-
Review: Starry-Eyed Love (Spark House #2) by Helena Hunting
Last year I read Helena Hunting’s first book in the Spark House series, When Sparks Fly. It was ok (came in at 3 stars for me) and while I didn’t LOVE it in the way that I had hoped, I was invested enough in the story and characters that I felt excited to try another book by Hunting. I liked the sound of this one as it sounded like a cross between a missed connection and workplace romance. Overall I thought it sounded cute and just a nice breezy read going into the spring. So I said yes (obviously!) to reviewing this one and I was glad I did. While…
-
Special Feature: Emma Project (The Rajes #4) by Sonali Dev
I have read and enjoyed all three of the Rajes saga so far and I was so sad I couldn’t fit this one in my review schedule for the spring. But I WILL be reading this one as we get into the fall. I have really loved how the author has taken the classic Austen books and turned them on their head and made them more modern and with an Indian flair. The one I am looking forward to as a retelling is Northanger Abbey—can’t wait to see what Dev does with that one! Emma is still such a readable and relatable classic, more than any of the other Austen…
-
Special Feature: The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner
I have only read one of Jennifer Weiner’s books but I thought it was absolutely wonderful and such a fun little summer read! Her books are usually about family drama with some humor—I love the balanced blend of humor and seriousness. It really makes for a fun, quick, and refreshing read! When I saw that she had this one coming out, naturally I was interested in it! What drew my eye is that it gave a nod to the pandemic which I think will make the book relevant and relatable for readers. I know a lot of authors have shied away from writing the pandemic into their stories for a…
-
Review: West Side Love Story by Priscilla Oliveras
The second I saw this cover for the cover reveal, I nearly swooned! It’s so pretty and I absolutely love the colors—plus the pose was absolutely eye catching. I couldn’t WAIT to start reading it! I was never a fan of West Side Story, I think I watched the film once in high school and just never felt invested in the story, even though it was a Romeo and Juliet retelling. However, I could totally get excited for this book even if it was a retelling of Romeo and Juliet/West Side Story. I couldn’t wait to see the story come to life in the pages of this book. Plus mariachi…
-
Special Feature: The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews
Mary Kay Andrews is arguably the queen of beach reads! She is a prolific writer with a number of amazing books under her belt but it’s her spring/summer releases that I find myself looking forward to the most! Every time I see one of her beach reads coming up I just know it’s going to be a book full of things to love and this one is no different. This is a book about home renovations so lovers of DIY Network lovers this is your book! A close friend go mine just bought her first home and it’s a fixer upper so her and I have been talking non stop…
-
Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Emily Henry earned a spot on my auto buy author list after Beach Read! I absolutely fell in love with her! She is charing witty and her story telling style is second to none. I love how her rom-com characters interact and have so much chemistry together. People We Meet on Vacation was equally as charming a follow up to Beach Read and absolutely put me in the mood to travel! ‘ When I saw this book was coming out—one I needed NO convincing to read this not with a title like Book Lovers! For me personally I love an enemies to lovers trope over the friends to lovers troupe…
-
Special Feature: Business Not as Usual by Sharon C. Cooper
Who doesn’t love a good romantic comedy?! I for one have a hard time turning down any kind of romantic comedy for my TBR shelf. I especially enjoy reading work place romantic comedies. At some point in your professional career I am sure you have had to remind yourself that work place romances are typically off limits but that doesn’t stop many people from entering them anyway. So why not write an entertaining story about one? This book made me take notice with the summary tag line about mixing business with pleasure. I immediately wanted to know more and maybe live a little vicariously through the main character. I have…
-
Review: On A Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk
Raise your hand if Cinderella was your favorite Disney princess growing up! Personally I loved Sleeping Beauty but Cinderella was certainly a close second. I loved the idea of a commoner marrying a prince and finding love with someone completely unexpected and outside of her social rank and standing. As I have moved into adulthood, I have gravitated toward romance novels that feature this classic troupe. Rich lord meets commoner and marries her anyway, even if it feels unlikely it always seems to draw me in. Over the years my favorite group of Cinderella romance has been replaced with enemies to lovers troupes but there is still a soft spot…
-
Special Feature/Excerpt: The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery
The second I saw this blue green water, I knew I needed this book in my beach bag! It’s that time of year when it’s cold and rainy still in the Pac NW and I find myself longing for some where warm and sunny with white sandy beaches. My husband and I traveled to Aruba during spring break a few years ago when it was pouring rain here in Oregon and we spent a week in paradise. When we came back I had never been so depressed! After that I decided to stick with reading about warm sunny places during the long cold wet months of February and March in…
-
Review: The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery
It’s that time of year when we have had the ‘false spring’ week in Oregon and have then settled into 6 more weeks of winter. We had this absolutely beautiful week where it was sunny and 60-65 degrees—spring was in the air—until it wasn’t. Suddenly we were back to 40 degree temps with constant rain (like torrential down pour) and like many Oregonians we are all left longing for sunshine and warmer temps! So what is a surefire way to cure the longing in our hearts? A book set in a sunny location that offers a little bit of escapism and a whole lot of sunshine! Enter this lovely new…