Tag: Contemporary Romance (Page 2 of 84)

BOOK REVIEW: All Signs Point to Malibu by Jennifer Snow

BOOK REVIEW: All Signs Point to Malibu by Jennifer SnowAll Signs Point to Malibu by Jennifer Snow
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Hailey Harris can’t stop messing with fate. A successful life coach, Hailey uses her ability to glimpse the future to guide her clients down the right path. But her gift has made her own life lonely. After all, having a real friend would mean asking someone to believe the unbelievable.

The one person she might have confided in—her ex, Liam Jensen—is newly engaged to a beautiful, sweet, thoughtful heiress. But when Hailey has a vision predicting a not-so-happy ending for the couple, her mission is clear: help Liam and his fiancée avoid the biggest mistake of their lives.

Stopping the wedding while planning Liam’s engagement party is no easy feat. And Warren Mitchell—Liam’s sexy, irritating best man and Hailey’s nemesis—is suspicious of Hailey’s motivations. Between sleeping with her frenemy and watching her careful plans spiral out of control, Hailey discovers the real cause of Liam’s future heartbreak. But now that she knows the truth, will Hailey keep on fighting fate or trust in the love she never saw coming?

Review:

All Signs Point to Malibu was an enemies to lovers adult romance that was so easy to visualize.  With some magic realism laced into this story, everything played out like a movie in my head.  Whether it was Hailey walking in her heels and spilling her coffee, or the scene in the restaurant with her lipstick…it was just so easy to visualize and read this story.  There were some steamy moments too and it ended with a wonderful happily ever after.  My hiccup was that I wasn’t able to connect to a single character, and that greatly influences my enjoyment of a book.  So, I’ll definitely give another one of her books a try, and hope that I’m able to connect with it better!

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

BOOK REVIEW: The Love Lie (The Love Match #2) by Kay Marie

BOOK REVIEW: The Love Lie (The Love Match #2) by Kay MarieThe Love Lie (The Love Match #2)
by Kay Marie
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

A city girl.

A country boy.

A fake engagement in front of 10 million viewers.

What could possibly go wrong?

To some people, a proposal in the Maldives would be an absolute dream. To Samantha Peters, it's a certifiable nightmare. Because she's pretending to be her identical twin sister on the set of a massively popular reality TV show and her potential fiancé is an annoying (and annoyingly sexy) cowboy who refuses to let her win a single argument. When a moment of temporary insanity leaves them accidentally engaged, they have no choice but to figure it out together.

Their plan is simple. Spend a week in paradise sharing the same bungalow so the producers don't catch wind of the truth. Break up as soon as the cameras go down. And live happily never after.

There's only one problem. Between jet skis, yacht tours, romantic dinners, and sunset parasails, these two opposites constantly at one another's throats start to see each other in a new light. Maybe Sam is more than a workaholic with an iron heart. Maybe Cooper isn't just a cocky cowboy with a restless spirit. But no matter how big the attraction between them grows, the rules are set. They absolutely cannot fall in love. Right?

The Unhoneymooners meets Flawless in this standalone second installment of The Love Match series, perfect for fans of fake engagements, enemies to lovers, cowboy romances, forced proximity, opposites attract, only one bungalow, reality television, tropical locations, and dual POV!

Review:

The Love Lie was effortless to love!  With a fake engagement, forced proximity, and opposites attract, it was so easy to obsess over this book!   If you love adult romance that makes you laugh, keeps you smiling while also tugging on your heartstrings, then make sure you have this one on your tbr!

She freezes. Her heart flips. Just like that, the cameras and the crew all fade. The world around her blurs until the only thing in perfect clarity is the man striding confidently toward her.

I absolutely loved Sam!  She was sassy, hilarious without even trying, and so easy to click with.  When she agreed to step in to take her twin sister’s place on a reality tv show, I was so excited.  The tension between her and Cooper was electric.  And when he got down on one knee and proposed, I was screaming with what happened next.  Especially since they spent the next 5 days together in paradise!

She’s in nothing but a thong, high heels, and his hat.
Cooper sucks in a sharp breath.
Sam grins. 

Cooper was the ultimate book boyfriend.  Not only was he a sexy cowboy, but he was also kind, thoughtful, and knew how to take charge.  Everything he did just had me enamored.  Whether it was his thoughts about taking a swim in the morning or well…. you’ll see…. he easily had me under my spell.  Especially when we learned the reason why he signed up for the show.  Swoon.  Cooper loved his family and his ranch; he was such a good man.

His balls might not survive it.
His heart definitely won’t.
Because he likes it. Likes the fire in her eyes. Likes the silent dare. Likes the confidence. Likes the challenge.

Cooper and Sam were definitely attracted to one another, yet they had an almost enemies to lovers vibe going with the most fabulous banter.  And did I mention they weren’t supposed to be engaged???  She was going to go back to the city, he was going to go back to the country.  Their futures couldn’t be further apart from one another.  But that didn’t stop the chemistry that was between them.  Or their desire for each other.  As they faked their engagement and showed how much they wanted each other to those around them, I was smiling so much!  Especially when lines started to get crossed.

“This is a bad idea,” she whispers, even as she leans the slightest bit closer.
“The best ones always are.”

With snorkeling adventures, the most fabulous texting chapter ever, the helicopter, and so much more, this book was entertaining.  I also loved how we got to see the depths of Sam and Cooper.  Their pasts shaped them into who they were now, and they were both trying their best to move forward.  But at the same time, this story was hilarious!  I don’t remember the last time I laughed so much!  And with feeling butterflies too, their interactions were just so much fun.  This story was emotional, heartwarming, and the tension between them was steamy.  Even if their moments together weren’t that steamy.  

“Because the first time I kissed you, it was for them. I don’t plan on making that mistake again.”

With other characters that added so much depth to the story like Nina, her sister, Wes and more, I loved this book!  I still laugh out loud when I think about that Shania Twain song!  And there’s a whole latter part of this book that I won’t even be talking about……but that place and those moments, they were some of my absolute favorites!  So, with a fabulous happily ever after, this book ended so beautifully!  I can’t recommend it enough.  

Winnie to Sam: I left a present on your pillow when you get home.
Sam: Oh my god. Stop hiding romance novels around my room. MY LIFE IS NOT A ROM-COM.
Winnie: Obviously not.
Winnie: It’s a Western.

PS The little bit that we spent with Tyler I’m already obsessed!  I can’t wait for his book!

PPS While this book can be read as a standalone, it’ll definitely spoil the previous book and couple for you.

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

BOOK REVIEW: The Great Dating Fake Off by Livy Hart

BOOK REVIEW: The Great Dating Fake Off by Livy HartThe Great Dating Fake Off by Livy Hart
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

One over-the-top Italian wedding. Two fake couples. And a million hilariously disastrous possibilities…

Nora D’Amato would do almost anything for her best friend. Pretend she’s smitten with him to get his overly invested Italian family off his back? Absolutely. Attend a wedding for said overbearing family? Bring it. Spend the next six days at a posh resort watching the bride and groom’s families hate on each other? Pass the popcorn.

There’s only one tiny little hiccup. Nora’s crush―and the object of some very inappropriate thoughts―is here, too. And looking so delectable that she could spoon him faster than stracciatella gelato in a heat wave.

But Sebastian Rossi isn’t available…officially. He’s here with his fake wedding date. And he owes her big time for keeping an eye on his nonna while he’s away months at a time for work. A week in the Adirondacks is a piece of overly frosted cake. Besides, it’s not as though he can have a real relationship when he’s constantly on the move. Definitely not with the cute bookstore manager he can’t stop thinking about.

And a wedding war zone with two feuding families is not the time or place for flirting or sexy sneak-arounds. Everyone is watching―whether it’s during the pickleball tournament, the angry patriarch showdowns, or even the bull-riding bachelorette party. This wedding is one slipped fauxcade away from catastrophe, and if Nora and Sebastian can’t keep to their own sides of the aisle, they risk exposing the very secrets they’re sworn to protect.

Review:

The Great Dating Fake Off  was smile worthy and so much fun!  Hart has a way of writing characters that you can’t help but love and a storyline that keeps you captivated and turning the page to see what happens next.  If you like fake dating….but with other people, adult romance, and books that make you laugh, then definitely add this one to your tbr!  

I take a deep, slow breath. Nora D’Amato is an occupational hazard to fake dating.

Starting out, I loved Nora and Sebastian’s meet cute!  The tension thrummed between them from the beginning, and I loved watching those sparks fly!  But fate had other plans, and they found themselves fake dating other people at a mutual wedding.  When they ran into each other again, I was screaming with laughter!  This book would make such a fabulous movie!

“Last night was…”
Those sea glass eyes snap up. “It was what?”
Risky.
A bad idea.
Like I was finally awake after years of being asleep.

With a wedding that was hosting families whose feud spanned generations, nosy people everywhere, and fabulous friends, I adored this book!  While there were a lot of people within the pages, as a romantasy lover I didn’t have a problem following along with who was who.  Yet there was a huge hiccup…. Sebastian was leaving shortly after the wedding.  To another state.  Nora was someone who had moved around her whole life, and she finally found the place that she wanted as her forever home.  As they snuck around and fell harder for one another, I was so nervous how their happily ever after was going to play out.

This woman loves playing with fire and apparently, I’m more than happy to fall into the flames.

Every single time Nora and Sebastian were together, it was memorable.  Their scenes played out like I was watching a movie…. while waiting for them to get caught haha.  The sauna, the game room, the lake, the photo booth *fans face*, they had so many beautiful moments together.  All the while making me laugh so much!  And I adored how they just clicked.  They felt like lifelong soul mates.  Plus, Sebastian was the best book boyfriend!  He stood up for Nora, was thoughtful, kind and oh so sexy!

She’s left me speechless, but one singular thought plays in my head. Don’t let go.

If you’re a fan of angst and tension, it was so fabulously done in The Great Dating Fake Off!  And the steam was incredible too!  Plus, the emotional side of this book rounded out the story so well.  I got tears in my eyes twice; this book warmed my heart!  I’m so happy I read this story!  The Great Dating Fake Off was a romcom that will keep you laughing and smiling from that first page to the last, I can’t recommend it enough!

I will never stop wanting you.

PS I love that they played Catan, I adore that game!

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

BOOK REVIEW: Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb

BOOK REVIEW: Prime Time Romance by Kate RobbPrime Time Romance by Kate Robb by Kate Robb
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Newly divorced on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Brynn is sick of heartbreak. She thought she had found her happy ending, but now she’s living with a roommate, Josh, to afford her mortgage, and she’s trying to adjust to her new single life. At least she’s got Carson’s Cove to binge, her beloved 2000s teenage soap. The show ended unexpectantly on a cliffhanger after five seasons, and the two main characters, Sloan and Spencer, never got to declare their love for each other. The show is still perfect in Brynn’s eyes; despite all the drama that goes down, things always have a way of working out in Carson’s Cove . . . unlike her own life.

So when a birthday cake surprisingly shows up on her and Josh’s doorstep, Brynn makes a wish for the one thing she’s always wanted (but has failed to achieve herself): a happily-ever-after.

The next morning, she doesn’t wake up in her apartment. She’s in Carson’s Cove . . . and Josh is there too. Everyone seems to know them, except they’re not Brynn and Josh; they’re Sloan, the sweetheart of Carson’s Cove, and Fletch, the town’s bad boy. And to get home, they have to make Brynn’s wish come true by ensuring Sloan and Spencer, the hometown heartthrob, end up together at last. But as they spend more time together, Brynn and Josh realize that Carson’s Cove might not be as perfect as seen on television . . . especially when they start developing feelings for each other in a plot twist no one has expected. Will they stick to the script, or will real love change the story forever?

Review:

Prime Time Romance was an adult romcom, mixed with magical realism, that swept me away.  The characters were easy to connect with, the story-line was fun, and I closed the book happy with where the story took us.  If you’ve ever wanted to take a step into your favorite tv series, especially one that didn’t get the ending it deserved, this book is for you!

Sloan and Spencer were denied their happily ever after, and I can’t let it happen again.

By that second chapter, I already adored Josh.  He was such a good guy, and didn’t think twice about taking care of his roommate, Brynn.  Josh was hilarious while also being thoughtful, dependable and fun.  So when the two of them woke up in Brynn’s favorite tv show’s town, Carson Cove, I was glued to the pages wondering what was going to happen next.  

Spencer waves as we approach.
“Hey! You guys made it. I was starting to get worried.”
His open shirt catches in the breeze.
“You’re sure about him?” I ask.
Brynn’s smile falters for a second. Or maybe I just imagine it.

Once they realized that they couldn’t just go back home, and had to play these characters’ parts, I loved watching them grapple with their previous and current lives.  Brynn was now the local sweetheart and Josh the town’s bad boy.  Yet there were elements from both of those characters that reached deep into their hearts.  That made them second guess and see things in a new light.  And made them realize what they truly wanted.  I loved watching them grow in this environment and their story made me smile so much.

I’ve assumed that there is only one way to that happily ever after: fall in love with the perfect boy and get him to love you back forever. Now, I’m not so sure.

This small town romance was a quirky, adorable read that was so enjoyable!  I love how effortless her books are to enjoy!  Whether it was watching the friendship bloom between Brynn and Josh, to seeing them interact with the other characters, to just watching everything unfold, it was all so much fun!  As someone who died a little inside when I never got a true ending to a series I adored, *cough The OC cough*, this book made me so happy!  I can’t wait to read whatever Kate Robb writes next!

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

BOOK REVIEW: Party Favors by Sariah Wilson

BOOK REVIEW: Party Favors by Sariah WilsonParty Favors by Sariah Wilson
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

For a party planner in awe of the royals, daydreams fit for a queen might come true in a captivating romantic comedy by Sariah Wilson, the USA Today bestselling author of The Hollywood Jinx.

For as long as she can remember, Everly Aprile has been obsessed with the Monterran royals, especially Queen Kat: elegant, self-possessed, and living a fairy-tale romance. As for Everly, her career as an event planner has stalled—and so has her love life. Then a wealthy new client wants a sweet-sixteen party that’s fit for an American princess. Practicing her “What Would Kat Do” mantra, Everly offers to bring it to life by immersing herself in everything Monterra.

Call it intervento divino when she meets dizzyingly handsome and charismatic Max Colby, who’s relocated stateside from the Monterran kingdom of her dreams. If Everly promises to be his New York City guide, he’ll teach her the customs and culture of Monterra so her party gets a boost of authenticity. Deal. As their friendship grows, Everly starts falling—but for what? Another unattainable obsession? Max is such a dreamboat that surely he sees her as just a friend.

Her royal to-do list is in order. She’s revamping her life and learning to believe in herself. Maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance for fate to bring Everly her happily ever after after all.

Review:

Party Favors was the most adorable happily ever after story.  It will give you all of those princess finds her knight in shining armor surrounded by a cute story vibe.  If you’re looking for a book that has all the Hallmark feels, add this one to your tbr!

Max Colby was completely out of my league.

Everly Aprile was so easy to like, even if she thought the world of her d-bag boss, Adrian.  But that’s because she had a lot of growing up to do.  She definitely made a few mistakes in these pages, but watching how far she came from that first page to the last was beautiful!  Also, I loved Everly’s relationship with her roommate Vella.  Vella cracked me up with her mannerisms and words.  I loved how she was so tough on the exterior, but then a big ol marshmallow when it came to Everly.

“Shall we?” he asked, and he offered me his arm.
It was so old- fashioned and romantic that I had to swallow back the nervous but excited lump in my throat. “We shall.”

During a chance meeting, when Everly was extremely low, she met Max Colby.  And Max was suave and charming to say the least.  From there a friendship formed that was heartwarming.  Especially since Max was such a good guy that was sigh worthy.  He was protective, caring, thoughtful and I loved how kind he was to Everly.  Their interactions were adorable, fun, and I loved watching their friendship progress to more.

There was so much love in his bright blue eyes as he looked at me, gently caressing my face. “You know how our fairy tale ends. Happy Everly after.”

Party Favors was a story that will cheer you up, has the most fabulous happily ever after, a kind book boyfriend and a heroine you’ll love to watch grow.  This book was an easy read, and I loved listening to the audio in KU too.  I always enjoy a book by Wilson and can’t wait to see what she writes next!  

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

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