Gah! I loved this book so much! A Not So Meet Cute just may be my favorite Meghan Quinn book so far. It’s a hilarious enemies-to-lovers fake relationsGah! I loved this book so much! A Not So Meet Cute just may be my favorite Meghan Quinn book so far. It’s a hilarious enemies-to-lovers fake relationship story with a delicious slow burn and an uber hot payoff. I read it straight through.
Huxley is an ambitious millionaire who is sex on a stick. I loved his alpha tendencies as well as his thoughtful heart that he keeps hidden. He has dug himself into a huge hole with an important client by spinning the most ridiculous of lies. The urgency for him to find a fake fiancee is matched only by Lottie’s desperation. It’s about the only thing they have in common.
Lottie dazzles as a feisty, frazzled, down-on-her-luck wildcard. She may be unemployed, poor, and desperate to find a place to live, but she could not care less what Huxley thinks of her, and she doesn’t take his crap—despite his wealth. She gives as good as she gets, and I was there for every second of their verbal sparring. Even though Lottie and Huxley are complete opposites who constantly butt heads, they throw off some serious sparks that eventually ignite the bedroom.
The crazy antics they get involved in while trying to pull off their ruse had me laughing out loud. The ribbing Huxley receives from his brothers is also entertaining. I really hope they get their own books. I could see JP hooking up with Lottie’s sister, Kelsey.
I can’t tell you how many times I had a goofy smile plastered to my face while reading this book. A Not So Meet Cute is a romantic comedy that is sure to brighten your day. Well done, Ms. Quinn.
Recommended for fans of: Fake relationships Romantic comedies Enemies to lovers Billionaire romances Chipotle
Quick. Sexy. Fun. Say Yes is far more enjoyable than I anticipated, especially considering it's less than 60 pages long. And who doesn't love weddingsQuick. Sexy. Fun. Say Yes is far more enjoyable than I anticipated, especially considering it's less than 60 pages long. And who doesn't love weddings?
When an audiobook is narrated by the author, one hopes it will be pretty good. I’m not sure if it’s due to Julia Whelan’s background aAudiobook Review
When an audiobook is narrated by the author, one hopes it will be pretty good. I’m not sure if it’s due to Julia Whelan’s background as an actress or the fact that she speaks her own words that she has written, but her narration of My Oxford Year is exceptional. She is so expressive that it is easy to get wrapped up in the story.
Ella is an ambitious Rhodes Scholar with a bright future in politics. She has left the United States for the first time to study at Oxford for a year. I felt like I was her travel companion experiencing all the sights, sounds, food, and customs that are native to the country right alongside her. Ella and Jamie make a great couple. I appreciated the passion they share—both the intellectual attraction and the physical.
There are so many fun moments, and perhaps it’s my fault for not reading into the blurb closely enough, but I was unprepared for the serious direction the story takes. If I had known it would be so emotional, I might have chosen to read it at a different time. Ella’s decisions toward the end are also rather jarring. Nonetheless, the story is well told and enhanced further by the audio narration. 4.5 stars for the book itself. 5 stars for the audiobook.
Recommended for fans of: England College Tear-jerkers Fish and chips
I’m clearly in the minority here. Based on all the glowing reviews, I expected to be blown away by A Love Letter to Whiskey, which only made my lackluI’m clearly in the minority here. Based on all the glowing reviews, I expected to be blown away by A Love Letter to Whiskey, which only made my lackluster response all the more disappointing.
This is one long, drawn out love story. I’m an angst addict, and yet this tension-filled drama felt a bit overkill even to me. I enjoyed the special moments B and Jamie share, but the timing is never right for them, and their on-again/off-again relationship left me exhausted. I was frequently confused by their choices and the weak excuses that kept them apart.
A Love Letter to Whiskey is written solely from B’s point of view, which I liked, but the epilogue is less than satisfying. However, this fifth anniversary edition includes Love, Whiskey, which is Jamie’s side of the story. I’m not sure his point of view adds much to the story, and if you read the books back-to-back like I did, you’ll notice a lot of dialogue repetition that I skimmed. But the last couple of chapters and his epilogue are totally worth the read. They definitely make up for the original ending.
This was kind of meh for me. The hero is a bit of a jerk, and I thought I'd scream if I heard the heroine whine about wanting a baby one more time. I This was kind of meh for me. The hero is a bit of a jerk, and I thought I'd scream if I heard the heroine whine about wanting a baby one more time. I did like the surprise pregnancy angle though. I will probably read the conclusion of the story at some point, but it's not high up on my TBR pile.
Boyfriend is pure entertainment packed into a quick read.
I really enjoyed the easy friendship between Weston and Abbi. It was so natural to 4.5 stars
Boyfriend is pure entertainment packed into a quick read.
I really enjoyed the easy friendship between Weston and Abbi. It was so natural to fall for both these college students. Abbi’s life is challenging, but Weston gives her an outlet for fun. Abbi helps Weston open his slightly jaded heart.
The most common reasons for pretend relationships in the fake dating trope are to get parents to stop nagging a character about their single status or to make an ex jealous. I liked the fact that this book has more practical reasons. Their families are equally crazy, and I liked seeing them navigate the family gatherings; although, I didn’t see the need to pretend around Weston’s brother.
My one complaint is that the professions of undying love are too sudden, but I can overlook that because the rest of the book is such a treat.
Recommended for fans of: Fake dating Hockey romance College romance Friends with benefits Chicken wings
To sum up The Lost Fisherman: It’s not what I thought it would be. And that’s a good thing. After reading book one, The Naked Fisherman, I had all sorTo sum up The Lost Fisherman: It’s not what I thought it would be. And that’s a good thing. After reading book one, The Naked Fisherman, I had all sorts of notions about where the conclusion of Reese and Fisher’s story was heading. Little did I know how wrong I was.
It was gratifying to see that Reese is no longer the untethered, sheltered, and insecure 18-year-old she was in the first book. Now 23, she is a lively, confident, perceptive woman who has found her calling and passion in life. Fisher is now 33 and at a different stage in his life as well. I loved Fisher and Reese even more as a couple. Their banter is still strong, and I enjoyed their unpredictable journey.
If you’re familiar with Jewel E. Ann’s writing, you know she doesn’t let the reader float blissfully through a story. Fortunately, I like compelling books that make me stop and think—even if they drag me into murky and uncomfortable waters. Be prepared to hold on tight to your convictions only to turn around and question everything. I guarantee you will swoon and then want to toss your Kindle. Laughter with follow anxiety.
The Lost Fisherman is an all-consuming emotional tightrope that I simply could not resist. It is supremely satisfying, and the epilogue is pure perfection!
Recommended for fans of: First loves Second chance romance “It’s complicated”
*I received an early copy to voluntarily read and review.*
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to deduce that Ali Hazelwood has a huge winner on her hands with her debut novel, The Love Hypothesis. I loved everIt doesn’t take a rocket scientist to deduce that Ali Hazelwood has a huge winner on her hands with her debut novel, The Love Hypothesis. I loved every single thing about this book. I didn’t realize just how badly I needed a 100% feel-good love story.
Set in the world of STEM academia, the story follows a cancer research Ph.D. student Olive and her hairbrained fake dating scheme. Her unlikely partner in crime is none other than Dr. Adam Carlson, a lauded scientist and infamously unapproachable tyrant of a professor.
Olive is my girl. She is smart, driven, witty, and selflessly loyal. Her evolution of going from someone who dreaded spending five minutes in Adam’s company to someone who craved time with him is delightful.
As for Adam, who knew there was a funny and—even more surprising—a spicy little gem hidden beneath his intimidating and grumpy lab coat? Not me. He is nothing like how he first appears, and I loved peeling back all his layers. Adam and Olive’s progression from awkward strangers to friends to possibly non-fake boyfriend/girlfriend is wonderful. I also found Olive’s interactions with her BFFs—in particular, her roommate Malcolm—quite amusing.
If you’re looking for an antidote for a gloomy day, bad mood, or just a needed break from reality, I highly recommend this delightful and entertaining story.
Recommended for fans of: Fake Dating Trope Meet Cutes Women in STEM Pumpkin Spice Latte
Given all the 5-star reviews, I’m clearly in the minority here. At least the first third of Rock Paper Scissors is painfully slow, making this thrilleGiven all the 5-star reviews, I’m clearly in the minority here. At least the first third of Rock Paper Scissors is painfully slow, making this thriller less thrilling than I’d hoped. I found the anniversary letters to be rather dull and wanted to fast forward through the flashbacks.
This is the first book I’ve read by Alice Feeney, the purported “queen of the killer twist”, so I expected a plot twist or two. The story does deliver several twists and turns — some more clever and unexpected than others. Unfortunately, they all occur too late in the book to fully make up for the slow start, despite the faster—albeit choppy—rhythm in the last half.
It is an intriguing story that is well written, but the pacing is too off and the characters are largely unappealing. Sometimes I appreciate an untidy ending, and I did enjoy the fact that this one left me thinking.
I’m fairly new to Kate Canterbary’s work, but I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve read so far. I was surprised that Underneath iAudiobook Review
I’m fairly new to Kate Canterbary’s work, but I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve read so far. I was surprised that Underneath it All fell so far short of my expectations.
The book has a ton of sex but very little plot, which makes the sex not only gratuitous but distracting as well. Another big problem is that I did not like the heroine. I could not understand why Lauren was so determined to push Matthew away. I have no idea what he saw in her.
I also think I would have liked this more had I read it instead of listening to the audiobook. The way Lucy Rivers voices the character of Matthew makes him sound like a sleazy creeper. It just didn’t work for me.
Hopefully, the next book in the series will be a winner.
I just finished reading Before Girl—my first Kate Canterbary novel—and really enjoyed it. The author’s note at the end suggested reading this4.5 stars
I just finished reading Before Girl—my first Kate Canterbary novel—and really enjoyed it. The author’s note at the end suggested reading this book to learn about Riley and Alex’s love story, and I’m so glad I dove right in. Preservation was quite the tasty treat—so much so that I want to go back to the beginning of The Walshes series to enjoy the entire meal.
I loved Riley and Alex. Any woman would be lucky to claim Riley Walsh as her man. Rather than being ruled by his demons, he has a fun-loving spirit and a huge heart. Alex Emmerling is a supremely confident surgeon who is tough as nails and abrupt on the outside, but inside she’s insecure and just wants to be loved unreservedly. I liked the way their fake relationship dates and fun outings around Massachusetts help establish a strong friendship which, in turn, creates a slow burn romance. Their relationship is emotionally deep, and once the balance tips towards them being lovers, the build-up pays off in some super hot ways.
I would have loved to see Alex interact with her parents and address some of their conflicts, but I was very amused by Riley’s humorous exchanges with his rowdy family. This entertaining story was very satisfying.
Recommended for fans of: Architecture Surgeons Fake relationships
In writing The Worst Guy, I truly think Kate Canterbary said, “I’m going to give you two of the most complicated, messiest characters I can imagine anIn writing The Worst Guy, I truly think Kate Canterbary said, “I’m going to give you two of the most complicated, messiest characters I can imagine and make you fall in love with them.” If so, mission accomplished. I could not get enough of Sara and Sebastian.
This is a true enemies turned lovers story. Dr. Sebastian Stremmel, a top trauma surgeon, and Dr. Sara Shapiro, a talented reconstructive surgeon, are co-workers who seem to actively detest each other. The pair can’t be in the same room together for more than one minute without antagonizing each other. Their employer-mandated counseling sessions are laugh-out-loud funny, their banter is razor sharp, and they have some of the most explosive hate sex I’ve encountered. Sara and Sebastian are in their late 30’s/early 40’s, and I appreciate stories that prove you can still have steamy romance when you’re older.
Sara is such an intriguing character. She is the poster child for hot messes, but she is also kind to everyone—everyone except Sebastian, that is. I was drawn to every pound of her emotional baggage and mix of contradictions. They add depth, conviction, and passion to the storyline. Her numerous idiosyncrasies—Croutons for snacks, anyone?—are also appealing.
Sebastian has his own less than stellar past. I grew accustomed to his excessive irritability, which I found rather endearing. People-ing is hard work, and as a fellow introvert, I identified with his anti-social tendencies. I also became addicted to Sebastian’s barbs towards Sara, which are both creative and hilarious.
Kate Canterbary knocks it out of the park with The Worst Guy. She defied all my expectations by delivering an irresistibly poignant, witty, and sexy story. I will continue to treasure these remarkable characters.
Recommended for fans of: Enemies to lovers stories Forced proximity Doctors Older characters Picky eaters
*I received an early copy to voluntarily read and review.*
I went gaga over this book, and I really couldn’t tell you why. The beginning has a big hurdle that fortunately I was able to overcome.
Dr. C4.5 stars
I went gaga over this book, and I really couldn’t tell you why. The beginning has a big hurdle that fortunately I was able to overcome.
Dr. Cal Hartshorn is a heart surgeon who has admired sports manager Stella Alessandro from afar every day for the past eight months. He’s too shy to approach her, but when finally forced to talk to her, he suddenly goes from Mr. Bashful to a guy throwing out crude pick-up lines left and right. Completely douchey and it made me not buy the shy guy angle that was pushed so hard, but I fell for him anyway. Like I said, I’m not sure why I enjoyed this story so much, but I did.
Maybe it’s because Cal holds nothing back. There is no playing it cool with this man. He loves intensely and lays all of his feelings for Stella right out there knowing she could step all over his heart. He's giving, supportive, and non-judgemental.
Maybe it’s because Stella is an ambitious, successful, strong woman who enjoys sex and is unapologetic in making sure her… um... needs get met. Or maybe it’s her crazy parents who are wildly entertaining.
Maybe it’s because I love a good dirty talker, and—man, oh man—Cal could teach a master class in the art of panty melting dirty talk.
Maybe it’s because Cal is over 40, Stella is in her mid-30s, and there are precious few sexy romances featuring older main characters. These two burn up the sheets!! I love that even though they’re flawed, they’re old enough to know what they want and mature enough to go after it without wading through a lack of communication and a bunch of unnecessary bs.
I don’t know what it was, but I had a smile on my face throughout. This was the first book by Kate Canterbary I’ve read; I’m already looking for more.
Recommended for fans of: Doctors Romances with older characters Dirty talkers
Break out your fans, ladies and gents, because erotic Marni Mann is back and naughtier than ever! Good Lawd! The Lawyer is one smoking hot book, and tBreak out your fans, ladies and gents, because erotic Marni Mann is back and naughtier than ever! Good Lawd! The Lawyer is one smoking hot book, and there’s no bangxiety. You get the good stuff starting right at chapter one. I would have appreciated a bit more social foreplay before the main characters’ one night stand, but maybe that’s just me.
Okay, let me go ahead and get my objections out of the way. As much as I loved Dominick, he has some degrading, sexist points of view.
“Some women looked like f-ing train wrecks in the morning with bags under their eyes and a weird reddish complexion, terrifying without makeup.”
Um, and men look like Prince Charming when they wake up? I don’t think so.
There’s also a ton of gratuitous cursing on almost every page, and while I’m no prude, calling a woman the “c” word—which Dominick frequently does—makes me bristle.
Despite all of that, I fell for Dominick and his alpha ways. He’s fiercely loyal and protective towards Kendall, not to mention sexy as hell. Seeing this strong man wrapped around his adorable niece’s finger also made me swoon. Dominick may have been reluctant to step into the limelight, but there’s no denying that he and Kendall are a power couple. They deserve a nickname. Kenick? Nickall? Ugh, whatever. Together they are hotter than Hades and positively magnetic.
I don’t blame Kendall’s sister for being rather bitter, but Daisy takes bitchiness to a whole new level. Kendall is the bigger person, though, and I appreciated how genuinely kind she is to everyone. She doesn’t let her rapidly rising celebrity status go to her head. I enjoyed all the wheeling and dealing within the entertainment industry, and I would have loved to have seen even more behind the scenes workings of producing a reality show.
I like my erotica super naughty but on the lighter side, and The Lawyer certainly delivered. It’s a good start to this series.
Recommended for fans of: BDSM-free Erotica Reality TV Sexy lawyers Pancakes
*I received an early copy to voluntarily read and review.*
Oh Alaska, how I’ve missed you! It’s been awhile since I read The Simple Wild and the two books that followed, but I discovered that my love for the rOh Alaska, how I’ve missed you! It’s been awhile since I read The Simple Wild and the two books that followed, but I discovered that my love for the remote Alaska setting and its fictional residents hasn’t diminished one bit. The previous books (all 5-star reads for me) feature the romance between Calla and Jonah. Running Wild is all about Marie, the veterinarian who secretly loved Jonah. It’s a heartwarming story that doesn’t disappoint.
Determined to never be the victim of unrequited love again, Marie has shied away from men, choosing to focus her energy on her struggling veterinary practice instead. She’s a strong woman with a soft heart—compassionate, assured, and supremely competent at her job. I admired how unwavering she is in her dedication to animals.
Although there’s animosity between Marie and Tyler when they first meet, it doesn’t take long for them to realize they share the same devotion to dogs. Tyler is a musher—a person who drives sled dogs for sport. He’s passionate about raising and training healthy and happy huskies for dog sled racing.
I’ve never given much thought to the Iditarod to be honest, but it was wonderful to be immersed in the world of dog sled racing. I was fascinated to learn just how grueling the Iditarod is and the amount of work it takes to maintain a competitive team of dogs. The dogs are basically secondary characters with individual personalities. I loved them!
Despite their magnetic attraction and ease with each other, Tyler is determined not to let his friendship with Marie turn into something more. I loved how honorable and tender he is, but Tyler has issues he’s working through. It’s heartbreaking and frustrating, and I felt bad for Marie’s already bruised heart. Between the back and forth with Tyler, financial problems, and the contentious relationship with her sister, it’s amazing Marie can hold it all together.
I know I’m a greedy reader, but I feel like the ending gets cut short right at the best part. An extended epilogue would have left me more satisfied, but I’m grateful for the big smile that lingered on my face. This book can technically stand on its own, but it’s more enjoyable if you’ve read the previous books. Being reunited with Calla and Jonah was an added treat. Running Wild is a winning addition to a phenomenal series.
Recommended for fans of: Dogs Alaska The Iditarod Veterinarians
*I received an early copy to voluntarily read and review.*
This story was just okay for me — I didn’t love it; didn’t hate it. Ryder is super sweet and understanding. Eden is selfless. I think Audiobook Review
This story was just okay for me — I didn’t love it; didn’t hate it. Ryder is super sweet and understanding. Eden is selfless. I think it comes down to the fact that I couldn’t believe her career wasn’t more of an obstacle in their relationship. Not a lot happens in the story, but there’s very little drama, and for that I was grateful. I also enjoyed their chemistry as a couple. Eden’s brother is a real gem, and I liked Ryder’s housekeeper as well.
I listened to the audiobook, and I must say that I was rather disappointed by Sebastian York and Andi Arndt’s narration. Ryder’s housekeeper is Hispanic, and both of them give a half-hearted attempt—at best—at a Spanish accent. It distracted me. For a professional narrator to not work with a vocal coach to produce a convincing accent is unacceptable in my opinion, and one of my pet peeves as a listener.
The Naked Fisherman is yet another entirely unique story by Jewel E. Ann, filled with flawed and complicated characters. The beginning of the book is The Naked Fisherman is yet another entirely unique story by Jewel E. Ann, filled with flawed and complicated characters. The beginning of the book is rather lighthearted, so I was quite surprised by how emotional it actually is.
The story follows 18-year-old Reese as she grapples with her faith, Mommy issues, sexual awakening, and new adulthood. Reese is directionless when she relocates to Colorado to live with her mom and hopefully mend their fractured relationship. It’s unbelievable to me that after a five-year separation, her mom, Rory, would wait until Reese arrives to casually mention that she’s leaving town for a month. Not off to the best start, but Reese won’t be left alone. Fisher, Rory’s landlord, lives upstairs and has promised to look out for Reese. It only takes a hot minute before she develops a crush on the 28-year-old construction company owner, and I can’t blame her. Reese is one huge helping of shirtless, testosterone-laden yumminess.
This coming of age story reminded me of all the insecurities and uncertainty that comes with quasi-adulthood. My heart ached for Reese and her growing pains. Understandably, Reese’s immaturity frequently shows. It’s that quality in particular that made it challenging for me to picture a healthy partnership with Fisher. For his part, Fisher is less than forthcoming at times, and that plays on her insecurities.
While I’m all for an age gap romance, I couldn’t help but wonder what an 18 year-old girl who is confused and inexperienced could offer a successful 28-year-old man. 10 years is a big age difference, but had they been 25 and 35 it would have been easier to root for them. Reese simply needs more life experience to bring to a relationship.
Jewel E. Ann’s books are rarely black and white. Therefore, even though I sensed that Reese and Fisher’s relationship was doomed from the start, I was invested in being proven wrong. There’s a lot of sneaking around, and the prospect of Fisher and Reese getting caught creates added excitement. I loved their chemistry and banter. Reese must tackle some big decisions in the latter third of the book and it is totally absorbing. I also enjoyed Rory and Reese dealing with some of their mother-daughter issues.
I’m eager to follow Reese’s continued journey in the conclusion, The Lost Fisherman.
Recommended for fans of: Forbidden romance Age gap romance New adulthood Religious doctrine Sexy carpenters
*I received an early copy to voluntarily read and review.*
It seems like the last three Like Us books went off the rails, so I’m happy to say Krista and Becca Ritchie have the series back on track wit4.5 stars
It seems like the last three Like Us books went off the rails, so I’m happy to say Krista and Becca Ritchie have the series back on track with Misfits Like Us. This is Luna and Donnelly’s story that Lunnelly shippers have been waiting for.
I never realized how similar Luna Hale and Paul Donnelly are, even though Luna was born into American Royalty and Donnelly was painfully poor and basically abandoned growing up. They each love sci-fi, they both feel like misfits, and neither one cares what other people think of them. Donnelly not only accepts Luna’s quirks; he understands them. The two really are made for each other, and I enjoyed all the tender and funny moments they share. They are fire.
The biggest obstacle in them becoming a couple is that Luna’s dad, Lo, hates Donnelly. The book delves more into that, as well as the tension between Donnelly and his former client, Beckett. Despite Lo’s animosity towards Donnelly, I loved their banter. It reminds me of the banter between Lo and Rose, and sometimes even the one-upmanship nature of Maximoff and Farrow’s banter.
I’m looking forward to seeing how things shake out with Donnelley’s family and whether Lo can come to terms with Luna and Donnelly being together.
Recommended for fans of: Fan fiction Sci-fi Star-crossed lovers Tattoos
No More Words is written in the third person, and admittedly I believe it is a difficult point of view in which to write. In this particular (updated)
No More Words is written in the third person, and admittedly I believe it is a difficult point of view in which to write. In this particular case, I think the story suffers for it.
Instead of having insights into the main character’s thoughts that might make me sympathetic towards her, I felt detached from Olivia. In truth, I didn’t really like her that much. It made it hard to root for her. Actually, there are very few unlikeable characters.
The beginning of the book intrigued me, but the longer the mystery drags on the less interested I became. By the time I got some solid-ish answers, it felt anti-climactic.
Questions are left unanswered in the end, but I was ready for the story to be over so I didn’t mind. I just found out that this is book one in a trilogy. A trilogy, ya’ll! I think I’ve had enough though.
Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog)
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