Tag: contemporary romance

Book Review: The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Fiction / Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Rachel Linden
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 2nd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An uplifting novel about a heartbroken young pie maker who is granted a magical second chance to live the life she didn’t choose. . . . from the bestselling author of The Enlightenment of Bees.

Lolly Blanchard’s life only seems to give her lemons. Ten years ago, after her mother’s tragic death, she broke up with her first love and abandoned her dream of opening a restaurant in order to keep her family’s struggling Seattle diner afloat and care for her younger sister and grieving father. Now, a decade later, she dutifully whips up the diner’s famous lemon meringue pies each morning while still pining for all she’s lost.

As Lolly’s thirty-third birthday approaches, her quirky great-aunt gives her a mysterious gift–three lemon drops, each of which allows her to live a single day in a life that might have been hers. What if her mom hadn’t passed away? What if she had opened her own restaurant in England? What if she hadn’t broken up with the only man she’s ever loved? Surprising and empowering, each experience helps Lolly let go of her regrets and realize the key to transforming her life lies not in redoing her past but in having the courage to embrace her present.

MY HEART.

I’ve been reading a lot of heavier contemporaries lately and they are squeezing my heart for all its worth. This wasn’t initially on my radar and I’m glad I gave it a go because DANG Y’ALL. IT’S SO GOOD.

I loved the magical realism concept. It worked well within the story and allowed for those much needed glimpses into Lolly’s life and history. Each memory sent me into a puddle of emotions and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I loved the exploration of grief, finding your path, choosing love and the hard decisions that can stand in your way.

I did get minorly frustrated with a small aspect (hence the 1/2 star deduction) otherwise. I really have no notes. I usually struggle with books that lean towards fiction over romance and that was absolutely not the case here. I wanted both Lolly’s story and her romantic life to have that happy and satisfying conclusion (which does happen!!). It was beautiful. Highly recommend the audiobook too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Fiction / Romance
  • Language: light
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: parental death (car accident), stroke

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ALC Book Review: Emergency Contact by Lauren Layne and Anthony LeDonne

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 250 pages
Author: Lauren Layne & Anthony LeDonne
Publisher: Blackstone
Release Date: October 24th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne–and her real life husband and high school sweetheart, Anthony LeDonne–comes a new holiday romcom that is sure to warm even the coldest heart.

Katherine, an ambitious NYC attorney, gets diagnosed with a concussion and must be monitored for 48 hours to make sure it doesn’t get worse. Unfortunately, she forgot to update her emergency contact so the person they call is her ex-husband, Tom. Unable to be left alone, Katherine reluctantly agrees to travel to Chicago with Tom for the holidays. But thanks to a blizzard, what should have been a quick plane ride turns into an antagonistic overnight misadventure that stirs up old feelings even as Tom prepares to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.

A delightful meet-cute between The Proposal and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Emergency Contact is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the ALC.

OH SO WITTY.

The nods to Planes, Trains and Automobiles was absolutely at the forefront of this book and had my chuckling throughout. Not one thing going right in the midst of a divorced couple forced to hang out for the holidays is a romance combination I have never read and completely devoured. I love how unique this felt in the genre and it gave a sense of hope of reconciliation (in the right situations).

Reverse grump x sunshine was the most prominent factor and I liked the flipped script. Both Katherine and Tom had to come to terms with how their marriage declined and what were the truly important aspects of their lives. I feel like all of the traveling chaos allowed them to come together and realize what they both had been missing.

It’s a short book, filled with just enough holiday antics to call it a holiday romance and one I will definitely be recommending this year.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: divorce, car accident, loss of a parent (recounted)

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Book Review: Built to Last by Erin Hahn

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Erin Hahn
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: October 18th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Shelby Springfield has spent the last ten years trying to overcome her past, sanding it away like she does the rough spots on the vintage furniture finds she makes over. But as a former child star, it’s hard to forget a mediocre pop career, a meltdown widely documented by the paparazzi, and a huge public break with her former co-star Lyle Jessup. It’s also hard to forget her other co-star and childhood sweetheart, Cameron Riggs — the one who got away.

Anytime Shelby has called, Cameron has come running… And then he runs right off again to chase stories around the world by making documentaries, too scared to admit what he really wants. But when Lyle stirs the pot, getting the two back in the spotlight with a home renovation show, Cameron can’t help but come on board.

There’s something in it for everyone — almost. Cameron wants to come home and set down some roots. Shelby wants to prove to the world she’s not the messy party girl anymore. And Lyle wants to twist the screws on his two childhood friends who had more chemistry than he could dream of with anyone. Sparks and sawdust fly as Shelby and Cameron film the pilot for “Homemade” and battle Lyle’s shenanigans at every turn.

Erin Hahn’s sparkling rom com debut, Built to Last, is a second chance romance sure to have readers falling in love fast.

Two childhood sweethearts find a second chance at love in this adult romance debut from a critically acclaimed young adult author.

WHAT WAS THE POINT?

I should have listened to my friends, they did not give this good reviews but I still wanted to give it a go. Aaaand I wasted a day for this audiobook.

These were a bunch of lust and hormone filled adults acting like teenagers. The jump from YA to adult really didn’t work for me. I didn’t like that the focus was continually on the physical side of the relationship. It felt bleh and one dimensional. I want to see focus on all sides and really watch the them come together as a true partnership.

And what was with the other ex?? Why was he there?? SO DANG FRUSTRATING. He only caused stupid drama that made me want to throw my book across the room.

The setting with the home flipping show was great. I did enjoy those aspects and had a good time with all of that stuff. I probably could have had enough more of that in here and would have enjoyed the book more.

Yes yes, I’ll read her next book, but dearly hope it’s different.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: multiple open door; high explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: cheating recounted, disordered eating & food shaming recounted, paparazzi harassment

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Book Review: Hideaway by Bekah Overbey

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 383 pages
Author: Bekah Overbey
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: May 22nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Maggie West is perfectly content with her life as a single, twenty-five-year-old homebody extraordinaire. But when her best friend asks her to bring a plus-one to her wedding, Maggie reluctantly agrees to go on a series of (increasingly disastrous) blind dates. Even worse, the weeks before the wedding bring her in constant company with Jack, the wedding’s dour, disapproving best man. He has a knack for showing up at her worst moments and seeing her all too clearly—even the parts of her she’s spent years hiding.

When a panic attack at work forces Jack to take a month-long sabbatical, he drives across the country to stay with his oldest friend. As exhausted and threadbare as he feels, though, the prospect of a month off is as daunting as it is unwelcome—he has no interest in rehashing all the things that led to his breakdown. The presence of quirky, accident-prone Maggie—and her uncanny ability to shatter through his tight reserve—only further unsettles him.

But when a rogue protective instinct has Jack offering to help her, the tension between them shifts in the wake of an unsettling maybe all of their broken, hidden places are the very ones where they need each other the most.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

WELL.

I truly did go into this hoping it would be a good read for me, but I just didn’t click with it. I know others who did so take this review how you would like too!

One of my personal preference issues comes from the extreme lack of dialogue. It made the inner monologues long and repetitive. Pages without the story moving forward because of a tornado of the same thoughts.

I also really have a hard time with a FMC who can’t see her worth. I know a character can totally start off that way and grow through the book. At 90% though, Maggie was still asking how could you like me, everyone leaves me, I’m not worth it, and I just needed to see some self love.

The premise was fun with the different dates and the wedding. I’m sad this didn’t work for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mentions of loss of parents, mentions of anxiety

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