Tag Archives: Romance

Book Review: The Upper Crush by Evie Alexander

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The Upper Crush by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (04/17/24)

Summary:

“Because we’re leaping into the unknown and hoping the other person will be there to catch us.” (Kindle edition, 94%).

Lady Estelle and James must work together to make the Foxbrooke festival a success for both their sakes. Estelle knows James to be a bully while James secretly likes Estelle but doesn’t think she’ll be able to see past his reputation. Can Estelle keep herself in check or will her personality and feelings get in the way of the festival planning? Can James redeem himself in her eyes so that she sees him as anything other than a bully?

Keywords:

Romance, Contemporary, Standalone, HEA, Enemies to Lovers, Small Town, Lady, Estate, Rich, Forced Proximity

My Review:

I love a good slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance with dueling POV. The book includes some other good romance tropes like forced proximity, small town, bully turned nice guy, and a bit of love at first sight.

I loved the main characters. I loved the side characters. I even loved the animals/pets. Both Estelle and James are the main characters you can’t believe are single but also can very much understand why they are single. They are both stubborn, strong, and big personality types. Both characters have a different but similar purpose intertwined with their forced proximity situation. They each also had their own backstory that made them very compelling. I really liked how both main characters were completely independent people and didn’t need the other to complete themselves, which made their love even more captivating. They have their flaws but are also the most caring and heartfelt people. Estelle will not hesitate to stand up and protect a woman she thinks is being abused. James will go out of his way for others without a second thought.

The romantic element makes this book so good, especially the slow buildup of the enemies-to-lovers romance that makes the eventual romance so very satisfying. The sexual attraction is always there, even from the beginning. There are a lot of falling-in-love montage moments and overcoming inevitable obstacles before getting to the first of the steamy parts.

The plot holds together the romance well and the dialogue is witty and super fun to read. The climax felt real and well-integrated into the story’s plot and the ending was satisfying with its HEA.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 04/17/2024 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information

Goodreads

Book Review: An Unholy Affair by Evie Alexander

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An Unholy Affair by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (09/14/23)

Summary:

Small-town vicar Eveline puts everyone else first. Her dream is to find the perfect partner, but that doesn’t seem to be in God’s plan… Until she meets Jack. Could he be the one? Jack keeps his profession a secret from his friends and family, his life in France separate from the life he grew up living in the small town of Foxbrooke. It was love at first sight when he saw Eveline but she’s doing God’s work and he’s an escort. Would he be good enough for her?

Keywords:

Forbidden Love, Gender Swapped Priest, Escort, Grumpy V. Sunshine, Love at First Sight, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Standalone, HEA

My Review:

I am so incredibly mad at the townsfolk of Foxbrooke! They take advantage of Eveline’s goodwill. They invade her privacy and her space without thinking about her. She always listens to their woes and solves their problems when her hot water hardly works and her front door barely opens. She lives for her town but they don’t seem to see her as a person with her own feelings and needs. Eveline has real external problems that Jack is poised to fix with his protective mentality. But Jack is also saddled with real internal problems that someone as caring as Evelenine is perfect to fix. I was very invested in Eveline and Jack realizing they were perfect for each other and couldn’t wait for their HEA and personal growth as characters.

Foxbrooke comes alive as a small town. Several different types of people come to Eveline for advice, help, or just a snack and a chat. My favorite side character was the lively and full-of-personality Estelle. She seems like such a character and almost like the opposite of Eveline!

I like how the roles are reversed in this book – where Jack is the escort and Eveline is the vicar. However, neither of them has had a perfect past. They are both flawed. The main characters are what make this book stand out. They are the most compelling. Their story is the page-turner. Their inevitable love and happily ever after is the book high I crave when I read a romance.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 09/14/2023 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information

Book Review: Love ad Lib by Evie Alexander

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Love ad Lib by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (06/13/23)

Summary:

“The vicar’s pigs are gonna fly before you take any risks with your life.” (Kindle edition, 10%)

Henry Foxbrooke wants order, control, and to have a curated life in the financial sector of London’s finest. His family wants him to step into the role as heir to the Foxbrooke estate, settle down, and produce heirs. Libby Fletcher is the brightest most positive personality in the room but she’s also a people pleaser who’s afraid to let go. Libby agreeing to be Henry’s fake girlfriend will solve all their problems, at least temporarily until they inevitably fall for each other. 

Keywords:

romance; romantic; contemporary romance; romcom; romantic comedy; comedy; standalone; love story; HEA; happy ending; happily ever after; funny; sweet; sexy; steamy; heat; funny; hilarious; laugh-out-loud; feel good; humorous; humor; fake romance; small town, steamy, romance, romance series, one bed, fake dating, fake relationship, standalone, grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, fish out of water, celebrity, comedy, stately home, Duke, Duchess, royalty, humor, HEA, love story, love, United Kingdom, Somerset, Bath, Jane Austen, Austen, rural

My Review:

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 06/13/2023 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information

Book Review: Please Live for Me (The Brotherhood Series) by M. W. McKinley

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Please Live for Me (The Brotherhood Series) by M. W. McKinley

A NA Romance Novel published by M.W. McKinley (03/29/23)

Summary:

“Even if our songs seem the same show after show, my solos communicate how I feel on this night, at this show, different from all the others.” (Kindle, 25%).
“It makes me hopeful that other disasters in my life can also turn into the same kind of magic.” (Kindle, 46%).

Brotherhood is back in the UK for a summer tour and this is Rob’s opportunity to convince Emily to give them another chance. Emily and Rob have been in love since they were fourteen, but Emily doesn’t want Rob to be held back by her. She was diagnosed with a lifelong medical condition as a teenager that affects her daily life and Rob has commitments to the band. Will they be able to work everything out before summer ends?

Keywords:

Love, Band, Guitarist, Artist, Tour, England, Bandmates, Best Friends, Brothers, Family, M/F, Dual Timeline

My Review:

First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.

This is the third standalone story in the Brotherhood Series. The common thread between the books in the series is the band: Brotherhood. I love reading more in the world the author has built and we finally get Rob’s story – told as both present and past narrative. There is also the dueling POV’s between Emily and Rob in both past and present. The dance between the two voices and the two timelines is delicate and handled well. The pacing continues throughout the time and POV switching seamlessly and it’s difficult to put the book down because of the richness in voice and emotion.

The characters, their reactions, and their dialogue feels grounded and truthful. Each scene is carefully crafted using all the senses so much so that I felt fully immersed as I read. The details about music, musicianship, and MS felt so real to me. I empathized and rallied behind both Rob and Emily. As someone who used to play music but hasn’t for years the excitement, fervor, and longing in all the descriptions of playing brings me back and makes me nostalgic.

Both Emily and Rob have compelling stories full of emotional pull with rich and complex backstories that feed into their current dilemmas. There are many rare small glimpses into the personal lives of the characters that one would miss in real life but the author is able to highlight. These subtle insights through setting, dialogue, and actions reel you in as a reader as if you’ve been invited to watch something private and amazing going on between and within Emily and Rob. The way Rob is always there for Emily is immensely satisfying in a romance. The way Emily doesn’t want to let go of her independence is tough but also relatable, creating tension between them. Music is present throughout both of their lives as it pulls them together and pulls their story back to Brotherhood.

Overall, this book features beautiful writing, beautiful storytelling and serious relatable issues. If you’re a fan of wholesome and sweet romances, you will love this book. I can’t wait to read the next book by M.W. McKinley.

This novel was published by M.W. McKinley on 03/29/2023 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information:

M. W. McKinley’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: One Night in Foxbrooke by Evie Alexander

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One Night in Foxbrooke by Evie Alexander

A Romance Novella published by Emlin Press (04/14/23)

Summary:

They used to be childhood friends and each secretly had a crush on the other. Now ten years later, they will have one night to see if those feelings are still alive. 

Keywords:

Romance, Contemporary, Standalone, HEA, Star Wars References, Chefs, Childhood Friends, Second Chance Romance

My Review:

I love the author’s writing style but didn’t love this story. I wanted this story to be a full novel. Both the story and the romance felt rushed since the character development and backstory didn’t have enough space to develop in this short novella. There wasn’t enough character development and I didn’t feel a true connection to these characters. They didn’t feel real. Their problems didn’t feel real. Their stakes didn’t feel real.

One part I disliked was the Star Wars references. They felt cheesy and didn’t add to the story for me. It felt like the entire premise of this story was built around these references. They didn’t make the story any more interesting or enjoyable for me and it felt like it was trying too hard.

The most exciting part to me was the catering/restaurant details but there were not enough details to hold my attention as it was side to the romance story.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 04/14/2023 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.25

Author Bio:

Evie Alexander is the award-winning author of best-selling sexy romantic comedies with a very British sense of humor. She takes a method approach to her work, believing her capacity to repeatedly fail at life and love is what has given her such a rich supply of material for her writing.

Her interests include reading, eating, saving the world, and fantasizing about people who only exist between the pages of her books. She lives in the West country with her family.

Links for more information:

Book Review: Broken Perfect Lies by Katie Wismer

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Broken Perfect Lies by Katie Wismer

A Contemporary Romantic Suspense Novel published by Ahimsa Press (02/20/23)

Summary:

Parker lives a double life – her identity as pop sensation Ryker is kept completely separate from her personal life until her secret is leaked to the press. Now that her fans – and her stalkers – know the truth, Parker needs protection but only one person will apply. Heath desperately needs more money. So be it if all he needs to do is babysit a pop star. Out of the loop, Heath doesn’t realize how dangerous the job could be. He doesn’t think he has a choice when it comes to paying the bills. Both their lives will be turned upside down as they start to fall for each other.

Keywords:

Romance, Bodyguard, Pop Sensation, Identity, Secret Identity, Stalker, Fans, Double Life, Fake, Protector, Suspense, Steamy

My Review:

I was riveted from page one. The way that the author slowly revealed what happened to Parker was torturous. It was such juicy gossip and I just had to know what happened to cause Parker such grief. I was hooked on Parker’s story as well as Heath’s story. They both had such compelling backstories that endeared them to me as characters but also humanized them.

I felt Parker’s grief and she carried that burden with her throughout the whole novel in multiple aspects of her life. Parker didn’t just get over what happened and she never forgot it. I really appreciated how well handled the event and its consequences were for her What happened was completely devastating and catastrophic to Parker for her future, her emotional well-being, and her identity.

The story was fast-paced and quite the page-turner. The only part that made me pause was the transition from protector/friend to lover. It felt abrupt and didn’t follow the story’s tone up to that point. I wanted them to get to that point but I didn’t like how it happened. It didn’t feel completely real and seemed to come out of nowhere.

I also appreciated that there were not an overwhelming amount of sex scenes. Heath doesn’t ever talk down to Parker and his nickname for her isn’t something diminutive.

The amount of tension and action borders on ridiculous but also drives home the message that celebrities are denied basic privacy and have a real need for bodyguards even after they move on from their pop star lives.

This novel was published by Ahimsa Press 02/20/23 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information:

Katie Wismer’s Website

Goodreads

Book Review: Musical Games (Kinloch Series, #4) by Evie Alexander

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Musical Games (Kinloch Series, #4) by Evie Alexander

A Comedic Romance Novel published by Emlin Press (01/27/23)

Summary:

Sam wants more. Bigger roles. Better roles. Making up an excuse to leave behind her life as a small-time soap opera star for a week, she heads to Scotland to meet Hollywood’s big star Brad. She meets Jamie instead, a homebody who still loves with his mother, and works at his dead-end electrician’s job day in and day out. Jamie has never left Scotland and is perfectly content to continue living with his mother, even in his late twenties. Sam’s arrival shakes up his routine and he can’t stop thinking about her. Sam can’t stop thinking about Jamie but is determined to use Brad to get ahead in her career. Will she get sidetracked by Jamie or will he be the best thing to ever happen to her life?

Keywords:

Romance, Contemporary, Standalone, HEA, Scotland, Sweet, Sex Scenes, Humor, Opposites Attract, Hollywood, Scotland, Scottish

My Review:

Another book set in the Kinloch series! I love that the author brings us a new story and new depth to characters from the other books of the series. Jamie is sweet and broody while Sam is career and future-focused. This book felt like a gender role reversal where the man is the good-looking yet sexually inexperienced main character while the woman is the lively and hot breadwinner. 

While Jamie is the hunky male hero, you’ll have to go along with the fact that he is a sex God virgin. Don’t roll your eyes but everything he learned, he learned from reading raunchy romance novels. Jamie has never had a girlfriend, never been kissed, and never had sex before. He is also poor at communicating, assumes that Sam will see how much he has fallen for her without actually saying anything, and also believes she’s too good for him and won’t want to slow down her life to accommodate him in it. I thought the relationship aspects of Jamie and how he approached his infatuation with Sam as so believable. Of course, someone who was never in a romantic relationship before wouldn’t know how to communicate with their partner! Apparently, Jamie didn’t learn how to talk to Sam about his feelings from those same raunchy romance novels. This is the kind of book and the kind of relationship-inexperienced character that makes you want to yell, “just tell her how you feel, man!” 

The idea and main plot, just like the previous books in the series, were well-executed, simple, and clean yet there’s always something going on.

I am very drawn to the romance, the writing style, and the intriguing plot of the Kinloch Series.

If you love over-the-top dreamy protagonists – even flawed they seem so unattainable in their perfection – you will absolutely enjoy this book and this series.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

This novel will be published by Emlin Press on 01/27/2023 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.50

Author Bio:

Evie Alexander is the award-winning author of best-selling sexy romantic comedies with a very British sense of humor. She takes a method approach to her work, believing her capacity to repeatedly fail at life and love is what has given her such a rich supply of material for her writing.

Her interests include reading, eating, saving the world, and fantasizing about people who only exist between the pages of her books. She lives in the West country with her family.

Links for more information:

Book Review: Ex Appeal (Ponto Beach Reunion Book 3) by Cathy Yardley

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Ex Appeal (Ponto Beach Reunion Book 3) by Cathy Yardley

A Romance published by Montlake (11/01/22)

Summary:

Vinh is on the fast track to make it big, until suddenly one of his accounts loses millions and the only one to blame is him. Or is he being set up? Locked out of the company and the accounts, Vinh will have no choice but to turn to the one person he trusts to hack the hacker, retrieve the money, and clear his name. Will she still be mad at him for breaking up with her ten years ago when her life was suddenly turned upside down or can he convince her to help him?

Emily was on track to graduate college, get a great job, and put her tech skills to use. But that was ten years ago, before her dad died, she dropped out of college to support her mother, and set aside her dreams. Now she works a tech support job, lives at home, and is barely making ends meet. When Vinh comes to her with a proposal, she wants to turn him down, but she could really use the money. She’s kept up with her hacking skills but is still angry with Vinh for the way he broke up with her all those years ago.

Keywords:

Romance, Friendship, Contemporary, Second Chance Romance, Exes, Hacker, Forced Proximity, Dual POV, Popularity, Heartbreak, Career Focused, Tech Support, Finances

My Review:

Another great Ponto Beach Reunion book! I absolutely loved the deep dive into both Vinh and Emily. They have real problems and are still not over each other. Emily is angry at Vinh for what he did. Vinh is still in love with her. The forced situation and forced proximity are the perfect setup to let this romance simmer and stew. The author is an expert at setting up situations between the main characters. 

Both Emily and Vinh are relatable and full of personality. I loved every time they were together and all the time they spent apart. I was rooting for them from the very beginning, even before I learned more about their previous breakup. 

From previous novels, I didn’t like Vinh. He seemed cold and distant and completely career-oriented and nothing more. That all changed when I read the chapters from his POV. The author truly brings him alive. 

I love capable characters who find themselves in bad situations. Emily is an excellent hacker with skills she hasn’t let get too rusty. She just got stuck living paycheck to paycheck to support her mom and their living-beyond-their-means big house that their dad mortgaged into debt to afford. There is a believable reason for all the choices Emily has made in the last ten years but as a whole the current situation she’s in is so sad. As a strong, capable, intelligent person she is stuck. She’s not just stuck in her situation; she’s stuck in her head. There are both internal and external factors holding her back and she grows so much during the course of this story. You’ll be rooting for her and for Vinh the whole time. 

This novel was published by Montlake on 11/01/2022 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Cathy Yardley’s Website

Book Review: The Beauty of Perhaps by Eryn Scott

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The Beauty of Perhaps by Eryn Scott

A Romance Novel published by Kristopherson Press (05/02/17)

Summary:

Molly has her life together… Same dinner dates every week. Same boyfriend. Same job. Smooth and predictable. Until her boyfriend breaks up with her because she’s boring. No boyfriend, no job, and nothing holding her back from trying out some impulsivity in her life. She gets accepted for a teaching job on the remote Scottish island Lilliebrae. Will she defy her predictable-loving nature or learn to accept some adventure and newness in her life?

Keywords:

Chick Lit, Romance, Contemporary, Love at First Sight, Friendship, Scotland, Travel, Painting, Parents, Baggage

My Review:

This book felt like a coming of age for a middle-twenties protagonist – which I absolutely loved! Like a quarter-life crisis that happens post-college. It was so rewarding to watch Molly’s growth as she changed throughout this book. There was as much self-growth for Molly as there was romance, which I appreciated. It wasn’t just Molly going through growth, but also her romantic partner Gates. I was pleasantly surprised that both Molly and Gates were fleshed out and given depth as characters. They were each compelling and flawed in their own way.

I absolutely loved the setting. I was instantly transported to the island of Lilliebrae. I could see it in the picturesque views and feel it in the tone of the place and the way the local townsfolk talked and acted. At times the local brogue was a bit difficult to parse and it took me out of the story as I tried to interpret what the characters were saying.

I really enjoyed how unique each of the other minor characters was, especially all the children! This really added to the meatiness of the novel. Solid contemporary read.

This novel was published by Kristopherson Press on 05/02/2017 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.25

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Eryn Scott’s Website

Book Review: In Her Way by Eryn Scott

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In Her Way by Eryn Scott

A Romantic Suspense Novel published by Kristopherson Press (09/08/15)

Summary:

Julep is in the midst of launching her first business – a dentist’s office. Everything is going to plan until it isn’t.

Keywords:

Chick Lit, Romance, Mystery, Contemporary, Love at First Sight, Dentist, Friendship

My Review:

The characters were not that interesting. I didn’t feel very invested in them or the outcome of their relationships. I did not relate to them or care what happened to them. They felt flat and with very little depth. The main character’s thoughts were too surface level and there was too much inner monologuing and speaking directly to the reader.
I wanted more action and less telling. Even with what little was going on (there was a definitive beginning, middle, and end) I just didn’t feel engaged in the story. There didn’t seem to be much going on in the beginning half of the story and by the time the main plot was revealed, I just didn’t care. It was cliche, not very well thought out, and not very well written. It didn’t feel like there were any stakes in the first half and by the time there were stakes, they didn’t feel believable.
Kaylee and the way she was written annoyed me the most. She didn’t feel realistic. It seemed like she was the glue holding the plot together amidst this laughable romance between Andrew and Julep. I wouldn’t have finished if I wasn’t reading a physical book.
I loved the premise of the book but the execution fell far short.

This novel was published by Emlin Press on 09/08/2015 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 2.50

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Eryn Scott’s Website