Tag: jenny proctor

ARC Book Review: Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love (Oakley Island #3.5) by Jenny Proctor and Emma St. Clair

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Christmas Romance Novella
Length: 121 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor & Emma St. Clair
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 3rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Getting over your childhood crush is never easy. Especially when your family is full of meddling matchmakers.I’ve tried my whole life to curb my feelings for Liam, who is NOT my cousin, even if our family is like, well, family.

After he brought a girlfriend home for the holidays last year, I decided it was high time for my crush to finally die. And since we haven’t run into each other at all since then, it’s been easy. (If not altogether effective.) Even our family stopped trying to push us together.

But then Liam walks into my office just before Christmas and I find out he’ll be working here as a consultant. Oh—and he got special permission from my boss to have me directly under him.

Then, when my building suddenly (and somewhat suspiciously) has to undergo emergency fumigation and I need a place to stay, Liam offers me his guest bedroom.

Oh, joy and holiday cheer.

But finding out Liam is single and not practically engaged—it changes everything. Is it possible I just might get my longest-held Christmas wish?

Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love is a second-gen novella in the Oakley Island Romcom Series. Books in the series are full of sizzling chemistry and tension with just kisses.

Thank you to the authors for an eARC.

LOVED BEING BACK.

Gosh dang I loved being back in this world. I didn’t realize how much I missed these characters until the surprise announcement that we were getting a Christmas novella, and it’s second generation!!! I have always wanted more second generation moments and I’m so happy to get one on Oakley Island.

The holiday spirit is there, and so are the meddlesome parents and sneaky raccoons. This was light and made me smile and was exactly the joy I was after. I adored both of the main characters (dual POV!) and how sweet and heated the reconnection was. Izzy and Liam’s romance is perfect for the season!

Overall audience notes:

  • Christmas Romance Novella
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Once Upon a Boyband (Midnight Rush #1) by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 358 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 1st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Once upon a time, she slept with his poster beside her bed. Now he’s all grown up, hiding behind a burly beard and lots of flannel … and she doesn’t have a clue.

Eight years ago, Adam Driscoll walked away from his stage name—Deke—and the boyband that turned him into an international star before his eighteenth birthday.

And he never looked back.

It didn’t even matter that everyone blamed him for the band’s breakup. He might miss making music, but he had good reasons for walking. Give him solitude over thousands of screaming fans any day of the week.

These days, the only company he’s truly interested in is that of the vet who works closely with his dog rescue—Dr. Laney Lawson. She’s brilliant, funny, beautiful, and best of all, she has no idea he used to be a pop star.

But then Adam’s bandmates reach out about a one-time reunion concert benefiting a charity that’s close to his heart, and he starts to wonder if some things are worth a little extra attention. He loves the idea of singing again, but saying yes would out him to the small mountain community that has become his refuge. Worse, it would out him to Laney.

But old hurts can’t stay buried forever. And something tells Adam that scary or not, saying yes is the decision he needs to make. He just has to hope he doesn’t lose the life—or the woman—he loves in the process.

Once Upon a Boyband is a sweet romantic comedy with all the crackling chemistry and sizzling kisses you want in a closed-door romcom. Perfect for fans of romantic comedy with a little less heat.

Thank you to Jenny Proctor for the eARC.

WHAT A CRUSH, WHAT A RUSH.

I’m running with these lyrics and can’t be stopped.

ANYWAYS.

Jenny Proctor is officially my favorite author when it comes to celebrity romance stories. I love them. She reminds me that any trope can work if done correctly, and hot dang is it done WELL in Once Upon a Boyband. I loved it. I’m obsessed with the whole Midnight Rush band I will accept nothing less than a romance about each one of them.

I loved the relationship dynamic between Adam and Laney. The trajectory was different than the standard romance check list and I could not get enough. There were multiple moments where I was like YES, THIS IS HOW YOU ROMANCE. Because it just felt truly authentic and real and sweet and tender. I loved that they truly felt adult too and had the hard conversations that led them to be able to move forward.

It’s such an easy book to fly through. It is a little bit heavier than JP’s usually books but don’t let that deter you. The themes are amazing and pull at your heart strings. I loved Adam’s journey to healing and allowing himself to not be weighed down by everything he was trying to carry alone. I loved the friendships and small town and going to my favorite fictional farm again.

I’m aware I’m rambling, TRUST ME READ IT OKAY.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Content Warnings: loss of mother (recounted, recurrent theme; cancer)

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ARC Book Review: Romancing the Grump (Appies) by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 358 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 23rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s a grump and happy to stay that way. But can her sunshine melt the ice around his heart?

Nathan Sanders didn’t earn his reputation as the grouchiest player on the Appies minor league hockey team by chance. So when Summer Callahan breezes into his life with her flirtatious smiles and endless charm, he responds like he always he completely ignores her.

But Summer is intrigued by the surly center, and she won’t be deterred quite so easily. She’s convinced that the ones with the hardest shells on the outside are often the softest underneath. And she’s determined to prove it.

Romancing the Grump is a closed door grumpy sunshine hockey romcom with heart and humor, sizzle but no spice. Perfect for fans of sports romance who want a little less heat. Books in the Appies Hockey Romance series connect to Just Don’t Fall & Absolutely Not in Love from the Sweater Weather series, but all books stand alone and can be read in any order.

Thank you to the author for an eARC and gifted copy.

THIS BOOK.

Gosh, Jenny Proctor, DOES NOT MISS. I have been anxiously waiting for another Appies books and this was incredible. An all consuming kind of romance with the push and pull angst that leaves you breathless. And the kissing scenes??? YES PLEASE.

I loved Nathan and Summer (yay for dual POV!). Their chemistry was so easy to see and you just felt that draw between them. I loved how Nathan’s struggles with relationships were handled and that he had space to work through his own trauma to find love with Summer. And I loved how brave and bold Summer was. She leaned into the fear of not knowing how the situation would unfold and I loved that for her. The dialogue and banter was, as always, swoony and fun. And I can’t get enough of the strong friendships and families throughout. I love the support the other Appies players provide and the comradery between everyone.

I could go on and on about how many scenes I adored (why yes, we get another JERSEY SCENE Y’ALL) and the sweetness of the relationship between Summer and Nathan. I loved everything about this.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: workplace harassment, death of a parent (recounted, alcoholism)

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ARC Book Review: The Christmas Letters by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance Novella
Length: 191 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 28th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Can an old letter spark a new flame?

When Tess Ravenel gets herself stuck inside a bathroom stall in one of Charleston’s most historic buildings, she isn’t exactly thinking about her dating life. But then the paramedic who comes to her rescue has a voice that sounds like butter and enough charm to make her forget she’s seconds from having a panic attack.

If only he were interested.

Andrew McKay has a mysterious Christmas pen pal, a woman who replied to a newly found letter he sent to Santa back when he was a kid. After weeks of correspondence, it’s clear she’s funny, smart, interesting…and an awful lot like Tess Ravanel—the woman he’s already blown off twice for good reason.

Tess and Andrew couldn’t be more different, but when their worlds collide, fate (and a little Christmas magic) set them on a crash course for love.

The Christmas Letters is a closed door sweet holiday romance with lots of chemistry but no spice. This book was first published in 2019 but has been heavily revised and updated.

Thank you to Jenny Proctor for an eARC.

HOLLY JOLLY.

I thought this was a lot of fun. It’s fast paced with that instant connection kind of vibe that (if written well) works beautifully in a novella. And all of those things came together for me here. I adored Drew and Tess. Yay for dual POV’s that help give sides to both stories.

The letter writing was a cute quirk and I liked how it was approached vs. all the ways miscommunication could have ruined it. The grand gesture was wonderful. This was perfect for the season and just gave me all the best warm fuzzies.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance Novella
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents (recounted)

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