Tag: Contemporary Romance (Page 1 of 88)

BOOK REVIEW: Aloha, Seattle by Morgan Gauthier

March 8, 2025 / Jen / 0 Comments

Aloha, Seattle by Morgan Gauthier
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
There are three things you should know about Cate Ortega. One, she's a jet-setting flight attendant who never takes vacations. Two, she's competitive enough to lose friends over a game of Monopoly. And three, she's recently been dumped by her pilot ex-boyfriend for the blonde, new hire.

So, when a man calls out her name in the coffee shop and she absent-mindedly responds, Cate quickly realizes her private and routine life is about to be turned upside down. Theo asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend before his brother walks in and against all logic and reason, she agrees.

But when meeting Theo's brother turns into her attending his brother's wedding weekend in Hawaii, Cate and Theo make a deal. She'll pretend to be his girlfriend for the wedding and meet his entire family, if he goes to her company's New Year’s Eve party as her date, showing her ex-boyfriend that she's moved on.

Once the year ends, so will their relationship. But when they're forced to spend more time together than originally agreed upon, Cate starts to wonder if she'll be able to walk away, or if what started off as fake could be turning into something real.

Review:

Aloha, Seattle was a fake dating romance that I fell head over heels in love with. The story was entertaining, the characters were memorable, and I found myself smiling from that first page to the last. This was my first book by Morgan Gauthier, and I definitely plan on reading all of her backlist!

And there it is. For a moment I forgot I was there to deceive them. I am here to fulfill my end of the bargain. I gulp down my feelings and nod.

Cate and Theo’s meet cute was so adorable! Theo told his family he was dating someone named Cate, so when he yelled her name in the coffee shop and she responded, I couldn’t stop smiling. In walked Theo’s brother, and their fake dating games began. By that second chapter I kept finding myself laughing, this book made me so happy!

“Wow.” I take the drink and stare at my feet. “First you remember the book I was reading when we first met and now my coffee order. If I knew any better,” I look up at him through my lashes, “I’d think you were trying to impress me.”
“Maybe I am.”

Theo was a Greek famous chef who was such a sweetheart. I loved how thoughtful he could be, like making plans for Thanksgiving so she wouldn’t be alone. And I loved how he remembered stuff when it came to Cate. So when his protective side came out, I was swooning so hard! Theo was a book boyfriend you will easily fall for!

A woman can only handle so much humiliation before ultimately giving up the will to live.

Cate was so relatable and easy to click with! I loved how she worked out things in her head and could be self conscious at times. So there were definitely a few times where I wanted to die of embarrassment for her. But when she let herself go when she was around Theo, I loved how effortless their friendship formed. How they both made each other happy. It was so easy to fall in love, right along with them!

One cup of coffee was all it took for me to fall under her spell.

One of my favorite things about fake dating is when they start to cross or blur the line. Between what is fake, and what is real. And this story did that so beautifully! So with text messages that will warm your heart, Friends references, family time, a beautiful trip, and coffee, I loved Aloha, Seattle! If you’re a fan of romance books that make you laugh out loud and fall in love, definitely add this one to your tbr! I can’t recommend it enough!

BOOK REVIEWS: How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams & The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen

March 7, 2025 / Jen / 0 Comments

How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
One daring to-do list and a crash course in flirtation turn a Type A overachiever’s world upside down.

When her flailing department lands on the university's chopping block, Professor Naya Turner’s friends convince her to shed her frumpy cardigan for an evening on the town. For one night her focus will stray from her demanding job and she’ll tackle a new kind of to-do list. When she meets a charming stranger in town on business, he presents the perfect opportunity to check off the items on her list. Let the guy buy her a drink. Check. Try something new. Check. A no-strings-attached hookup. Check…almost.

Jake makes her laugh and challenges Naya to rebuild her confidence, which was left toppled by her abusive ex-boyfriend. Soon she’s flirting with the chance at a more serious romantic relationship—except nothing can be that easy. The complicated strings around her dating Jake might destroy her career.

Naya has two options. She can protect her professional reputation and return to her old life or she can flirt with the unknown and stay with the person who makes her feel like she's finally living again.

Review:

With an adorable cute meet cute that ended in disaster, How to Fail at Flirting, snagged me from that first chapter. The characters stood out and were easy to root for. The angst and drama were wonderfully done. There were serious moments and an emotionally abusive relationship that was handled in a thoughtful way. And I loved Naya’s found family, her best friends were so supportive. With a fun and flirty vibe, along with some deeper moments, How to Fail at Flirting was a hit!

The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
She thought it was love. Then he vanished.

On an ordinary Monday morning, Ariel Cafferty's phone buzzes with a disturbing text message. Something’s happened. I need to see you. Meet me under the candelabra tree ASAP. The words would be jarring from anyone, but the sender is the only man she ever loved. And it's been several years since she learned he died.

Seeing Drew’s name pop up is heart-stopping. Ariel’s gut says it can’t be real. But she goes to the tree anyway. She has to.

Nobody shows. But the text upends everything she thought she knew about the day he left her. The more questions she asks, the more sinister the answers get. Only two things are clear: everything she was told five years ago is wrong, and someone is still lying to her.

The truth has to be out there somewhere. To safeguard herself—and her son—she’ll have to find it before it finds her. And with it, the answer to what became of Drew.

For fans of Laura Dave and Julie Clark, but with a heart-stopping romance that only Sarina Bowen can execute, The Five Year Lie is a page-turning, spine-tingling thriller that will have you guessing until the very end.

Review:

The Five Year Lie was a mysterious thriller that gripped me from the first chapter. This story was an easy one to devour, especially since we got moments from the past too. It painted a bigger picture, and I loved watching Ariel and Drew fall for each other. Trying to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together had me turning those pages faster. And while I got a good portion of it right, I loved how intricate this story became! This one also hit emotionally hard, and I shed a few tears. If you’re a fan of thrillers that have romance laced throughout the story, definitely add this one to your tbr! I’m excited to see what Bowen writes next in this genre!

Three weeks ago, my biggest problem was which summer day camps Buzz might enjoy – would he prefer Mad Science? Or the one at the arts center?
Then a text message from a dead man blew our lives apart with the force of a grenade. Now I know what it means to be scared.

BOOK REVIEW: On the Slopes of Tahoe (Love Along the Way #2) by J.A. Forde

February 26, 2025 / Jen / 0 Comments

On the Slopes of Tahoe () by J.A. Forde (Love Along the Way #2)
by J.A. Forde
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Wanting each other is easy…
It’s everything else that’s hard.

Breck Kylie’s perfect life unravels in a squall of betrayal, leaving him and his seven-year-old daughter reeling. Choosing to retreat from the sunny shores of Sydney, Australia, they embark on an extended vacation to Lake Tahoe in hopes they’ll find a new ‘normal’ on the snowy slopes.

Rory Anderson had big dreams once, but years of living in a blizzard of impossible expectations has beaten her down. Stuck in a cycle of fear and self-doubt, she’s living a life she’s unsure she truly wants. So, when her brother asks her to help his best friend get settled in Tahoe, she agrees with a renewed sense of purpose.

When Breck’s personal hurricane meets Rory’s frozen fears, they find themselves in the eye of the storm—a quiet place where connection and clarity finally break through. For Rory, it’s a chance to focus on her own dreams. For Breck, it’s a glimpse of the future he thought was shattered.

Finding solace in each other is supposed to be a short-lived thing, but what happens when they find themselves feeling more than they bargained for?

Will they walk away, or will they fight to hold onto the peace they’ve only ever found in each other?

Review:

From that first page, I fell in love with On the Slopes of Tahoe. With a beautiful location, characters that were so easy to love, and an ending that had me smiling long after I closed the book, I loved this story! If you’re a fan of romance, older brother’s best friend, single dad, forced proximity, or found family, definitely pick this one up!

Unfortunately, sometimes life gives you something incredible, but it’s only meant for a season. Meant for a space in time.

Rory was someone you’ll instantly like and was so easy to click with. She was a Tahoe local, who worked at one of the ski resorts and had a passion for photography. When her brother asked her to help his best friend and daughter get situated for their extended vacation, I loved how she jumped right in. She fit in so effortlessly with Breck and his daughter Willow. But Breck had a lot of healing to do.

I jog upstairs to pull on a T- shirt. Rocking black joggers without a shirt doesn’t feel appropriate around my best friend’s little sister.
I keep calling her that in my head, as if it will somehow keep me from recognizing just how beautiful she is.

Breck stole my heart. With his fierce love for his daughter and a past that haunted him, it was so easy to fall in love with this single dad. He had a heart of gold, but he was definitely jaded when it came to anything more than friends with a woman. It didn’t matter that he was attracted to Rory. She was his best friend’s little sister, there was 8 years between them, and he needed to figure out where to go from here. Yet, he couldn’t stay away from her.

He lifts me off the counter and I slide against him until my feet find the ground. Too close. We’re too close.

By not even 100 pages in, I already had tears in my eyes. And oh my heart I cried so many more times reading this story! Breck and Rory’s journey was an emotional one. While they both tried to find their footing, I loved how they could talk out their problems. They could be open and honest with each other. It was refreshing and warmed my heart! And while this story was a fade to black, there were so many scenes that had me fanning my face. That tequila shot?! So hot! And their kisses were so steamy!

“Life never leaves us unscathed; it changes and molds us. But, I promise, you will get through this,” she says and presses a light kiss to my lips.

In this story was the most adorable little girl, Willow. I loved how she warmed up to Rory so quickly. From snowboarding, to making pizza, to everything in between, I loved their time together. Their bond formed so effortlessly. And surrounding them was the most beautiful found family. From Rory’s bestie, Jamie, who needs his own book please! To Rory’s brother and his significant other. I loved them all so much! So while this can easily be read as a standalone, you do get to see and spend time with the couple from the previous book. Their life updates made me sooooo happy!

Tonight, I don’t want to be Wes’s little sister. Or Jamie’s best friend or my parents’ biggest disappointment. I want to be a woman with a man looking at her like he doesn’t want to look anywhere else.

On the Slopes of Tahoe will make you laugh out loud and fall in love. This is easily one of my top favorites and I can’t wait to reread it! Plus since it takes place where I live, I couldn’t stop smiling. From the magic carpet ride we taught our kids to snowboard on, to the dock we bike to every summer, to even my commute to take my youngest to soccer every week lol, this story takes you to so many stunning places in and surrounding Tahoe! With blizzards, friendship, snowboarding, love, and sledding, this winter wonderland of a book will whisk you away and capture your heart!

I can’t move my eyes from Breck’s. They’re filled with that same look from this morning. It’s tender. It feels like more.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly

February 17, 2025 / Jen / 1 Comment

PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
In this splendidly bittersweet romantic comedy, enemies forced together by a mutual loss are led on a cross-country journey toward a second chance.

Maddie Sanderson would be proud to honor her older brother’s dying wish, that she scatters his ashes over eight destinations that the adventurous 29-year-old never got to visit before he died from cancer. But in his will, Josh assigned her an impossible partner to help complete the mission—Dominic Perry. Seriously, if Maddie weren’t already at her brother's funeral, she would have killed him for this.

Sure, Dom was Josh’s life-long best friend. He’s also the infuriating man who broke Maddie’s heart back when she was naïve enough to give it to him. But since Dom insists on following the rules and Josh didn’t leave much room for Maddie to argue the matter, they embark together on a series of farewell trips that span thousands of miles, exploring new places and revisiting their complicated history along the way.

After a snowstorm leads to a shared bed, Maddie starts to wonder if her brother might be matchmaking from the grave. But when grief also reopens old wounds between them, Maddie will need more than Josh’s ghostly guidance to trust Dom again.

Review:

PS: I Hate You was an emotional powerhouse. With forced proximity and a second chance romance swirled together, I loved the journey this book took us on. It dealt with grief, healing, friendships, forgiveness, and trying to figure out how to proceed with a future that you’re uncertain about. This is a must read if you love adult romance, I can’t recommend this book enough!

My brother is gone.
Forever.
Gone.
I stop breathing.

When Maddie found out that she was supposed to scatter her brother’s ashes in the 8 states he hadn’t visited, she was hit by so many emotions. Especially since she was to do it with her brother Josh’s best friend, Dominick. Their past was challenging, to say the least. There was so much hurt and anger there. So Maddie’s sarcasm could be harsh and cutting. Her anger felt like a living entity inside her. I felt everything she did, and kept hoping it would all lead to her healing. She desperately needed it.

Last goodbye. This is the last goodbye.

I didn’t understand why Dom did what he did in the past, but I wanted to hold out hope there was a good reason. Especially since he could be so kind, compassionate, and thoughtful when it came to Maddie. While he seemed to hold a world of secrets, I loved how loudly his actions spoke. I loved that he always seemed to be thinking about Maddie. And I easily fell head over heels in love with him.

Even though my hands shake, I manage to spray the medication into my airways. But recovery is slow and painful. Especially with no one here to distract me or comfort me or simply reassure me that I’m not alone.
But that’s exactly what I am. What I always seem to be.
Alone.

Their on and off again road trip was filled with all of the bumps. And you’ll run through the gamut of emotions. How can you laugh, feel the most beautiful sexual tension, and cry at the same time?! That was this book time and again. I loved watching Dom work through his grief for his best friend, and Maddie for her brother. It wasn’t an easy process at all. And it made me cry all the tears. I don’t think I could go two chapters without bawling my eyes out. But mixed within that was also happiness and some fabulous steamy moments too.

If I have one day left, or thousands, I want you to be in every one of them.

PS: I Hate You had the perfect combination of joy and heartache. This beautiful journey towards healing will make you laugh, cry all the tears, and even fall in love. With a fabulous epilogue that will leave you elated, this story easily became one of my top favorites. If you’re a fan of romance, definitely add this one to your tbr!

BOOK REVIEWS: Kiss Now, Lie Later (Rival Love #1) & For Now, Not Forever (Rival Love #2) by C.W. Farnsworth

February 12, 2025 / Jen / 0 Comments

Kiss Now, Lie Later Not Forever (Rival Love #1)
by C.W. Farnsworth
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
She’s from one town…

I've heard a lot of things about Alleghany’s quarterback. Weston Cole is popular, conceited, and arrogant. Most importantly, he’s spent the past three years steadily dismantling my family’s football legacy. I should hate him. And I did. Until I ran into him freshman year and discovered he’s also complicated. Considerate. Captivating. When our paths cross again senior year, that awareness becomes more dangerous than his suggestive smirk. Hating him was easy…before I knew him.

…and he’s from the other.

No girl in Glenmont is more untouchable than Maeve Stevens. She lives across enemy lines. Her father is their head football coach. Her twin brother is their quarterback. But one conversation with Maeve makes me forget about the bitter, decades-long rivalry between our two towns. Makes me forget there’s a team of guys relying on me to lead them to another victory. A few forbidden kisses, and there’s only one thing I want to fight for. Her.

Review:

Kiss Now, Lie Later was a forbidden young adult sports romance that captured my heart. With town rivalry, friendships, first love, and fabulous angst, this book was impossible to put down. Maeve and Weston’s meet cute at the party was adorable, and I loved how they could be themselves around each other. What started off as a very slow, tentative friendship turned into something so much more.

Only one thought crosses my mind as I make the short journey through the rapidly falling drops of water.
That I hope the possibilities between Wes and me always feel this limitless.

Maeve and Weston had so many beautiful moments, and underneath it all was this fabulous tension. So with trust, practicing together, and pushing each other to be better, I fell in love right along with them. Be prepared to have your heart hurt, but the epilogue at the end jumped years into the future and I closed this book so happy!

For Now, Not Forever (Rival Love #2)
by C.W. Farnsworth
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
One boy. One girl. Two feuding towns.

LIAM

At some point, summer became my least favorite season. It begins the build toward the inevitable highs and lows of football. Losing isn’t a trait anyone looks for in a quarterback, and I never won when it mattered. Arlington University was supposed to be a fresh start. But infamy isn’t easily forgotten— especially when everyone knows my twin sister is dating my biggest rival. Constant reminders of their relationship have me just as on edge about Alleghany as I was in high school. Spending a weekend sleeping across the hall from Natalie Jacobs doesn’t help. The popular, pretty blonde didn’t just celebrate each of my defeats—she literally led the cheer against me. Just my luck the last girl who should pique my interest is also the only one who ever has.

NATALIE

Spending the summer back in Alleghany, dealing with my parents’ problems, is the last place I want to be. I jump at the chance to spend a weekend away, visiting a college friend. I’m not expecting to know anyone else visiting her cottage on the Cape, much less come face-to-face with Glenmont’s infamous former quarterback. Not-so affectionately known as Sergeant Stevens on my side of the lake, Liam is still every bit the stoic, serious rule-follower I watched bark orders on the field for four years. Sure, he’s nice to look at—especially shirtless—but that’s where any interest begins and ends. The one thing Liam and I agree on is the rivalry between our hometowns isn’t a surpassable boundary. And if we did allow ourselves to cross it, it would only be for now…not forever.

Review:

For Now, Not Forever was a new adult sports romance that was so easy to get lost in. And you definitely want to read Kiss Now, Lie Later before this one. We get introduced to Liam and Natalie, plus we get to see the couple from that book in this story too! This is my second book by C.W. Farnsworth, and I will definitely be bingeing the rest of her backlist!

Maybe there’s only so long you can be consumed by something before you risk letting it consume you.

Liam had so much resentment and bitterness eating away at his heart. For always playing second fiddle to his twin sister’s boyfriend, Weston Cole. And then there was Natalie, who seemed to be drowning at times from her home life. From an almost meet cute to the most awkward meet cute, I never knew what was going to happen next. These two people definitely kept me on my toes. With banter that had barbs, jealousy that will have you screaming and clapping, hope that shined brightly, and beautiful confessions, I devoured this story. That angst was done so well. The sexual tension had me wanting to push them together. And the happily ever after left me smiling!

“You’re perfect,” he tells me. “Fucking perfect.” He sounds annoyed about it. Angry, almost.
“I’m the furthest thing from perfect.”
“Not to me.”