Tag: contemporary romance

ARC Book Review: Five Stolen Rings by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 272 pages
Author: Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 11th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

FIVE stolen rings, FOUR calling birds, THREE French kisses, TWO falling in love, and a Partridge in a pear tree…
Stella Partridge never expected to move back to her hometown. She never expected to be a house-sitter for the twelve days leading up to Christmas as a desperate bid to earn some extra money. And she definitely never expected to recognize the thief that breaks into the house she’s Jack Piorra, her childhood best friend, the one who turned cold and distant overnight and never told her why.
Jack insists there’s something in this house that belongs to him. But Stella’s not going down without a fight–not in house-sitting, and not in love. If only locking the windows and doors could keep Jack from stealing her heart…
.
FIVE STOLEN RINGS is a wacky romcom mashup of Home Alone and Twelve Days of Christmas, perfect for fans of love, laughter, and holiday warm fuzzies!

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

IN LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

Oh this book is utterly charming and an absolute delight for the holiday season. If you don’t have time for many this year, LET THIS BE ONE OF THEM. I loved it so much. It had the perfect level of holiday shenanigans and let me tell y’all, it had one of my all time favorite tropes, a man who is gone for the FMC. I dare you to not swoon during his POV.

I loved all of the banter, it’s cheeky and sassy and incredibly flirtatious. The little flashback moments did a great job of setting up the present story line and I liked that the high school drama didn’t become an overwhelming issue as adults. Communication was key and I loved the way that Stella and Jack found their way back to each other.

This book reminded me of why I love reading holiday romances. The spirit of the season, some amazing heated kisses and sweet family and friends moments too. Five Stolen Rings has it all, it’s under 300 pages which I know is a highlight for many seeking something engaging and quick for this time of year.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: How Jenna Became My Dilemma (Famously in Love #2) by Kortney Keisel

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 302 pages
Author: Kortney Keisel
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 22nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

I’m fake dating a man I don’t even like. When a tabloid breaks a false story that I’m in a relationship with my co-star, Cody Banner, I’m positive my acting career is over before it’s even begun. I’m Done. Finished. But approval ratings skyrocket overnight, putting the rumors on the front page of every news outlet. Now I’m forced to make a deal with Hollywood’s most notorious bad boy and chain dater. It’s either go along with the fake-dating charade or single-handedly bring down both our careers. No, big deal. If only the lines between fake and real weren’t starting to blur, leaving my heart wondering if Cody’s just a really good actor or if he’s starting to fall for me too. How Jenna Became My Dilemma is a celebrity fake dating romantic comedy. It brings all the banter, sizzle, and chemistry while keeping the romance closed door. This is the second book in the Famously in Love Series.

ENJOYABLE.

I liked this one a lot. It’s a really fast read and I loved how easy it was to fly through. I love how Kortney Keisel writes a sensual/steamy type of read without being spicy. It was written so well in that vein and I love that vibe.

I really liked Jenna and Cody. The enemies banter was there and there were many great celebrity moments that allowed for that kind of forced proximity I love. Even the fake dating was fun to venture into to as well.

What I didn’t love was what felt like forced promotion of the authors other books through Jenna and Cody acting in movies of them. I don’t know, to me it came off kind of odd and took me out of the story multiple times.

Otherwise, an honestly good read. There were many swoony moments I loved and I thought the ending was wonderful.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of previous custody battle/divorced parents

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Book Review: Unbearably Yours (It’s Always Been You #3) by Elodie Colliard

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 391 pages
Author: Elodie Colliard
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A year of heartfelt letters. A chance encounter gone awry. Five years apart for a shot at redemption.

Charlee lives her life by one single rule: don’t dredge up the past. That’s why she loses herself in her work as a journalist: always on the move, always heading for the next adventure. So when the Wild Planet offices in Toronto are on the brink of closure, she jumps at the chance to save the place by helping shoot a documentary in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. Until she realizes who she’ll be working with.

For Oliver Reynolds, there’s nothing like the peace and quiet of nature. That’s why working for Wild Planet is a perfect fit. In the small touristic town of Pine Falls, he has everything he needs. Well, almost. If only he could buy back the family’s restaurant he lost five years ago. When his boss offers him a hefty raise to guide a Wild Planet crew filming a documentary in the area, Oliver doesn’t think twice. At least, not until he finds out who he’ll be spending those two weeks with.

A twist of fate forces these two estranged souls to collaborate on the project and put their grudges and wounds aside for the time being. Too much is riding on the documentary’s success for either Charlee or Oliver to delve into the past that led them to stop writing to each other. But will they succeed in working together and pretending the past never happened? As time goes on, neither can shake their lingering bond, but Charlee still doesn’t know why Oliver never showed up for the date they set five years ago. But getting her answer means ripping open old wounds. Will she be brave enough to face her demons?

Embark on Oliver and Charlee’s thrilling journey deep into the heart of the majestic Great Bear Rainforest and explore its enchanting wonders alongside them. And who knows, perhaps they’ll uncover more than they bargained for.

‘Unbearably Yours’ is a steamy small-town romance that delves into the realms of second chances, forced proximity, the solace of a chosen family, and the unshakable bonds that can be forged in a lifetime.

A GREAT SECOND CHANCE.

I really enjoyed this take on a second chance romance. I loved all of the letter writing. It enhanced the story and it was sweet seeing how Oliver and Charlee fell in love with a classic form of communication.

All of the autumn and hiking vibes were perfect for the season too. I was smitten with Oliver. I loved his personality and his tender nature and honestly, everything about him. Charlee was an easy FMC to love and I was easily in her corner. I loved how they came together. The chemistry could be felt for miles.

There were a few tiny scenes that I didn’t love, and the Trevor thing wasn’t my favorite either. Overall though, a lovely romance (I’m also obsessed with the cover), and an enjoyable read.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3+ open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: death of loved ones (off page – breast cancer and smoke inhalation)

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Book Review: Main Character Energy by Jamie Varon

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Jamie Varon
Publisher: Park Row
Release Date: September 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Poppy Banks would rather be writing mysteries than writing listicles for her dead-end job at Thought Buzz. But after a series of rejections, she’s ready to accept life on the sidelines as a plus-size woman. Her aunt Margot is the one person unwilling to give up on her niece’s dreams and tells her so at their secret yearly lunches.

But all of Poppy’s beliefs about herself are challenged when her beloved aunt dies and leaves her niece a grand surprise—a trip to her villa in the French Riviera. There, she learns her aunt intends to leave her stunning villa and secretive writer’s residency to Poppy—if she can finish her novel in six months.

When the writing countdown begins, Poppy realizes she has more to confront than her writer’s block. Family drama, complicated romances and self-doubt all threaten to throw her off course. In this fun and heartwarming debut, Poppy must decide if she can live up to her aunt’s—and her own—desire to be the main character in her own life.

Thank you Park Row Books for the gifted copy.

NOT FOR ME.

This book felt like one really long complaint. And while it did get marginally better I just wasn’t enamored with much of anything at all.

And now that I’m sitting here to write it I’m realizing I don’t really want to. This one wasn’t for me and wouldn’t be a book I recommend. Moving on.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: fade to black

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