our lives. I sincerely loved Carly and Brooks as separate characters and together.

The audiobook narrator was good but it did bug me that this book didn’t have two because it was dual POV. I would occasionally have to remind myself who’s POV chapter I was listening to because it wasn’t obvious.

Anyways, another Allison Ashley book I just loved!!!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: 2-3ish vague/brief open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: loss of loved ones (multiple mentioned, on page and recounted), grief depiction

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Book Review: The Backtrack by Erin La Rosa

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance + Magical Realism
Length: 304 pages
Author: Erin La Rosa
Publisher: Canary Street Press
Release Date: July 16th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Life, rewound …

Nearly twenty years ago, Sam Leto left her small hometown of Tybee Island, Georgia, to pursue her dreams of becoming a pilot. While she’d prefer to keep flying away from her painful childhood memories, her beloved grandmother Pearl decides it’s time to sell the family home. Reluctantly, Sam is summoned back to pack up the house.

The 2000s nostalgia from Sam’s old bedroom hits Fall Out Boy posters, drawers of roll-on body glitter and even her favorite CD player with a mixtape from her best friend, Damon Rocha. Damon was always a safe place and Sam often wonders what if her teenage self admitted her feelings for him back then…

Mysteriously, the CD player still works all these years later. And somehow it has the power to show Sam an alternate version of her life.

Song by song, Sam receives flashbacks from her past—senior prom, graduation, leaving home. But the memories aren’t as she remembers them; they show what could have been. Suddenly, Sam knows exactly what would have happened if she’d taken a chance with Damon—and she can’t help feeling she made a terrible mistake leaving Tybee all those years ago.

I TRIED.

I really wanted to enjoy this one, but it felt very lackluster in the romance department. I thought the idea was clever and wasn’t bugged by the magical realism aspects (like I am known to be at times). I loved the nostalgic vibes this gave me and how seeing the flashbacks of what could have been didn’t show a “better” path, just a different one. I loved that message and theme throughout.

The romance was missing something. I didn’t feel that swoon and chemistry between Sam and Damon. They had this chance for reconnection, and did take it and I thought that would create some more heat.

The audiobook production was good and I liked that it was a quick listen. I also enjoyed that this was less spicy than the author’s previous books (personal preference). But I do find myself on the fence now about reading whatever’s next. I’m starting to have more misses than hits.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance + Magical Realism
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 1 open door
  • Content Warnings: brief mention of miscarriage, depression, parental abandonment

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ARC Book Review: You and Me, For Real by Hayley Elliot

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: You and Me, For Real
Publisher: Lighthearted Reads Publishing
Release Date: August 14th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She swore she’d never be in front of the camera again, but now she’s falling for a Hollywood heartthrob with a tabloid-worthy secret.

Former child reality star Ashton Reid is done with fame and dreams of a quiet life and finally opening her own animal rescue. But establishing a non-profit requires funding and, therefore, publicity. For Ashton, this means facing her crippling anxiety anytime a camera is pointed in her direction. Despite her best efforts to avoid all things Hollywood, when celebrity Griffin Ford rushes into her shelter carrying an injured dog—with his impossibly muscled arms and notorious abs—she’s helpless against those almond eyes. The dog’s eyes, that is.

Actor Griffin Ford is desperate for his first meaningful role. Tired of being seen as nothing more than washboard abs on an angsty teen drama, he’s agreed to a fake relationship with his co-star to guarantee the lead in her father’s next movie. But when the contract requires more than he’s bargained for, he begins to question the future he always imagined. To take back some ownership of his life, Griffin adopts a new dog—despite being clueless about pet ownership.

Drawn to Ashton’s authenticity, Griffin recruits her to train his new rescue. In return, Griffin helps her navigate publicity and social media for her foundation. Outside the glow of Hollywood, it doesn’t take long for Ashton to see that Griffin is more than the hunk he portrays on TV. As their professional and personal lives intertwine and their attraction grows stronger, their chemistry becomes undeniable. But when the heat of the spotlight threatens to expose Ashton’s past and Griffin’s secret, the two must fight for what’s real between them, or risk becoming another casualty of fame.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

HOW CUTE.

That’s the vibe. It’s a ultra sweet rom-com that is meant to be light hearted and I always enjoy picking up one of these books. All of the dog content was fun too. I don’t think I’ve read a book with this much dog information and as someone who used to work with them, it was a nice throwback.

Griffin and Ashton were just flipping cute together. I loved the depth of the moments they had together alongside the humorous and flirty texts. There were some solid friendships too that I think added to the plot and made this an easy read.

There was some pieces of the drama that aren’t my favorite type to read about and I wish played a smaller role. All in all though, I think this was a wonderful debut and I look forward to future books from Hayley!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: strained parent relationships

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