I wasn’t sure what to think about this book at first. The set-up seemed a little bit far-fetched, even for a RomCom. But the more I read, the more I was swept up in the story. It is quite apparent whom the hero is based on, solely by name if not description, but that didn’t bother me too much. There were some genuinely funny moments, but also a couple of passages of political commentary areas that added nothing to the story but took me right out of the comedy – wasn’t a fan of that. Overall, however, it was a fun read with some genuinely heartfelt moments, and I do recommend it, especially as a summer beach read. Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Mira Publishing, and the author for a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of this book.
My only goal this weekend is to ensure my sister’s wedding stays on track. As if keeping my family in line isn’t enough to turn me into an alcoholic, the best man has decided I’m rigid and argues that I’m using my job as a crutch to avoid love. Now he has pulled me into his chaotic world, and devised pranks to prove to me he’s right.
At first, I fail to see how such childish antics will hep me escape myself, but I quickly realize there might just be a method to his madness and Ethan Wiley may just pull off his biggest prank yet.
Author B.L. Olson, or Brit to those she’s not in trouble with, is a self-proclaimed hot mess who survives off a steady stream of coffee and pizza. She is a land mermaid forever swimming in the PNW rain, where she balances writing, some semblance of a social life, and psych courses for her degree.
This was a unique twist on an “opposites attract” romance. I liked the setup and that the two twins were opposites. I particularly enjoyed reading about Holly and how she struggled to find her place. I thought the romance was well-done, with the banter between Julian and Holly especially true-to-life. The overall concept that the heart knows what it wants was a great message. I only wish that Holly’s father got a bit more of what he deserved. Overall, it was a good read, and I would recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and the author for a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of this book.
The doors to Nashville’s hottest private club are open, ready to titillate you with a seductive dance of unbridled passion. The stage is ready and the guests have arrived waiting to witness the carnal desires unfold.
Ivan, resident bad boy, has lived a life believing the one person he ever cared for had betrayed him.
Daniela, manipulated and mistreated, has fought back from the brink of destruction, finding her way home.
When faced with demons from the past, can they find their way back to each other or will the past tear them apart?
H.J. Marshall began her love of reading and writing at an early age and always dreamed of being a writer full-time. A nomadic youth exposed her to different perspectives of life, community, and culture, resulting in a lifelong love of food, music, and history. When she’snot writing, she enjoys the music of all generations and genres, living in her cabin in the woods, and cooking for her husband. H.J. is an avid traveler who spent time in the Caribbean and Bahamas, meeting amazing people and seeing wondrous sites. Currently landlocked, H.J. dreams of her beach house, salty air, a life filled with laughter.
Melanie: I can’t even believe I didn’t make eye contact with the guy on the elevator. I’d seen him before in my office building and he was totally awesome to look at. From what I could tell by the way his suit clung to him, he had a hot bod, too. Another missed opportunity! I’m so lame. Next time, I’ll see if he wants to do lunch. I wonder if he listens to 80s music when he works out, because he has got to work out.
Tyler: Dude, that chick in the elevator was mad fine. My sister may think I’m not capable of keeping a relationship going, but she bugg’n. I’m gonna show the girl with the big green eyes that I’m all that and a bag of chips. Next time I see her, I’m gonna hit her up for sure. I wonder how she feels about watching 90s TV reruns on Friday nights? TGIF!
Melanie and Tyler may be decades apart, but working for the same publishing company brings the irresistible pair together. The ambitious duo is filled with dreams that don’t include being executive assistants for the rest of their lives. Somewhere between the laughter and arguing over which decade brought the better entertainment and fads, they fall in love.
Tension mounts as the pressure and excitement of new opportunities increases and their dreams get closer to becoming a reality … but what happens when one of their dreams doesn’t come true?
What a delightful mystery this was! It reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel but written in today’s language, which made it easier to follow the story. But the plot itself was very Christie-esque. A woman on her honeymoon on a Greek island has flashbacks that indicate she has visited the island before, but she has no actual memory. There is a whirlwind romance that led to the honeymoon, a suspicious business partner, enigmatic painter, oh, and a dead body. Add in a retired Scotland Yard inspector on holiday who has to put it all together, and you get a cracking mystery in a beautiful setting. I was excited to see that this is part of a series, so I look forward to reading others involving Inspector Jasper. Thank you to NetGalley, Canelo, and the author for a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of this book.
I thought this looked like a cute story, but I didn’t expect it to be as in-depth as it turned out to be. There were many layers to the plot, and the further I read, the more I could see how the author cleverly planned the story. I especially liked how the author potentially paralleled the book itself with a book that features heavily in the plot. I thought that showed forethought and loved the effort. The author also did an excellent job of shedding light on the chauvinistic ways of some men but did so with a wink so that the reader knew that the women were the strong ones (case in point, Alan and Katrina). That was also a nice touch. I was intrigued by the characters and the town in general. I became invested in Flora’s journey and was satisfied with the end. I was also happy to learn that this is part of a series, so I look forward to reading more about the residents of Honeyford. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of this book.
Melanie Moreland’s Vested Interest remains one of my all-time favorites. Not only are the men hunky and smart, but they are evenly matched by the women they fall in love with – and who doesn’t love smexy relationships?
Sometimes a series reaches a point where it feels like the author is just rehashing the same plot but with different characters. That is NOT the case with Halton. Ms. Moreland keeps it fresh while expanding the BAM universe.
That’s one of the things I like the most about her books. She touches on the stories that came before, but she lets the focus of each book remain on the couple of the moment. This time around, it’s Halton and Fiona’s story.
I thought that the set up for these two was unique and worked well. It could have been melodramatic and soap opera-ish, but the realness of the characters made it totally realistic.
Another thing that Ms. Moreland does well is creating bad guys are who are easy to loathe due to their simple human failings. Fee’s ex-husband is smarmy and despicable, which makes Halton shine that much brighter.
Honestly, I just enjoy all of the characters in her books. She doesn’t leave anyone behind and there is never anyone superfluous or useless. Every character serves a purpose, which gives her books more depth.
I’m always excited to see a new book from this author, and her Vested Interest series is one of my favorites. I look forward to each new release, and the sixth book is no exception. The Boys of BAM have all settled down, so she now addresses characters who have had tangent connections to them. This story belongs to Halton (Hal), who has appeared briefly in past books, and Fiona (Fee). As always, the characters pop to life, and important secondary characters are as fleshed out as the two main characters. I absolutely loved Rene. His rapport with Hal was fun to read. Ms. Moreland is the queen of the slow-build romance, and I always enjoy watching the characters come to their realizations in their own time (even though the readers can see it building). I’m not sure who is left in the BAM universe, but I do hope she keeps finding hunky guys and the smart girls who love them to write about! This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of the book.
I am totally new to this series and this author, and count me in as a total convert! I absolutely loved the setting and the characters.
As always, you can get plot spoilers from the blurbs and other reviews. I want to talk about what really stood out to me in this book.
The camaraderie: The early scenes with the cousins (Jackson, Boone, and Tucker) had me chuckling from their first meeting up with each other. I liked how the author rolled out the stories as the cousins re-told them; instead of just telling the reader what happened, the reader got to reminisce right along with the guys (I’m thinking about why their great-aunt remembered them so well).
The interplay between cousins Celeste and Angelica (excellent names) is another example. Their totally opposite demeanors caused some friction, but when they worked off of each other, it was magical.
The author also hits on the small-town feel, from the secret list of contractors (and how carefully it’s guarded) to the support for the newly opened businesses, it is all accurate and endearing.
The setting: Her descriptions of Enchanted Canyon made me want to jump a plane and go find a place in Texas that was at least a little bit like what she was describing. (Kudos to the cover design for adding to that desire)
The literary allusions: The Last Chance Saloon is at the halfway mark on the road between the towns of Redemption and Ruin. C’mon, could it be any more Dante-ish? I loved the little references like this, as well as the naming of the Inn and other things (the Blessing cousins mentioned above). I appreciate the thought that went into the consistency of the names.
The overall story: It was natural and organic and everything made sense. The plot moved right along and didn’t waste time with superfluous events. Everything happened for a reason. I love when an author crafts a straightforward plot.
There was obviously a lot to like about this book. I, for one, cannot wait to dive into the previous books and get to know the McBrides better!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I hadn’t read any of the Eternity Springs series by this author, so all the characters were new to me, but that didn’t matter in the bigger scheme of things. There were times that it was apparent that there was backstory somewhere, but I never felt lost in the plot or like I was missing anything. I got caught up in the descriptions of Enchanted Canyon and its surrounding area. They were so vivid that I found myself wishing that I could go there on vacation. I love it when an author brings a region and its inhabitants to life like that. I liked Jackson’s description of his music as well (I could relate), and the romance part of the plot was charming. It was a soothing read, and I look forward to more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of this book.
Emily March is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the heartwarming Eternity Springs series. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend.
Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this amazing book by Rochelle Alexandra.
Alexa’s story is harrowing, but then, anything involving the Nazis usually is. She and her mother are rounded up in Poland in September of 1940. What follows is an amazing journey through heartaches and hard times, triumphs and tribulations.
The story is told in a very straightforward manner, in a narrative style, so it is very easy to follow. I really don’t want to give away any plot points, because Alexa’s story is truly amazing.
From the moment the Nazis roll into Alexa’s hometown when she is 13, to her being sold into virtual slavery to a German couple connected to the Gestapo. From falling in love and marrying to telling her granddaughter her story decades later (not to mention the fantastic discovery at the end), this is ultimately story about human nature and choices that are made in dire situations – and whether or not human nature allows people to change over time.
Alexa’s journey is especially poignant when it comes to her post-war life. It is the perfect illustration of how sometimes the hardest lessons in life come in everyday decisions.
Although I think that this is a book that should be read at any time, as an American, I believe it is especially important now. When there are members of our Congress who have no idea of the horrors of the concentration camps and throw out frivolous analogies, it becomes imperative for a brutal history lesson.
I believe this book could be that history lesson for a great many people. And beyond being an amazing story, I think that is where its importance lies.
What a fantastic story that could not come at a more critical time! The story of a Polish teenager rounded up by Nazis and given to slavery to a Gestapo family is brutal and heartrending. The author did an excellent job of capturing both the horrors of the Nazis and the aftermath of trying to put one’s life back together after the fact. For me, it seemed as if Alexa’s post-war experiences shaped her almost as much as her teen years under Gestapo/Nazi rule. And that becomes a vital lesson in human nature and the resilience of faith. Alexa’s story is a parable for the ages from which many people can learn. Please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews for further thoughts on the importance of Alexa’s story. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of the book.
Crashing the A-List by Summer Heacock
