Tag: sweet romance

Book Review: Friends Don’t (Fall in Love #1) by Leah Dobrinska

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 280 pages
Author: Leah Dobrinska
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: July 11th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A heartfelt and hilarious romantic comedy, loosely inspired by While You Were Sleeping.

As the oldest of three sisters, Poppy Kasper doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t the glue holding her siblings—and their lives—together. So moving across the country to Cashmere Cove, the hometown of her new boyfriend, is completely out of character. Add in the fact that said boyfriend is leaving for a months-long pro-golf tour, and it’s enough to make Poppy question her sanity. But it’s fine. Everything’s fine. She can still be a good sister from a distance, and she’ll keep the spark in her relationship alive with calls, texts, and old fashioned love notes. See? Fine.

Quiet and serious Mack Bradley is used to playing second fiddle to his famous younger brother, especially since his own reputation was ruined nearly a decade ago. He’s made his peace with his circumstances, but when his brother begs him to show his new girlfriend the Cashmere Cove ropes, and then ups the ante with an even bigger request to stand in as her pen pal, Mack finds himself thrown into the path of the effervescent Poppy Kasper. She’s his foil in every way…she also makes him feel things he’s never felt before.

A summer of pranks, late-night swims, and stargazing finds Poppy and Mack forging an unlikely friendship—one built on laughter and pushing each other to see life in a different light. But when Poppy’s relationship with Mack’s brother unravels, will she leave town? Or is there another reason for her to stay?

After all, friends don’t fall in love…do they?

(Friends Don’t is the first book in the Fall In Love series, which follows three sisters as they find love after moving across the country to the small town of Cashmere Cove, Wisconsin. This is a closed door romcom with plenty of sizzling chemistry and romantic tension, but no spice.)

ADORED.

A highly enjoyable sweet romance y’all. I had such a good time reading it and already adore the set-up and characters and am excited for the next book!

I thought Poppy and Mack’s friends to lovers romance worked well. You could see the chemistry from the start and the banter had me smiling. I looove the way heat was included without spice (it is in the sweet category!). I felt this romance and the connection between them. I was just as desperate as them to get to that first kiss. I also liked the way the third act was handled. It came off as a necessity while allowing for growth and new understandings.

The small town plot was one of my favorites. I loved all of the back country vibes and I absolutely loved that Mack was an electrician. Way to show off a career I don’t think I’ve ever seen in a romance novel. There were a few minor plot / writing quirks that I didn’t jive with, but it didn’t ruin the book in any way for me. This was exactly what I needed and I loved Poppy and Mack’s story!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very little and light
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent (recounted), parental abandonment (recounted), cheating (previous relationship)

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Book Review: The Even Odder Couple (Apple Valley Love Stories #4) by Julie Christianson

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 362 pages
Author: Julie Christianson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 25th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Spencer Crane thinks I’m a human tornado.

I think he’s a calendar app come to life.

While he schedules? I spin-out.

When I spontaneously combust? He overcompensates.

And this is why convincing my new boss to hire him is a completely brilliant idea.

You see, workplace romance is forbidden, but attraction between total opposites like Spencer and me is a non-issue.

I repeat: Non. Issue.

I only wish I hadn’t discovered Mr. Clark Kent Glasses is (secretly) scorchingly hot. Even worse, he’s funny and chivalrous, and shoving me straight out of my Tess the Mess comfort zone.

But we both need this job. Like, a lot. And if our boss catches wind of any fraternization, we’ll be fired. Not to mention my heart’s already at risk of being axed.

So when Spencer starts treating me like I’m a magnet and he’s a fistful of iron, I’ve got a tornado-sized problem on my hands.

Starting now, I’m doubling down. I absolutely cannot fall for Spencer Crane.

Even if my total opposite might be everything I need …

This heartwarming, hilarious romantic comedy has all the sizzle and swoon, but no explicit content. The entire Apple Valley series can be read in any order, so grab The Even Odder Couple today and get ready to fall in love! 

SILLY.

I know there’s a line for everyone on what’s too silly in a romance book. This one crossed that line for me in multiple facets and I think I’ve come to accept that this author isn’t for me. Her stories are sweet and there’s goodness here, just some frustrating things I’ve found that keep me from being fully immersed.

Spence was wonderful. I liked his nerdy and kind ways. He had that charming level of jealousy that I like he was clearly smitten with Tess. All good things for me.

Tess on the other hand? Would not shut up about some other woman that she thought (and then when was told otherwise, still forced) Spencer was into. It was annoying and relentless and I couldn’t handle one more mention of Kayla. Along with that, I thought the mayor was an odd character who didn’t quite fit either. You can fulfill the tropes you’re going after without a wild emphasis from other characters.

Anyways, I don’t know. The setting was fun too. I do love a camp setting and liked seeing that Tessa had found her element. The miscommunication running RAMPANT is about the only thing I keep circling back to when I think about this book. Oh well.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: snakebite

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Book Review: Love on Camera (The Wonder Boys #1) by Dana LeCheminant

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 324 pages
Author: Dana LeCheminant
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 15th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Madi doesn’t have time to date. Oliver has all the time in the world.

When wedding photographer Madi is challenged to find herself ten dates in three months, she turns to her older brother’s three best friends to be her stand-ins. It helps her win the challenge without having to deal with the stress of dating. What could go wrong?

Oliver hasn’t had much to do since selling his company, and helping Madi has given his life meaning again. But when she asks him to pose as her boyfriend—more than just a date here and there—he suddenly finds himself questioning his feelings toward the girl he always saw as a little sister. Feelings that would get him murdered by his best friend.

No one sees the real Oliver the way Madi does, and Madi has never been as comfortable around anyone as she is with Oliver. With the fake part of their relationship feeling less and less fake, they both have to decide if they’re brave enough to take that first step toward something real. Is a chance at love worth risking a lifetime of friendship?

Thank you to the author for a gifted audiobook.

THIS WAS CUTE.

This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it! I definitely want to try some more in this series.

As this was an audiobook I do have a few thoughts on narration: I loved the female narrator except for when she was actually voicing Madi. It came off like she was much younger (almost teen like) and it took me a long time to get used to it. The male narrator did a great job on their end though.

I thought Oliver and Madi were reallll cute together. I liked the slow burn friends to lovers and seeing the inner conflicts on both sides. Oliver works through a lot of loneliness and understanding his worth while Madi is finding her own footing too. There’s some sweet fake dating moments and I liked how the third act was handled.

A sweet story and a quick read to make you smile.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: workaholic parents

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Book Review: Love Songs Suck by Becky Monson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 317 pages
Author: Becky Monson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A reluctant woman, a determined popstar, and the song that started it all.

After growing up in Nashville with two musician parents, I promised myself one thing—I would never, ever fall in love with anyone who had anything to do with the music scene. I will take my stable, albeit boring, accountant boyfriend, thank you very much, and live securely ever after. At least that was the plan. Who knew one ridiculous party where boy band sensation Finn Thatcher showed up would turn my life completely upside down.

How dare he write a song about me. A song that went straight to number one. A song that messes everything up with his band. And who gets the blame for that? That’s right, me. I’m the new Yoko Ono. The only way to fix it is to, well . . . give the world what it wants—a love story. We are talking the whole freaking fairy tale. Nothing says true love like a fake relationship. But what if it’s not so fake? What if I want the happily ever after? Or am I just another love song to Finn?

Thank you to the author for a gifted audiobook!

GREAT AUDIO.

I love a good audiobook and the narrator did an amazing job. I felt fully immersed in the story and I think that also really helped my thoughts overall.

I tend to struggle with rock star romances. I don’t know why, but I keep trying because I know I’ll find some good ones out there. And I consider this a good one (and a sweet one for my sweet romance fans!). I liked the soulful connection between Louella and Finn. The instant chemistry was played off really well and I liked the slow burn strangers to friends to lovers that occurred over months together. I didn’t LOVE that Louella was dating someone for 75% of the book (but I know that’s a preference thing and I just prefer the break-up to happen much sooner).

Finn fell first and HARD and he was just so dang sweet. I liked his personality and how hard he worked to be a good friend, musician and someone you actually wanted to be friends with. I loved all of the late night texts and phone calls and the smooth lyrics that were clearly showing all of Finn’s feelings.

This was my first Becky Monson book and it convinced me that I would love to read another. I liked her writing style and story telling. This was a good read and I think fantastic for summertime!

Overall audience notes:

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

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