Tag: sweet romance

Book Review: Love Redesigned (Some Kind of Love #1) by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 297 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 23rd, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When Dani’s dream job working for an elite fashion designer in New York explodes in her face, she’s left broke, broken, and practically homeless. She only has one option: leave the city and go home to Charleston to throw herself on her twin brother’s mercy. The only problem? Alex lives in Charleston too.

Stepson to Dani’s former boss, Alex had good reasons for ghosting Dani, especially since she was still loyal to head designer Sasha Wellington—the woman trying to take his stepfather’s company down. But when Dani reappears in his life, his feelings quickly reignite, complicating everything.

Despite their reservations, Alex and Dani find plenty of ways to spend time together. (A wedding dress heist? Why not?) As they unravel the real reasons why Alex left New York—and Dani—will they be able to rediscover the happily ever after they always hoped for?

Thank you to Jenny Proctor for the gifted audiobook!

GREAT AUDIO.

Oh boy do I love a dual narration audiobook! I thought both narrators did a great job with their characters and really brought this book to life. At about 9 hours, it’s a quick read filled with a sweet romance.

I liked the second chance nature of this one. There’s some good give and take on both sides as I waited to learn why Alex left Dani a year ago. I do wish there would have been some more romantic interaction between them, but I did like what I got at least!

Dani had some good character growth. Initially she’s a bit naïve about her boss, and I liked the progression of Dani standing up for herself and figuring out the best way to take down those who were apart of some nefarious activity.

The fashion setting made me wish that I could see all of these beautiful clothes brought to life. I thought this was a unique idea in the sweet romance world.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents to cancer, embezzlement

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Book Review: Let Love In (Canyon Cove Stories #3) by Marie Soleil

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 220 pages
Author: Marie Soleil
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 13th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

There is one person on this earth I cannot stand: Ethan Taylor. Sure, he looks like he belongs on the cover of a magazine, but don’t let his looks fool you. He is pretentious, arrogant, and self-absorbed. Unfortunately, he is also the son of a reality TV star, and designers who won’t even glance at my portfolio are on his speed dial.

But now he has a proposition for me: If I join him in New York City and pose as his date to his grandmother’s swanky benefit, he’ll take me to Fashion Week and introduce me to the hottest names in fashion. As an aspiring designer, I’d have to be crazy to turn him down. Except that means spending a week with Ethan. Pretending to date him. His hand pressed to my low back. His sweet grandmother fawning over me, imagining our future together.

If only my heart didn’t race a little every time he came near me, this would be a piece of cake.Let’s just hope I can remember all the reasons why I hate him…and keep myself from falling for him instead.

Let Love In is an enemies-to-lovers, sweet romantic comedy that keeps the romance closed-door. It’s book three in The Canyon Cove Love Stories but can be read as a standalone.

Thank you to the author for sending me a gifted copy.

MIXED VIBES.

I’m not quite sure what to think of this one. It was my first book by this author, and I’d like to try another even with this not being my favorite.

The enemies to lovers angle made enough sense that I could work with it, but I think the book was too short to fully execute the necessary growth and changes within the characters and relationship to feel fully on board. Thea spent a lot of the time more mean than necessary, and Ethan spent too much time focused on the wrong things.

There were some sweet moments with Ethan taking care of Thea and I liked the softer conversations where some walls were let down. I would have loved seeing more of these and then that being put forth towards the larger arcs of the story.

New York Fashion week was a fun idea and I love a sweet and only mildly meddling grandmother. I liked the initial exploration of Thea’s relationship with Ethan’s Mom and the last moments with Ethan standing up to his Dad were wonderful too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warning: emotional abusive father, discussions on weight and eating disorders

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ARC Book Review: Kissing for Keeps (Sheppard’s in Love #1) by Martha Keyes

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 6th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

History has a way of repeating itself…

SIENA
Coming on the heels of a big, fat failure at work, my best friend Madi’s glamorous French wedding is the perfect opportunity to prove I can do some things well—even if it kills me, which is looking like a distinct possibility. Maid of honor duties are no joke. And while I could honestly use an extra hand or ten, I have to refuse the offer of help from Madi’s flirt of a brother, Jack. Nothing would spoil the beautiful wedding festivities faster than her finding out about that thing that happened between Jack and me that one time…

Not that there’s any danger of it happening again. It was so long ago, I’ve forgotten everything about it, down to the brand of his cologne. Aqua Di Gio is so utterly predictable.

JACK
I admit, I haven’t been the best brother to Madi. Okay, slight understatement—a history of dating her friends and ruining those friendships has landed me squarely in her black books.

But my offer to help Siena isn’t some underhanded scheme to hurt Madi a third time. I genuinely want to be a better brother. And as for teasing Siena in the meantime? That’s just standard procedure for me.

Because everything is totally normal here. Nothing to see, folks.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

LOVED FROM START TO FINISH.

Oh this book was everything I needed!! I loved it so much and am so excited for Martha Keyes to be writing contemporary romances now too. I’ve always enjoyed her historicals, and now I can love on these sweet romances too.

I adored Jack. Oh my goodness, what a cinnamon roll who threw perfectly placed banter. Continually took care of Sienna and tried to make amends for his past. I love a character who can acknowledge mistakes and look towards change and growth. Sienna was lovely too. I FELT her need to make sure everything was perfect for Madi’s wedding and I liked how this pressure helped her reevaluate a lot in her life too. Jack and Sienna were clearly a match from the start and I looooved all of the forced proximity moments we got between them. Also, I need strawberries ASAP.

The setting was beautiful. In France at a château? SIGN ME UP. It was romantic and brought about a fantastic kissing scene, just the right amount of jealousy from Jack and plenty of time to explore the countryside and local town. I could not put this down and look forward to getting even more stories in this world!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a father (past, mentioned)

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Book Review: The Luck of Finding You (The Nelson Sisters #1) by Taylor Epperson

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 280 pages
Author: Taylor Epperson
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 23rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Can you fall in love with the same person twice?

Exactly five years, five months, and three days ago I spent a single afternoon with a guy, Noah, and promptly fell in love with him. Then he left without leaving a number or his last name.

Now he’s standing above me in the same tiny cafe we met all those years ago. And he’s a grown man with an easy smile that’s making me feel eighteen again. But I don’t fall in love, not anymore.

Which is why I make this promise to myself. I will not fall in love with Noah. Again. Even if I do have to work with him every day for the next year in his Grandma’s book store, thanks to her will.

And I will not fall in love with Mo, my online best friend who’s suggesting that we finally meet in person after two years of talking.

Because in the end, guys always leave, and happily ever afters only exist in romance novels.

CUTE.

I enjoyed this one! It had a cute You’ve Got Mail-esque plot with some decent main characters. I adored the bookstore set-up and the forced proximity. There’s a very fast tempo to the story so if you’re looking for a sweet rom-com to read in a day, this could be it!

The insta-love was a bit of a struggle for me. I think pacing + insta was where it lost me. I have read books where insta-connections work, this though, fell flat. I wanted more depth from the main characters (praises for dual POV at least!). Trying to add in hard backgrounds + everything happening in present time + the romance was a tricky combination that didn’t always succeed.

There is a miscommunication trope here too. It isn’t over the top dramatic but I know this is a controversial trope to use so I figured I’d mention it. I liked the charming moments and the second chance these two took at love. The kissing scenes were nice and swoony and I think book two has the potential to be even better.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a mother (recounted)

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