Tag: laura bradbury

Book Review: Unlikely Match by Laura Bradbury

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 348 pages
Author: Laura Bradbury
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 26th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Could the man I hate be the perfect match I need?

I’m Jules Kelly, a certified bohemian boss babe, whose hip tech company just won subsidized office space in the coolest co-working space in town. From a distance I seem poised to take over the world (or at least the travel industry), and I would be if it weren’t for two big complications:

1. A rare and seriously inconvenient disease is tanking my health by the day, and my only hope for a cure—a transplant—is moving further from my grasp.

2. A soulless database company is sharing my new office space, and its coldly gorgeous, judgmental, CEO is on a path to world dominance (at least in his mind).

Tom Davenport represents the very worst of bro culture in the start-up world. Naturally, we despise each other.

The thing is, as much as Tom’s antagonism annoys me, he has an uncanny ability to conjure up my fighting spirit and vitality at a time when my illness is robbing me of both. I’m drawn to him in ways I can’t (or would really rather not) understand.

A mysterious angel investor forces our companies to compete for a life-changing amount of money just when my relationship with Tom becomes infinitely more complicated. To make matters worse, things get cutthroat just as my time starts to run out.

In order to survive, I must decide if I can truly trust my most unlikely ally of all.

Unlikely Match is a high-stakes and steamy workplace romance that will leave you feverishly turning pages.

For those of you who love wry (and sometimes a wee bit dark) humor, emotional intensity, loyal friendships, insane chemistry, and forced proximity in the context of high medical stakes, Unlikely Match is for you.

REALLY DANG GOOD.

This was a buddy read win y’all. It wasn’t really on my radar until a friend asked to read it together and wow, it delivered.

I loved that this was a very unique romance. It’s also heavy. Yet, the author does a great job balancing all of the weight with a great love interest and a sweet romance + some seriously amazing friends and other side characters. I love learning more from books and this one brought a whole new disease to light for me. Also it increased my awareness of the nature of transplants and how that side of medicine works. It was extremely enlightening because the author went through this entire process.

The romance was filled with all sorts of witty and snarky banter centered around start-up culture. Two competing CEO’s that can’t get enough of snapping back at each other. It has a nice little rivalry vibe, but with immediate intent for a friendship. Tom is an utter cinnamon roll and I loved how gung-ho he was about being with Jules. And when he overstepped he could recognize that and establish boundaries. I loved the discussion around mental health and medicine and how going through something so traumatic can play a forever role in your life.

I wish there was a dash more lean on the romance side because I just loved them that much, but it was an amazing read that I could not put down. Highly recommend as something different in the romance genre!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: two brief open door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: heavy discussion about the world of medicine in general (doctor’s visits, needles, hospitals, etc.), PTSD, grief, therapy scenes, transplant surgery and recovery

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Book Review: Oxford Star (Oxford Wild #2) by Laura Bradbury

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 338 pages
Author: Laura Bradbury
Publisher: Grape Books
Release Date: March 6th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Harry-Styles-famous rock star takes refuge from crippling panic attacks at Oxford University, only to find himself face to face with the crush whose life he ruined.

JACK
Rock stars shouldn’t suffer from debilitating panic attacks, but I’m barely hanging on by my famous fingernails. That’s why I leverage the name I despise to study my childhood love of astronomy. Just one term at Oxford? Problem solved.

Too bad my pre-stardom life reappears to haunt me in the form of Lucy Snow, the sharp-tongued, opulent-bodied woman I can’t seem to forget. This would be the perfect opportunity to make amends for stealing her fantasy four years ago, except Lucy’s love for me has turned to loathing.

When she refuses my financial help, I have a wonderful, dangerous idea…

LUCY
Jack Seary stole my dream of a singing career and made it his reality. When he trampled my heart, he also taught me a lesson: being selfless and hardworking makes me Cinderella without the goddamn glass slipper.

Now this infuriating thief of a man thinks I’ll pretend to be his girlfriend to dispel tabloid rumors? Ha!

Oxford Star is an enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, second chance, celebrity / rock star romance with a plus sized heroine and panic / anxiety rep. Brace yourself for a SLOW-BURN (but steamy!) romance that explores the complexity of love, dreams, and redemption under the dreaming spires of Oxford University.

Thank you to the author for a gifted ecopy!

I WANT TO GO TO OXFORD NOW.

This was an enjoyable read! Easily binge worthy and very romantic. I loved the second chance romance and the unique twist on a rockstar and old friend.

I struggled a little with their connection at first, but the second half was reallllly strong in those aspects. I liked that Lucy and Jack got to talk a lot of things out and hash over some of the issues they needed to communicate to move forward. I LOVED Jack’s anxiety and panic disorder rep. It hit home in a lot of ways and I love that Lucy was always a listening and helpful partner in those matters.

Lucy’s growth was a little slower (which was fine). I liked that she learned that it was okay to take something for herself. After having to give and give for years, and finally being able to follow the career path you want? That’s monumental and the strides to that destination were great.

The Oxford setting was so fun!! I thought there was just enough of the history and dynamics I didn’t know about the school without overwhelming the fact that it was a romance book. There were maaany swoony moments (the dress scene? YES). I loved the body positivity and the way that was woven into Lucy’s story. There’s plenty of good things to be found in this read!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open door; med-high explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: panic attacks (on page), depictions of anxiety, loss of a father (recounted), comments on weight and body image, brief gun violence (the gun is never fired)

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