Tag: jenny proctor

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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ARC Book Review: Absolutely Not in Love (Sweater Weather #7) by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 276 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: October 12th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

My requirements for a man are simple. Must love books. Must NOT love hockey.

Which is why I will never be interested in my neighbor, the aloof and mysterious Felix Jamison, no matter how many books I see him hauling into his apartment. Unless he loses his pro hockey skates, I’m out.

But then he shows up at my symphony concert. And I catch the sweet strains of Bach floating across the hall. Have I mentioned how incredible he looks in his game day suit?

Still, my history with hockey is complicated. My older brother played, and let’s just say he stole enough limelight to land a plane at midnight. I was forced to be a part of that world for so long, now that I have a choice, it’s the last thing I want.

But something tells me Felix is about to change my mind…

Absolutely Not in Love is a closed-door hockey romcom with forced proximity, a bookish hockey goalie, a classical musician, and all the swoony chemistry you want.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

LOVED SO MUCH.

I was smitten from start to finish with this book y’all. There were so many little things I could pick out that I just ADORED. From the bumbling flirting, to taking care of each other, and my absolute favorite: that it felt adult.

Adult in the sense that there were actual important conversations Felix and Gracie had together and when things got shaky, there wasn’t wild miscommunication either. I love heartfelt apologies, acknowledging feelings and truly trying to create a relationship and a life together.

I loved Felix and Gracie together and apart. Both showed some layers of character growth and depth. I thought the apartment situation was perfect. The kissing scenes had that great balance of steam without the spice and I LOVED getting to see more of the hockey team (and maybe a future book with a certain best friend???).

It’s a short read, fast paced and full of heart warming goodness. There’s plenty of hockey aspects to actually call it a sports romance and the grand gesture was exactly where it needed to be.

Another Jenny Proctor GEM.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: social anxiety, strained parent relationships

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ARC Book Review: How to Kiss a Movie Star (Hawthorne Brothers #4) by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 325 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 18th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s Hollywood’s biggest star. She wouldn’t know him from the pizza delivery guy.

I’m a wildlife biologist in a tiny mountain town, not some kind of law-breaking celebrity stalker. At least not on purpose.

It was an accident when I wandered onto the property of one of Hollywood’s hottest movie stars. Five minutes ago, I’d never even heard of Flint Hawthorne. I definitely didn’t know he lives in Silver Creek.

When I’m detained for trespassing, the last thing I expect is to trade my handcuffs for a designer gown. All I wanted was permission to conduct my research on a remote corner of his estate.

Now I’m walking the red carpet of a Hollywood movie premiere as Flint’s (very fake) girlfriend.

At least, the relationship is supposed to be fake. But the way he slips his arm around me, his breath tickling my ear, the chemistry feels like something real.

The trouble is, I’m not really built to handle his fast-paced celebrity life. Most days, I prefer the company of squirrels to people. I should be glad we’re only pretending.

I’m just not sure my heart got the memo.

Perfect for fans of swoony romantic comedy, this series finale from bestseller Jenny Proctor hits all the right notes!

Books in the How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother series are connected but can be read in any order.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

MY NEW FAVORITE EVER.

I don’t know how to be coherent when I really want to shout I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH GO READ IT RIGHT NOW. It was everything I could have hoped for in closing out this series and I am a puddle of emotions over the ending.

FLINT AND AUDREY. I think what really sells me on an amazing romance is when I love the characters separate AND together. The chemistry was well timed and the banter was on point. AND HE FELL FIRST. AND FELL HARD. Oh my gosh, Flint Hawthorne. And I adored Audrey. She was brave and so very brilliant and I love how these two opposites came together.

The plot had all of the little moments I could have hoped for. And while being closed door/sweet it still brought that little bit of heat you could feel burning off the pages. I love an intense kiss scene and this one had multiple. And the third act was beautifully and realistically handled and I’m all in my feels again just writing this review.

Not to mention I LOVE the whole Hawthorne family. Getting to see where they are, the text conversations and just the SUPPORT.

I love Jenny Proctor’s books! Incredibly excited to see what’s next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: unwanted grabbing, harassment by media

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ARC Book Review: How to Kiss Your Enemy (Hawthorne Brothers #3) by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 280 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 9th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

How is it possible for the chemistry between two chefs to be hotter than a ghost pepper yet colder than liquid nitrogen?

When THE Tatum Elliott shows up to run the catering kitchen at my family’s farm and event center, I don’t trust her anymore than I did back in culinary school.

But like it or not, she’s here. On my territory. My turf. In the kitchen that shares a building with my farm-to-table restaurant.

And she can’t seem to keep her hands off my parmesan.

Our old rivalry flares to life faster than a flambé, but there’s something else flaming between us too. And it’s heating up quicker than anything we’re making in the kitchen.

But I can’t forget that Tatum is the daughter of Gordon Elliott—America’s most famous chef. She belongs in a big city, in a restaurant with her name on it. Not running the catering arm of Stonebrook Farm.

Whatever her reasons for being here now, I can’t see her permanently walking away from the fame and fortune her father can offer her, no matter how well she fits in on the farm—how well she fits with me.

She’ll leave eventually—I’m sure of it. I just have to make sure that when she does, she doesn’t take my heart with her.

It’s enemies to lovers foodie edition in this fast-paced, banter-filled romcom from bestselling author, Jenny Proctor.

How to Kiss Your Enemy is a sweet romantic comedy with all the crackling chemistry and sizzling kisses you want in a closed-door romance but no explicit scenes.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

WHAT A GEM.

Another wonderful read from one of my favorite go-to closed door romance authors. I loved this!! Lennox and Tatum had this subtle enemy/angst vibe that grew into a beautiful romance and I loved every page.

Forced proximity is my kryptonite so I loved that Lennox and Tatum both worked near each other. It caused moment after moment of them meeting, reconnecting, and both coming to some realizations about how they’ve grown up since knowing each other in culinary school. I love great character growth and Tatum’s story especially was fantastic. I LOVELOVELOVE that she found a way to stand on her own and Lennox supported every step. This is another case of we’re having an argument but not breaking up third act and I am here for it x1000.

There’s plenty of swoony moments. Cooking for each other, snow storms without power, kisses in the office. ALL THERE. I just really loved how this relationship came together. It felt authentic and true. I adored the sweet dog. And I am absolutely IN LOVE with this family!! The conversations and text messages and the way the support is always there.

Another amazing installment in the Hawthorne brother’s series. This had a cozier vibe that I can’t quite nail down but know I FELT that had me snuggled up in a blanket devouring the pages. And now I am STOKED for Flint’s story!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of loss of a mother, strained father/daughter relationship, gaslighting (not b/t main couple), mentions of past cheating

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