Review: First Love, Second Draft by Becca Kinzer

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

 

About the Book

She’s a romance writer burned out on love. He’s her famous baseball star ex-husband. The last man she wants to be forced to work with is the one who broke her heart.

Rom-com writer Gracie Parker hasn’t written a bestseller since she and her husband, a major league baseball star, divorced five years ago. On thin ice with her publisher—and with a looming deadline—Gracie couldn’t have picked a worse time for a painful injury that has her flat on her back. At this point, she’d accept help from anybody . . . except her first love and ex-husband, Noah Parker.

The baseball season has just ended in massive disappointment for Noah. He’s facing the stark reality that he gave up everything for a career that’s let him down and that it might be too late to get back the one person he should’ve held on to. So when Gracie’s nephew calls, saying Gracie’s looking for a tenant for her next-door rental, it feels like it’s meant to be.

All Gracie cares about is turning in her manuscript on time, which is directly at odds with Noah’s attempts to win her back, even if she is slightly charmed by his kindness. But can people ever really change? Then Noah throws a curveball that could give Gracie the extension she needs, but it will mean working directly with Noah, something she’s not sure she can face. With no other choice, and everything on the line, Gracie must decide if it is too late for a second draft of their own love story.

My Review

I'm proud of myself for trying a new-to-me author since it's so easy for me to stick with what I know. I found in this book so many of the things I enjoy in reading romance. Humor is one of the strongest features- and a variety of humors at that. Quirky, slapstick, sarcastic, subtle... it's all there and balanced well. Chemistry abounds with not just our main characters Gracie and Noah, but also Gracie's nephew Matt with his high school bestie Rachel who set him up with someone else then left town for five years. Even Gracie's abrasive sister Mona has a secret relationship that's softening her edges. Yearning is felt by Noah and Matt as they pine for their lost loves, and struggle to know how to move forward with their relationships. Gracie's injury and writing deadline have her sequestered to her house, which helps Noah's cause as he moves in next door to always be on hand to assist her, even when she claims she doesn't need it. The messy hard parts of their marriage come to the surface layer by layer, and we come to understand why Gracie and Noah came to an end. They have both been grieving in their own way, and their fighting masks how much they really care about each other. Mostly Gracie fighting against her reemerging feelings and attraction, and Noah teasing his way back into her good graces. Overall, it's a rich story exploring life, love, death, regrets, hope, and forgiveness. 

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Review: Rookie Season by Katie Bailey, Leah Brunner

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

 

About the Book

He’s starting his rookie season in the NHL…

Noah Downsby has always had one goal: play professional hockey. Now that he’s finally made it, he’s determined to prove himself. And if he’s going to have the best rookie season in NHL history, he needs zero distractions.

But Noah didn’t plan for Allegra—Ally—Callahan moving in with him.

With her sassy smile, smart mouth, and bad habit of ‘borrowing’ his jerseys—nevermind her stupid cat who won’t stop sleeping in his bed—one thing’s for

Ally is officially a distraction.

…She’s moving across the country to start over.

The rumors say she’s a bad girl, but they’re all lies. Lies that have ruined her reputation.

So when Ally’s offered a fresh start in San Francisco, she packs up her life and brings her baggage out west—emotional and otherwise.

Living in a swanky loft with three NHL players is a world away from college dorms, but at least two of her new roommates treat her like one of the guys.

And then there’s Noah. The grump whose broody glances turn her blood hot. Who makes her feel both safe and sexy…when he’s not icing her out.

As things between Noah and Ally heat up, their walls come down. And suddenly, there’s a whole lot more than his rookie season on the line…

This is a new adult hockey romance with moderate language and frequent innuendo and references to sex. Though the romance is fade to black, there are some heavier themes of a character emotionally healing from a sexual assault (past, off page) that are discussed at length throughout the book. If you are sensitive to these subjects, please use this content warning to make an informed decision before reading this book.

My Review

I am so gone for hockey romances! This book takes young characters from each of the authors' previous books and gives them their own story, connecting two separate series. It can definitely be read as a standalone, but it's fun for readers who know the background. I love the grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity/roommate tropes which Ally and Noah breathed new life into. Their chemistry is strong and their banter is entertaining, and when he warms up to her (and her cat) they become even more adorable. I appreciated that Noah wasn't a player like his two roommates (who were hilarious), and that he and Ally both recognized they found something special in each other. The issues they deal with bring a level of depth to the story, but I didn't necessarily agree with how the sexual assault was handled- it had rom-com movie vibes rather than demonstrating a more healthy and less entertaining method of resolution, which I think does a disservice to readers who may very well deal with the same issue as Ally. I have a hard time when characters or people in real life don't report assault, leaving the perpetrator with no consequences to the action, and enabled to continue the predatory behavior. I'm very aware that there are psychological influences involved in these tough situations, but women need to be empowered rather than modeling the path of least resistance. Even with a first hand witness and physical evidence, Ally doesn't fight back and the resolution in the end celebrates a show of violence as a temporary victory rather than any real penalty since the misdeeds are left in the dark. 

 

I'm glad the authors included a content warning in the description and beginning of the book, as the profanity was much more frequent than their previous books. It made the characters seem immature, overcompensating, or trying too hard to be edgy. I don't mind a smattering, but it was overkill. The F-word was used in a humorous way by the hockey players subbing the word puck, which was cheesy and also way overused. I'm happy to report that the only fade-to-black intimacy was between a married couple.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Review: Love Unbound by Michele Paige Holmes

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

  

About the Book

Graham Murray Raymond, the Seventh Duke of Warwick, has little care for his title and even less for society. Suspected of murder and known as the Black Duke, for his misdeeds and those of his father, he is intent on spending his lifetime alone, without a wife or children, to ensure he does not continue the family tradition of violence.

Unlike most young ladies her age, twenty-year-old Sophia Claybourne would rather go to university than to the altar, but furthering her education is forbidden, and she is expected to marry well. Sophie does her best to avoid the latter while seeking knowledge wherever she can, walking a constant line with her father, who is determined to use her marriage to his advantage.

When Graham receives a letter from Lady Claybourne, requesting his assistance saving Sophie from marriage to a viscount who is his nemesis and has his own reputation of ill deeds, Graham agrees to help, as it will advance his interests as well. But Sophie has made her own plans, does not care to be rescued, and has a will as strong as his. Graham may have met his match in her and found the one person who can save him from his past.

My Review

This author is one of my favorites, and I was excited to start a new series by her. The premise sounds like one I would enjoy- brooding hero, bluestocking heroine, marriage of convenience... but Sophia and Graham defied the trope norms and made things more complicated than they needed to be. They are both stubborn and prideful, having their own reasons for uniting- or not. Sophia does not want to be used as a pawn in her father's business plans, and Graham does not want her father to be able to unite businesses with his own enemy, and marriage to him would prevent that. So he's not being entirely altruistic by offering to marry her to save her, and Sophia does not want to be used as a pawn by Graham either. Their romance develops slowly due to inner and outer obstacles, and I struggled to enjoy the connection between them. The ending is a bit abrupt, and I  imagine the overarching story involving Sophia's family will be continued in the next book in the series. 

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Book two in the Love Unbound series . . .

 

 

 

Review: The Crime Brûlée Bake Off by Rebecca Connolly

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

About the Book

An unexpected romance. A haunting mystery. Pastries to die for. The Great British Baking Show meets a cozy mystery with a contemporary romance and a Regency-era twist.

Amateur baker Claire Walker is thrilled to be a contestant on Britain’s Battle of the Bakers. She can almost smell the fresh pastries wafting through the air. If she can win the grand prize, she can ditch her teaching job and launch her baking career.

The Viscount of Colburn, Jonathan Ainsley, is the custodian of Blackfirth Park and an eligible bachelor. He reluctantly agrees to allow the cooking competition show to film on his estate, but when a contestant is found dead soon after filming begins, Jonathan is forced to get involved. To make matters worse, the baker’s death stirs up rumors of the legendary death of the tenth Viscountess of Colburn two hundred and fifty years earlier.

Even as suspicion falls on some of the bakers, a decidedly different kind of heat begins to simmer between Claire and Jonathan. If they are to have any hope of a future romance, they must first solve the mystery before the show gets canceled or someone else falls prey to what some believe is the Blackfirth Park ghost.

My Review

I'm a fan of The Great British Baking Show so it was so fun to read this!!! It was easy to imagine the beautiful setting on an English estate and the pressure and drama involved with filming an elimination style show. The murder and subsequent investigation ramps up the tension even more, and I was glad that Claire had Jonathan as a friend and emotional support. Their romance develops naturally, but it definitely takes a backseat to the plot of this cozy mystery that weaves together a historical mystery with the present day crime. I love that Johnny was so protective of Claire and how they worked together as a team. The author doesn't skimp on describing Claire's baking in the contest, and the book includes recipes to try!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Review: An Amish Marriage of Convenience by Rachel J. Good

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

About the Book

When widower Stephen Lapp moves his five children from New York State to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, his only plan is to buy his family’s farm stand, Lapp’s Pastured Pork. That way, his brother can move closer to his fiancée and open his own stand. But on Stephen’s first trip to the market, his brave act of kindness nearly ends in catastrophe—until strong-willed Nettie Hartzler saves him—and makes an impression he can’t forget . . .

A widow with private heartaches of her own, Nettie has no interest in getting involved with any man, though she doesn’t discourage their respective children’s new friendships—despite Stephen’s contentious oldest daughter. But when Nettie runs into serious money worries and Stephen proposes a marriage of convenience, she’s distressed and conflicted. She’s come to know Stephen’s gentle heart and generous soul, and she can’t believe he’ll want her if she reveals the sins of her past. God has His own plans for the faithful, however, and this time they may include a second chance at love . . .

My Review

I wasn't a fan of Nettie from the previous book where she tried to interfere with her brother-in-law Gideon's courting, so it was good to see things from her perspective in this book. She's driven by fear- of the security of her future and providing for her children. I admired that she worked so hard and was such a loving mother, even though she has rough edges for everyone else. Stephen is a bit thick-headed and it takes some effort, as well as aid from local Christian philanthropist Mrs. Vandenberg, for these two wounded souls to come to understand each other. Be sure to read the other books in the series to appreciate the cast of characters and the good they do in the community!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

The Surprised by Love series

 

 

 

 

Review: The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

About the Book

Naomi King, soft spoken, loyal, and easily overlooked, has a gift. She sees what others can't see. Intuition, she calls it. Others in Stoney Ridge don't know what to make of it and dismiss her hunches and inklings altogether.

When a young woman arrives at the Inn at Eagle Hill with a shocking secret about Tobe Schrock, Naomi fears the worst. She can't ignore the feeling that something sinister is at work-- something more than a threat to the tenuous love begun between her and Tobe.

As signs mount, they begin to point to Jake Hertzler, the elusive mastermind behind Schrock Investments' downfall. Soon, events spiral hopelessly out of control and Naomi must decide whether to listen to her head or her heart.

In this riveting conclusion to The Inn at Eagle Hill series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher pulls out all the stops with a fast-paced tale of deception, revelation, and just the right dose of romance.

My Review

This book is aptly named, as layers of secrets are revealed in a twisty-turvy manner that keeps the reader on their toes. While the previous book can be read as a standalone, I would definitely recommend reading the series in order before completing it with this final book. The characters we've grown to love have more to overcome as all is brought to light and issues that were introduced in the first book come to a resolution. It's more plot-heavy and told from multiple perspectives, and I missed the deeper development of the central romance. I appreciate the storytelling skill of the author and look forward to more from her!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

The Inn at Eagle Hill series

 

Review: Signed, Sealed, and Smitten by Melanie Jacobson

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

About the Book

The last thing she needs is another off-limits work romance. He’s fine playing the friendly flirt . . . until he falls for real.

Embarrassing breakups at work cost you promotions. Phoebe learned that the hard way. So when a patron’s will names her as the director of a new museum in Serendipity Springs, she jumps at the chance to prove her professionalism.

Her new plan: focus on work. Ignore distractions. Definitely ignore men. Easy peasy.

But then the mailbox in Phoebe’s quirky apartment building starts delivering a series of old love letters written between strangers…sixty years ago.

She can’t afford the distraction, but she also can’t ignore the letters, so she enlists the help of Jay, the flirty heir to her benefactor’s fortune, to help her solve the mystery of who they belong to.

Jay is exactly the history pro she needs, but he’s also the kind of handsome charmer Phoebe always falls for, and since he’s on the museum board, she’s not about to risk her recovering reputation. Despite their sizzling chemistry, she quickly sends Jay to the friend zone.

Until the mysterious letters from the past lead them to surprising discoveries in the present, and serendipity steps in with an irresistible nudge and a memorable, magical kiss.

My Review

This is such a fun series! The magical paranormal parts aren't spooky, but more of a charming device to further the plot. The reader and the characters themselves have to suspend reality for a bit, but the setting is otherwise grounded and it didn't feel too fantastical. The idea of an old building helping couples find love is unique, and each author in the series presents this "interference" in different ways. In this story, Phoebe focuses on her museum work and the letters mystery so well, that I felt like the romance took a backseat to the plot. Jay was lovable in the flirty friend zone, but it was frustrating that Phoebe ran so hot and cold with him. When characters do that it makes me wonder why the other sticks around... unless they can sense the reason for it and help break down the obstacles. Overall it was a fun read and I enjoyed the creativity of the writing.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Only Magic in the Building series