Tag: Contemporary Romance (Page 14 of 86)

BOOK REVIEW: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

July 7, 2023 / Jen / 4 Comments

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.

Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and arrogant older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And he’s the same Jack Smith who rules over the physics department at MIT, standing right between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?

Review:

Love, Theoretically was a heartwarming, academic romance. With a smidgen of enemies to lovers, this book was so easy to binge in a day!

I hate that I look at Jack Smith, with his good jaw and his good dimples and those good hands, and find him handsome.

Elsie Hannaway was a theoretical physicist. She wanted to be a researcher, yet she was currently adjuncting at three different colleges. So on the side to help pay for her bills, she was a fake girlfriend. Her favorite client’s older brother was Jack Smith. Who was my favorite *screams*, totally not biased at all haha! Yet when Elsie went on an interview for a dream job, she realized Jack was actually Dr. Jonathan Smith-Turner, the head of the MIT Physics Institute. Elsie hated that man with a passion. His past published work ruined her mentor’s career and undermined her career field. So with her nemesis standing in the way of her dream job, Elsie was determined, focused and set to get that job!

I remember his hands, warm, unwavering around my waist, a hushed settle down murmured against my temple, and I suppress a shiver. Have I mentioned that I hate him?

My heart hurt for Elsie. Her shock at who Jack was, was so palpable. She got it all wrong. And during that interview dinner, I was laughing way too hard. Jack had no problems messing with her and I loved that. But what I loved most of all was that Elsie was finally herself with Jack. With everyone else, she tried to be who they wanted her to be. Even with her best friend. With Jack, she was always true to herself. She let him know she hated him. She let him know what he did to her field and how she has struggled because of that. She let it all out! As she continued to go through the interview process over the days, I loved that she killed it time and again! Yet Elsie could definitely be her own worst enemy. By not being herself. By reading other people wrong. By blinding following along. And at times being clueless and assuming too much.

I notice it, the amused gleam in his eyes, like he knows exactly what I’m trying to say. I press my lips together, because I don’t want to encourage him, I don’t want to smile, but I’m about to. “I hate you.”
“Sure you do.”

While Jack Smith was closed off with his expressions and feelings, I just knew that time and again Elsie had to be reading him wrong. Her preconceived notions made her see him in a completely different light than who he truly was. I loved how he interacted with his brother. I loved how much passion he had. But most of all, I loved when Jack would mess with Elsie. It felt like he secretly liked her. So when he could see through her BS, facades and called her out on it, I was cheering! He seemed to want what was best for her. Even if he did damage her field of study in the past, but I knew there had to be a solid reason behind it. He didn’t seem like the type to not have reasons behind his actions. So as we got to watch Jack stand up for Elsie and protect her, I continued to fall for him. He not only showed that he cared, but he was smart, kind, compassionate and beyond sexy. And as Jack got vocal, sigh, he completely had me melting into a puddle!

“Bold of you to assume that the real me is my best hand.” That stupid, crooked half smile is back.
“Foolish of you to think it isn’t.”

Jack and Elsie’s progression had me grinning from ear to ear. I loved the banter and sexual tension between them. I loved that it wasn’t aways easy. So as they slowly started to become friends, I loved watching them build that foundation. And when more happened, ohhh their story was so steamy! The side characters were my absolute fabulous too. I adored Jack’s Grandma, his brother and Elsie’s bestie too. AND we got to see Adam and Olive from The Love Hypothesis *cheers*! My only hiccup with this book was I hate being pulled out of a story. I don’t mind pop references, but political people no matter if I adore or hate them are a big no for me. There were multiple references and each time it appeared on the pages I was pulled out of my happy place and put into the real world. I desperately need a break from the real world when I’m reading and this book didn’t fully give me that, sigh.

“You could be my entire world,” he whispers in my ear before moving to my collarbone. “If you let me.”

This was just one of those stories where it’s so easy to sit down and read it in a day. It flowed so quickly and was so much fun! While The Love Hypothesis still holds the spot as my favorite Ali Hazelwood book, this story was so much fun! It’s also a great book to buddy read with a friend and talk about! I loved how binge worthy this story was, and I’m hoping that Ali’s next book will hopefully become my next favorite story ever!

BOOK REVIEW: The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

July 6, 2023 / Jen / 2 Comments

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached.

Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie?

Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work but when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.

Review:

With a fun and flirty vibe, The True Love Experiment was so easy to devour! This story took place one year after The Soulmate Equation, and I definitely recommend reading that book first! There were so many easter eggs for feelings! This time around, a company was using the dating technology within a tv show. And watchers got to determine who would progress to the next level. Connor was in charge of the show and I loved that he knew he needed Fizzy to be the leading lady. So when Fizzy, an author, threw out that the males had to be tropey oh my heart exploded. I couldn’t wait to see how it all unfolded!

The world seems intent on beating us down, and I don’t remember the last time I was genuinely happy.

Fizzy was so different then I perceived her in The Soulmate Equation. She came across as bubbly, happy and fun in the previous book and in listening to her thoughts in this story she was cynical, jaded and could be harsh on men. She was stuck in a writing block, didn’t know if true love was for her and hadn’t had sex in a year. My heart hurt for her. But I struggled connecting with her at first. She could be so harsh and was quick to judge Connor without blinking an eye. She had no problems assuming and painting others as a villain. I was so thankful when I got to page 58 because then I finally saw the Fizzy I had fallen in love with! She started to mess with Connor and I loved that her playful ways were coming out! And I love that her friends were horrified when they learned that her first impression of him was soooo wrong *cheers for Connor!*. While Fizzy wasn’t one my favorite Christina Lauren character, I was so happy to see that she grew in leaps and bounds. And I loved her by the end of this story!

You’re going to be setting her up with other men. The reminder crashes into the forefront of my thoughts, and I blink away.

I loved Conor within those first few pages. I loved that he would agree to her outlandish terms! I loved how he had such an open and honest relationship with his ex, the mother of his daughter. That warmed my heart how he could confide and talk to her. She was such an amazing best friend for him. And I loved how they co-parented their daughter. Connor was sexy, good hearted, kind and loyal. The company Connor worked for was making a major pivot from socially conscious programming to reality television. And Connor was in charge. I was happy to know that he wasn’t aware of who Fizzy’s true match was, so I kept trying to guess as the pages unfolded. But at the same point, I was wondering how Connor would match up with her since there was a definite spark between them. And as Connor was in the background during the shoots, Fizzy couldn’t ignore him. She was pulled to him, as strongly as he was pulled to her!

I know what love looks like— and I’ve written it so many times— but I’ve never felt it myself.

I loved watching Connor and Fizzy form a true friendship as the story progressed. It was so effortless, once they got past their beginning hiccups. And we got to alternate this story between the two of them! Yet Fizzy wanted more. And I loved seeing how Connor wasn’t capable of compartmentalizing his feelings like Fizzy. He knew he couldn’t get his heart invested. So with Connor being the voice of reason, I wondered how long that would last haha. Because lines were crossed. And they both made not the best life decisions. Especially with contracts dictating behavior ack. So while their times were hot, they were also a recipe for disaster. And I kept waiting for it all to blow up in their faces. I loved them together, but it left a bad taste in my mouth that she wasn’t being in good faith for the show.

“This is a plot twist I should have expected,” I grumble.

So while I had so much fun devouring this story, I still had my hiccups. I struggled with Fizzy’s behavior at times, I didn’t like an aspect of Connor’s past, and their struggle later in the book just showed me that they could both be dumb at times *shrugs*. But things have a way of working out the way it should, and I loved the ending of this story! If you’re looking for a beach read and don’t have some of my issues, then this book is definitely will be it!

The sneakiest of thoughts escapes, unguarded: As great as these Heroes are, none are him.

BOOK REVIEW: Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

May 3, 2023 / Jen / 4 Comments

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Bearded, bad-boy barber Knox prefers to live his life the way he takes his coffee: Alone. Unless you count his basset hound, Waylon.

Knox doesn’t tolerate drama, even when it comes in the form of a stranded runaway bride.

Naomi wasn’t just running away from her wedding. She was riding to the rescue of her estranged twin to Knockemout, Virginia, a rough-around-the-edges town where disputes are settled the old-fashioned way…with fists and beer. Usually in that order.

Too bad for Naomi her evil twin hasn’t changed at all. After helping herself to Naomi’s car and cash, Tina leaves her with something unexpected. The niece Naomi didn’t know she had. Now she’s stuck in town with no car, no job, no plan, and no home with an 11-year-old going on thirty to take care of.

There’s a reason Knox doesn’t do complications or high-maintenance women, especially not the romantic ones. But since Naomi’s life imploded right in front of him, the least he can do is help her out of her jam. And just as soon as she stops getting into new trouble he can leave her alone and get back to his peaceful, solitary life.

At least, that’s the plan until the trouble turns to real danger.

Review:

Do you ever feel like you read a completely different book then everyone else? Or do you struggle comparing the tropes in one book to other books where they were done so beautifully that they were forever etched in your brain? Whelp that is me and Things We Never Got Over. I kept seeing this book all over bookstagram and I was so happy that our book club ended up picking this one to read. I jumped head first into the story and loved the beginning. But somewhere before the 100 page mark I could close the book and easily walk away. I wanted a book that was going to make me fall head over heels in love, but what I was left with was an emotional story that was just okay for me. So here are some of my favorite things and hiccups I had with this story….

“Why don’t you ever fucking listen?” he grumbled, lips moving against my hair.
“Because sometimes people don’t know how to ask for what they really need. You needed a hug.”
“No. I didn’t,” he rasped. He was quiet for a long moment, and I listened to his heartbeat. “I needed you.”

Some of my favorite things:
*I loved Naomi’s thoughts and her sarcasm.
*I loved the horrible meet cute, it felt like hate at first sight!
*I adored the small town setting.
*The friendships where the type where they will forever have your back.
*My favorite character was Waylay, and I don’t think a child in a book has ever been my top favorite character in a book *shrugs*.
*Nicknames – Not Tina and Daisy
*Found family

He was unfairly gorgeous. Too bad about the whole terrible personality thing.

My hiccups:
*It was soooo long, and I love my books long.
*Territorial. I have NEVER used this as a complaint towards a character. Knox and his caveman ways should have made me fall for him hard. But his ‘get your ass in the truck’ type of comments rubbed me the wrong way.
*It took forever to get to that first kiss.
*I loved the sex scenes, but some of the descriptions just pulled me straight out of the moment. Like…her quivering pu**y.
*Peeing off a deck. As someone who spent her first 20 years camping in the middle of nowhere, this shouldn’t bug me but I think I wasn’t ever a fan of Knox or any of his ways *sad sigh*.

This story went from hilarious to emotional drama to a criminal plot and I don’t know how I feel about that. It was a little bit of everything mixed together and I was left thinking of my favorite books with those aspects instead of reflecting on this story. With forced proximity, some enemies to lovers and the grumpy sunshine trope, this book should have been a slam dunk. But it wasn’t. Maybe I was off? Or maybe this author just isn’t for me. I’m going to try By a Thread the next time I feel like reading one of her books. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that book works for me!

BOOK REVIEW: Full Measures (Flight & Glory #1) by Rebecca Yarros

March 28, 2023 / Jen / 2 Comments

Full Measures (Flight & Glory #1)
by Rebecca Yarros
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
She knew. That’s why Mom hadn’t opened the door. She knew he was dead.

Twenty years as an army brat and Ember Howard knew, too. The soldiers at the door meant her dad was never coming home. What she didn’t know was how she would find the strength to singlehandedly care for her crumbling family when her mom falls apart.

Then Josh Walker enters her life. Hockey star, her new next-door neighbor, and not to mention the most delicious hands that insist on saving her over and over again. He has a way of erasing the pain with a single look, a single touch. As much as she wants to turn off her feelings and endure the heartache on her own, she can’t deny their intense attraction. Until Josh’s secret shatters their world. And Ember must decide if he’s worth the risk that comes with loving a man who could strip her bare.

Review:

Why was it so damn hard to breathe?

Full Measures was an emotionally powerful book. With healing and love woven together, this story was impossible not to cry while reading. I was looking for a New Adult romance that would be an angsty, emotional ride and this fit that need perfectly!

I placed my right hand on the chilled exterior of the coffin and stifled my cry with my left. “I love you,” the whisper broke from me. “I miss you, and I don’t know what to do without you,” I cried. I dragged the frost- bitten air through my lungs. “But don’t you worry about them, not Grams, or Mom, April, or Gus. I will take care of them, I promise.”

Full Measures started out with an emotional bang. It was impossible not to sob your eyes out. Or cry through that first chapter. It was horrific watching Ember Howard’s whole world blow up in her face. Losing her father. Watching her mother turn into a shell of a woman of who she was. And she was left trying to help take care of her younger siblings, while not drowning in her own grief. Watching Ember try and keep it together while everyone else fell apart had me lost in her agony. This book radiated her pain, and it was impossible not to feel every single thing Ember did.

I wanted someone to hold me, to tell me it was going to be okay, to assure me that my life hadn’t ended with Dad’s. I wanted solace, and comfort, and not to think about it for a while. Wasn’t there anyone else who could help carry the weight of this house?

Josh Walker stumbled upon Ember on the most horrific day of her life. He had gone to school with her and was her little brother’s hockey coach. His compassion was beautiful. And I loved how he was always there. That he could lend a hand and tried his best to help out where he could. Yet Ember had her walls infinitely high. She had a boyfriend. Who I dubbed as a complete douche bag. And a mother, sister and little brother that she now was like a parent to. But one of my favorite things about Josh was that he would just show up. Where others would say if you need help just ask, he stepped in there and helped. It was impossible not to fall for how kind Josh’s heart and soul were.

“She’s going to be okay, eventually.”
“So are you.” He squeezed my hand gently before quickly pulling it away, careful not to brush the skin of my knee just below my hem.

Josh and Ember together felt inevitable. Yet they didn’t have an easy path. It slowly started out as friendship. And I loved how that led to more. Ember was so focused on doing what was right for her family. And I loved that Josh could then help focus Ember on her life. What she wanted to do. Josh was considerate, patient, understanding, protective, caring and such a beautiful book boyfriend. Yet Josh had been the ultimate player. And had girls fawning over him left and right. I loved two of the names Ember gave them haha.

“God, Ember.”
I said the only thing I could think of. “More.”
He lifted his head, staring into my eyes like he could see through my soul. “This isn’t what you want.”

My notes while reading consisted of tears, more tears and that I couldn’t stop sobbing throughout this story. Ember’s loss and her family’s struggle to survive while going through the motions gutted me. The emotions were so intense, real. At times it felt like I was suffocating in all of their grief and I couldn’t stop the tears that constantly kept pooling in my eyes. YET in the pages was also a beautiful love story. And another beautiful story about family healing. It was a rough journey, but by the end of his book my heart was so happy!

“Oh, and Ember?” I blinked in response. “I’m still your whatever, for whatever you need.”

Secrets can never stay hidden, for long. And Josh had one that could tear him and Ember apart. So I loved watching the struggle and the path it took. The clarity moment was so beautiful! Yet I did have a hiccup with this story. Some of the lines just didn’t work for me. And while I do love cheesiness, I just wasn’t looking for it now. I think if I would have read this story when it first came out, it would have worked perfectly for me. But regardless, I’ll be jumping into the next book. I’m excited that Josh’s roommate is getting his own story. And while Josh and Ember’s story ended on a happily for now, you just know they will get their happily ever after. And I’m hoping we’ll get to see it in a future book!

BOOK REVIEW: Always Mine (Honey Mountain #1) by Laura Pavlov

March 27, 2023 / Jen / 2 Comments

Always Mine (Honey Mountain #1)
by Laura Pavlov
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
He fights fires for a living, but the flames building between us may be too big to extinguish.

Niko West is the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Six feet, four inches of broody, chiseled Greek god in a firefighter suit.
He’s also been my best friend since kindergarten.
He always says the only solid thing in his life is our friendship.
He’s Honey Mountain's favorite player and I’m what you’d call a relationship girl.
But when I find myself single for the first time since turning sixteen, I make Niko an offer he can’t refuse.
Who better to show me what I’ve been missing?
But now that we’ve crossed that line, I don’t know if friendship is enough for me.

**This is book 1 in the Honey Mountain Series. Each one can be read as a complete standalone. A HEA is guaranteed!**

Review:

Always Mine was a charming, friends to lovers romance. It was set in a beautiful town, that I pictured as the Donner Lake area. And with that small town charm, adorable characters, and a storyline that was easy to devour, this was such a quick read! I buddy read this friends and there was lots to talk about. Including some of the hiccups I had too.

Vivian had been the only good thing in my life for as long as I could remember. My only constant. I’d never fuck that up.

Niko West had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He had put his life on hold to take care of his mom and sister when his dad had gone to jail. And his childhood hurt my heart. His dad had abused him. A lot of times he would escape to Vivian’s house and sneak into her bedroom window to find solace with his best friend. Now as an adult, he had so much responsibility on his shoulders taking care of his sister, niece and mom. All while being a firefighter. Thankfully his bestie Vivi was still a shining star in his life. And I loved how the guys at the firehouse were there for him too.

“One time, Honey Bee. Then we go back to normal,” I said against her ear, nibbling on her lobe before I could stop myself.

Vivian had also put her life on pause while helping take care of her family. I adored her large family of sisters and her dad who was the head of the fire department. She was a baker and was so easy to click with. So when she found herself finally single, she propositioned Niko something he couldn’t refuse. She wanted him to teach her what she’d been missing. I loved that she spoke her mind. I love that she was bold and brave. When Vivi and Niko were together, they were so sexy and cute together. Their friendship was beautiful and I loved how they would do anything for each other. But when you mix friendship and more, the lines get very blurry and grey. Yet there wasn’t a lot of angst between them. The struggles in this book were found with other characters.

She was the light that shined through all of the darkness.

With friendship, jealousy, small town drama, family and love, this book had a lot going for it. There was a scene that left my palms sweaty and nervous for who was going to be okay. A few other moments that made me have tears in my eyes. And I didn’t expect there to be so many steamy scenes, which played in nicely. The story ended with a wonderful happily ever after and set us up to want her sister’s stories in the future books. Yet I had a few hiccups. I struggled with Niko’s mom, although hate would probably be a better word to describe how I felt towards her. And there weren’t visual descriptions about the characters. So while they easily stood out by name, I struggled seeing them in my head. And when I read a book I want it to play out like a movie in my head. That could never happen. So I may give the next book a try, or not. I haven’t decided yet.

Tragedy had a way of reminding you how precious life was.
Reminding you about what mattered most.
About what was most important.
Love and family were everything.