Contemporary Romance Archives - Page 4 of 75

Contemporary Romance

11
Jul
2023

#BookReview The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey @kristywharvey @uplitreads @SimonSchusterCA #thesummerofsongbirds #kristywoodsonharvey #SimonSchusterCA #gifted

categories: 9/10, Book Review, Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction

Title: The Summer of Songbirds

Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey

Published by: Gallery Books on Jul. 11, 2023

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction

Pages: 368

Format: Hardcover

Source: Simon & Schuster Canada, Uplit Reads

Book Rating: 9/10

Four women come together to save the summer camp that changed their lives and rediscover themselves in the process in this moving new novel from the New York Timesbestselling author of The Wedding Veil and the Peachtree Bluff series.

Nearly thirty years ago, in the wake of a personal tragedy, June Moore bought Camp Holly Springs and turned it into a thriving summer haven for girls. But now, June is in danger of losing the place she has sacrificed everything for, and begins to realize how much she has used the camp to avoid facing difficulties in her life.

June’s niece, Daphne, met her two best friends, Lanier and Mary Stuart, during a fateful summer at camp. They’ve all helped each other through hard things, from heartbreak and loss to substance abuse and unplanned pregnancy, and the three are inseparable even in their thirties. But when attorney Daphne is confronted with a relationship from her past—and a confidential issue at work becomes personal—she is faced with an impossible choice.

Lanier, meanwhile, is struggling with tough decisions of her own. After a run-in with an old flame, she is torn between the commitment she made to her fiancé and the one she made to her first love. And when a big secret comes to light, she finds herself at odds with her best friend…and risks losing the person she loves most.

But in spite of their personal problems, nothing is more important to these songbirds than Camp Holly Springs. When the women learn their childhood oasis is in danger of closing, they band together to save it, sending them on a journey that promises to open the next chapters in their lives.

Review:

Absorbing, nostalgic, and sweet!

The Summer of Songbirds is an uplifting, compelling tale that takes you into the life of three childhood friends, Daphne, Lanier, and Mary Stuart who, after discovering that the place they met and holds such a special place in their hearts, Camp Holly Springs, is about to be lost join together to do whatever they can to raise the money Aunt June needs to keep this summer sanctuary for girls open for generations to come.

The prose is rich and vivid. The characters are creative, reliable, and loyal. And the plot is a heartfelt, delightful mix of friendship, family, heartbreak, introspection, support, forgiveness, tragedy, loss, drama, community, new beginnings, tender moments, and love.

Overall, The Summer of Songbirds is a sophisticated, sensitive, romantic tale by Harvey that once again highlights her innate ability to delve into all the psychological and emotional dynamics that exist between friends and reminds us just how meaningful, important, and powerful female friendships can truly be.

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

Thank you to Uplit Reads & Simon Schuster Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

About Kristy Woodson Harvey

Kristy Woodson Harvey is the USA TODAY bestselling author of six novels, including Feels Like Falling, The Peachtree Bluff series, and Under the Southern Sky. A Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism, her writing has appeared in numerous online and print publications including Southern Living, Traditional Home, USA TODAY, Domino, and O. Henry. Kristy is the winner of the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Excellence in Creative Writing and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. Her work has been optioned for film and television, and her books have received numerous accolades including Southern Living’s Most Anticipated Beach Reads, Parade’s Big Fiction Reads, and Entertainment Weekly’s Spring Reading Picks. Kristy is the co-creator and co-host of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction. She blogs with her mom Beth Woodson on Design Chic, and loves connecting with fans on KristyWoodsonHarvey.com. She lives on the North Carolina coast with her husband and son where she is (always!) working on her next novel.

Photo by Jay Ackerman.

03
Jul
2023

#BookReview The Bookshop by the Bay by Pamela Kelley @PamelaMKelley @smpromance @StMartinsPress #TheBookshopByTheBay #PamelaKelley #StMartinsPress #smpromance #SMPInfluencers

categories: 8.5/10, Book Review, Contemporary Romance

Title: The Bookshop by the Bay

Author: Pamela M. Kelly

Published by: St. Martin's Griffin on Jun. 6, 2023

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 320

Format: Paperback

Source: St. Martin's Press

Book Rating: 8.5/10

The Bookshop by the Bay is a breezy, escapist beach read from powerhouse bestselling women’s fiction author Pamela Kelley.

Two lifelong friends. One bookshop by the beach. And the summer that could change everything.

Jess loves her work as a high-profile lawyer in the respectable and austere city of Charleston. But when she finds her husband, Parker, has been cheating on her with his assistant, she retreats, with her thirty year-old daughter Caitlin for support, to her childhood home on Cape Cod, in Chatham. Caitlin has always been bright but directionless, looking for her passion but keeps coming up blank. And Jess needs to regroup with the help of good food and wine, the company of her best friend, Allison, and come up with a plan for the future.

Allison’s career has hit a low. After twenty years as an editor for the Chatham magazine, circulation is dwindling and though her boss and long-time friend, Jim, does everything to keep her, she has no choice but to take a step back. With a career on hiatus and her main relationship being with Chris, her ex-husband who is still a good friend, Allison is at a pivotal point in life. Her daughter Julia opened her own artisanal jewelry shop a year prior, and she has the kind of day-to-day fulfillment Allison yearns for.

When Allison stops into her beloved local bookstore one day and learns that the owner wants to sell, a long-held dream turns into a reality, thanks to Jess. Allison and Jess set a plan in motion and what was once a place that held warm childhood memories is now theirs to run. As the two friends, along with the help of their daughters, reopen the doors of the cherished bookstore and adjacent coffee shop to the community, they also open themselves up to the possibility of romance, the bonds of mothers and daughters, and the magic of second chances.

Review:

Heartwarming, optimistic, and tender!

The Bookshop by the Bay is a delightfully compelling tale that takes us into the lives of two main characters. Jess, a successful lawyer who, after discovering her husband’s infidelity, heads to their second home in Cape Cod to regroup and think about what to do next, and Allison, an editor with a dwindling career who, after learning of the upcoming sale of her beloved local bookstore, decides with the help of her best friend and their two grown daughters to take a chance on a dream she’s always had.

The prose is reflective and sweet. The characters are genuine, kind, and dependable. And the plot is a charming mix of life, love, family, friendship, generosity, self-discovery, support, consideration, happiness, taking chances, companionship, new love, and the special bonds of mother-daughter relationships.

Overall, The Bookshop by the Bay is a cosy, uplifting, perfect beach read by Kelley with its idyllic setting, small-town charm, heartfelt storyline, endearing characters, and a reminder of how important it is at any age to find that place that truly feels like home.

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

Thank you to SMP Romance – St. Martin’s Press for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

About Pamela M. Kelly

Pamela Kelley is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of women's fiction, family sagas, and suspense, such as The Restaurant and The Hotel. Readers often describe her books as feel-good reads with people you'd want as friends. She lives in a historic seaside town near Cape Cod. She has always been an avid reader of women's fiction, romance, mysteries, thrillers and cook books. There's also a good chance you might get hungry when you read her books as she is a foodie, and occasionally shares a recipe or two.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

29
Jun
2023

#BookReview How to Be Remembered by Michael Thompson @mcwthompson @Sourcebooks @sbkslandmark #HowtoBeRemembered #MichaelThomas #bookmarkedbylandmark

categories: 9/10, Book Review, Contemporary Romance, Fantasy

Title: How To Be Remembered

Author: Michael Thompson

Published by: Sourcebooks Landmark on Jun. 27, 2023

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Fantasy

Pages: 368

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Sourcebooks Landmark

Book Rating: 9/10

On an ordinary night in an ordinary year, Tommy Llewellyn’s doting parents wake in a home without toys and diapers, without photos of their baby scattered about, and without any idea that the small child asleep in his cot is theirs.

That’s because Tommy is a boy destined to never be remembered.

On the same day every year, everyone around him forgets he exists, and he grows up enduring his own universal Reset. That is until something extraordinary happens: Tommy Llewellyn falls in love.

Determined to finally carve out a life for himself and land the girl of his dreams, Tommy sets out on a mission to trick the Reset and be remembered. But legacies aren’t so easily won, and Tommy must figure out what’s more important – the things we leave behind or the people we bring along with us.

Review:

Charming, thought-provoking, and optimistic!

How to Be Remembered is a charged, moving tale that takes you into the life of Tommy Llewellyn, a young boy whose life is irrevocably changed every year on January 5th when after he falls asleep, anything that’s not touching or physically on him is lost forever when the universe resets and anyone who ever knew, cared or loved him forgets he ever existed.

The prose is smooth and sweet. The characters are complex, troubled, and resilient. And the plot is a compelling tale of life, loss, love, family, friendship, secrets, survival, loneliness, and the importance of having someone to love.

Overall, How to Be Remembered made me think, made me teary, and resonated with me long after the final page. It’s a poignant, immersive, beautiful tale by Thompson that combines exceptional character development with the magic of the supernatural to weave a heart-tugging, bittersweet tale steeped in an abundance of heartbreak, tenderness, and hope!

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

About Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson has been a journalist, producer and media executive for the last fifteen years. He now co-owns a podcast production company called Fear and Greed – home of Australia’s most popular business podcast. He lives in Sydney with his wife, two young children, two cats and his beloved lawn. How to Be Remembered is Michael’s first novel.

Photo courtesy of Author's Website.

Website | Twitter | Instagram

21
Jun
2023

#BookReview Welcome to Beach Town by Susan Wiggs @susanwiggs @uplitreads @WmMorrowBooks #welcometobeachtown #authorsusanwiggs #uplitreadscampaign

categories: Book Review, Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction

Title: Welcome to Beach Town

Author: Susan Wiggs

Published by: William Morrow on Jun. 20, 2023

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction

Pages: 336

Format: Hardcover

Source: Uplit Reads

Book Rating: 8.5/10

Every town has its secrets… In idyllic Alara Cove, a California beach town known for its sunny charm and chill surfer vibe, it’s graduation day at the elite Thornton Academy.

At Thornton, the students are the worldly and overindulged children who live in gated enclaves with spectacular views. But the class valedictorian is Nikki Graziola, a surfer’s daughter who is there on scholarship. To the shock of everyone in the audience, Nikki veers off script while giving her commencement address and reveals a secret that breaks open the whole community. As her truth explodes into the light, Alara Cove will face a reckoning. Nikki Graziola’s accusation shakes the foundation of Alara Cove, pitting her against the wealthy family whose money runs the town. Her new notoriety sends Nikki into exile for years, where she finds fame—but not fortune—overseas as a competition surfer…until a personal tragedy compels her to return to Alara Cove.

As Nikki struggles to rebuild her future, she finds that the people of the town have not forgotten her. But time has changed Alara Cove, and old friendships, rivalries, and an unexpected romance draw her back into the life of the beach town she’s never quite forgotten, and where joy and redemption may be possible after all.

Review:

Sincere, heart-tugging, and rewarding!

Welcome to Beach Town is an emotional, immersive, heartwarming tale that takes us into the life of the sweet, vulnerable Nikki Graziola as she struggles to juggle returning to her hometown that’s laced with tragic memories and a place she hoped she’d never have to live again, the overwhelming grief caused by the sudden loss of the love of her life, a strained relationship with a father she hardly knows, a determination to finally uncover all the secrets hidden by those in power, and a newly budding attraction to a friend she was pretty close with in the past.

The writing is sentimental and engaging. The characters are layered, supportive, and generous. And the plot is a touching tale of family, friendship, self-discovery, happiness, heartbreak, taking chances, growth, healing, revelations, tender moments, light drama, greed, corruption, selflessness, romance, and new beginnings.

Overall, Welcome to Beach Town is another heartwarming, uplifting, nostalgic tale that reminds us that the true meaning of family is unconditionally respecting, loving, supporting, and accepting each other through all the highs and lows. It’s the perfect read for summer that proves once again that when it comes to writing heartfelt, moving stories with characters you can’t help but root for, Wiggs is one of the best.

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

Thank you to Uplit Reads for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

About Susan Wiggs

Susan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends…and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and in good weather, she commutes to her writers' group in a 21-foot motorboat. She’s been featured in the national media, including NPR, PRI, and USA Today, has given programs for the US Embassies in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, and is a popular speaker locally, nationally, internationally, and on the high seas.

From the very start, her writings have illuminated the everyday dramas of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. Her books celebrate the power of love, the timeless bonds of family and the fascinating nuances of human nature. Today, she is an international best-selling, award-winning author, with millions of copies of her books in print in numerous countries and languages. According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable."

Her novels have appeared in the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller List, and have captured readers’ hearts around the globe with translations into more than 20 languages and 30 countries. She is a three-time winner of the RITA Award,. Her recent novel, The Apple Orchard, is currently being made into a film, and The Lakeshore Chronicles has been optioned for adaptation into a series.

The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. She lives on an island in Puget Sound, where she divides her time between sleeping and waking.

14
Jun
2023

#BookReview A Love Catastrophe by Helena Hunting @HBGCanada @readforeverpub @grandcentralpub #ReadForever #ReadForever2023 #HelenaHunting #ALoveCatastrophe #HBGCanada

categories: 8.5/10, Book Review, Contemporary Romance

Title: A Love Catastrophe

Author: Helena Hunting

Published by: Forever on Jun. 13, 2023

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 384

Format: Paperback

Source: HBG Canada

Book Rating: 8.5/10

The fur is about to fly between a cheerful cat sitter and a grumpy hockey nerd in this hilarious and charming rom-com by the New York Times bestselling author of Meet Cute .

Kitty Hart has become internet famous as the Kitty Whisperer for her expertise on all things feline, and as a result, her cat-sitting business is booming. But lately, she has a terrible feeling that maybe her life isn’t quite going where it’s supposed to—especially after falling face-first into her newest client. Not exactly the best first impression .

Fortunately, Miles Thorn is just as bad at first impressions. Strike he doesn’t like cats, especially Prince Francis, the haughty and mischievous Sphynx his mom left in his care. Strike tackling Kitty to the floor in a misguided attempt to save the pet he continually calls “the gremlin.”

As awkwardness slides into attraction and things start to turn purr-sonal, will these two complete opposites ever be able to find their furry-tail ending?

Review:

Cute, charming, and comical!

A Love Catastrophe is a spirited, heartwarming, opposites-attract romance that mixes the awkward, dependent Kitty, who lives and breathes cats and enjoys nothing more than running her cat-sitting business, and the intelligent, driven Miles, who feels a little overwhelmed juggling a new career with the NHL, navigating his mother’s declining mental health, keeping his mother’s hairless cat who he really doesn’t like alive, and making sure his own beloved Great Dane, Wilfred is happily entertained.

The prose is witty and light. The characters, including all the supporting characters, are quirky, supportive, and kind. And the plot is a fun-loving, flirty blend of tricky situations, tender moments, humorous mishaps, self-discovery, friendship, family, happiness, romance, and some adorable four-legged friends.

Overall, A Love Catastrophe is an amusing, entertaining, enjoyable treat by Hunting that I thoroughly enjoyed and is the perfect choice for anyone who loves their romcoms with a lot of hope, heart, humour and heat.

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

Thank you to HBG Canada & Forever for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

About Helena Hunting

Helena Hunting is the author of The USA Today and NYT bestselling PUCKED Series. She lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes everything from romantic sports comedy to new adult angst.

Photograph courtesy of Author's Website.

29
May
2023

#BookReview The Front Porch Club by Michelle Major @michelle_major1 @KayePublicity @HarlequinBooks #TheFrontPorchClub #MichelleMajor #CarolinaGirls

categories: 8.5/10, Book Review, Contemporary Romance

Title: The Front Porch Club

Author: Michelle Major

Series: Carolina Girls #5

Published by: Canary Street Press on May 23, 2023

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 384

Format: Paperback

Source: Kaye Publicity

Book Rating: 8.5/10

They have nothing in common—except a need to start over…

The drawback to having a picture-perfect life is that there’s nowhere to go but down—and Annalise Haverford is falling fast. Once, she was the self-proclaimed queen bee of Magnolia, North Carolina. Now her husband has been arrested for fraud, and she’s become an outcast in the shallow circles she used to rule. There’s only one affordable rental in town, and it’s owned by the woman Annalise got fired from a lucrative job.

Much as single mother Shauna Myer would like to refuse Annalise, who treated her like dirt on the bottom of her red-soled shoe, she needs that rent money. But when Shauna’s first love arrives in town, unraveling secrets she’d hoped to keep, Annalise becomes her unlikely defender. Meghan Banks, an elementary school art teacher whose quiet existence suddenly descends into chaos, is thrown an unexpected lifeline by Annalise, too.

As spring ripens into a sultry summer, the three spur each other on to share their fears and dreams, face new challenges, and seize second chances. Because no matter how turbulent life may be, it’s much easier to navigate those choppy waters when you’re buoyed by true friendship…

Review:

Romantic, cozy, and engaging!

The Front Porch Club is an enchanting, heartwarming story set in the quaint town of Magnolia, North Carolina, that takes you into the lives of three unlikely friends, Shauna, Annalise, and Meghan, who together tackle all the highs and lows of life including single motherhood, new love, old love, career woes, taking chances, and new beginnings.

The prose is fluid and smooth. The characters are genuine, supportive, and reliable. And the plot is a tender, hopeful tale about life, love, family, parenthood, heartbreak, attraction, introspection, contentment, and small-town living.

Overall, The Front Porch Club is another sweet, uplifting, satisfying addition to the Carolina Girls series by Major that touches on the importance of healing, friendship, self-discovery, and finding happiness.

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

Thank you to Kaye Publicity for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

About Michelle Major

Michelle Major grew up in Ohio but dreamed of living in the mountains. Soon after graduating with a degree in Journalism, she pointed her car west and settled in Colorado. Her life and house are filled with one great husband, two beautiful kids, a few furry pets and several well-behaved reptiles. She’s grateful to have found her passion writing stories with happy endings.

Photograph courtesy of Author's Goodreads Page.

23
May
2023

#BookReview Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding @SimonSchusterCA @GalleryBooks #Emmaof83rdStreet #AudreyBellezza #EmilyHarding #SimonSchusterCA

categories: 9/10, Book Review, Contemporary Romance

Title: Emma of 83rd Street

Author: Audrey Bellezza, Emily Harding

Published by: Gallery Books on May 23, 2023

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 384

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Simon & Schuster Canada

Book Rating: 9/10

In this witty and romantic debut novel, Jane Austen’s Emma meets the misadventures of Manhattan’s modern dating scene as two lifelong friends discover that, in the search for love, you sometimes don’t have to look any further than your own backyard.

Beautiful, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse has lived twenty-three years in her tight-knit Upper East Side neighborhood with very little to distress or vex her…that is, until her budding matchmaking hobby results in her sister’s marriage—and subsequent move downtown. Now, with her sister gone and all her friends traveling abroad, Emma must start her final year of grad school grappling with an entirely new emotion: boredom. So when she meets Nadine, a wide-eyed Ohio transplant with a heart of gold and drugstore blonde highlights to match, Emma not only sees a potential new friend but a new project. If only her overbearing neighbor George Knightley would get out of her way.

Handsome, smart, and successful, the only thing that frustrates Knightley more than a corked whiskey is his childhood friend, Emma. Whether it’s her shopping sprees between classes or her revolving door of ill-conceived hobbies, he is only too happy to lecture her on all the finer points of adulthood she’s so hell-bent on ignoring. But despite his gripes—and much to his own chagrin—Knightley can’t help but notice that the girl next door is a woman now…one who he suddenly can’t get out of his head.

As Emma’s best laid plans collide with everyone from hipster baristas to meddling family members to flaky playboy millionaires, these two friends slowly realize their need to always be right has been usurped by a new need entirely, and it’s not long before they discover that even the most familiar stories still have some surprises.

Review:

Fresh, uplifting, and spicy!

Emma of 83rd Street is a charming, engaging tale that takes us to NYC and into the life of the kind, trendy Emma Woodhouse as she makes new friends, nears graduation, seeks to obtain the career of her dreams, relies a little too heavily on her overconfident matchmaking skills, and navigates a growing attraction to the boy next door who only sees her as a friend who still needs to do a little growing up.

The writing style is witty and sharp. The characters are amusing, layered, and supportive. And the plot is a smart, engaging tale full of tricky moments, awkward situations, quirky mishaps, delicious chemistry, snappy banter, romantic drama, glitz, glamour, tension, friendship, and self-reflection.

Overall, Emma of 83rd Street is an enjoyable, entertaining, modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma that’s an outstanding debut by Bellezza & Harding with its endearing characters, heartfelt moments, contemporary storyline, and ending that leaves you with a smile.

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

About Audrey Bellezza

Audrey Bellezza is a two-time Emmy-nominated TV producer who has spent over twenty years writing, developing, and executive producing nonfiction television shows for a number of networks and streaming platforms. Audrey lives in New Jersey with her husband and two children.

Photography by Monika Normand

Goodreads

About Emily Harding

Emily Harding is a writer and TV producer whose work has appeared on numerous networks and websites. When not hunched over her computer working on her bad posture, she can be found losing another game of Monopoly to her husband and two kids.

Photography by Monika Normand

Twitter | Instagram

17
May
2023

#BookReview Funny Guy by Emma Barry @AuthorEmmaBarry @KayePublicity @KayePublicity @AmazonPub #FunnyGuy #EmmaBarry #Montlake #KayePublicity

categories: 7.5/10, Book Review, Contemporary Romance

Title: Funny Guy

Author: Emma Barry

Published by: Montlake Romance on May 16, 2023

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 271

Format: Paperback

Source: Kaye Publicity

Book Rating: 7.5/10

From the author of Chick Magnet comes a heartfelt friends-to-lovers story about what can happen when a funny guy and his childhood best friend are stuck together in a small New York City apartment.

Sam can’t escape the smash hit “Lost Boy” because, well, he is the lost boy. His pop-singer ex immortalized him in a song about his childish ways, and now his comedy career is on the line.

At least he still has Bree, his best friend and confidante. Bree has always been there for Sam, but she’s never revealed her biggest secret: she’s in love with him. To help herself move on, Bree applies for her dream job across the country―and doesn’t say a thing to Sam.

But as Sam tries to resuscitate his career, he turns to Bree for support―and maybe more. In the confines of her tiny apartment, they share a different dynamic. A charged dynamic. But she’s his friend. He can’t be falling for her.

Except he is.

Are his feelings for Bree just funny business? Or is their smoldering attraction the real deal?

Review:

Witty, optimistic, and sweet!

Funny Guy is an uplifting, layered tale that mixes the kind, hardworking Bree, who may finally have to come to grips with the fact that her childhood best friend doesn’t love her in the same way she loves him, and Sam, the hotheaded, impulsive comedian who seems to use his tortured past and feelings of worthlessness to continually try to destroy his successful career and any relationships that could be long-lasting.

The writing is warm and charming. The characters are patient, supportive, and scarred. And the plot is a delightful mix of life, love, friendship, chemistry, attraction, heartfelt moments, introspection, taking chances, and moving on.

Overall, Funny Guy is a captivating, tender, quick read by Barry that did a wonderful job of mixing heavier issues with some lighthearted fun.

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

Thank you to Kaye Publicity for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

About Emma Barry

Emma Barry is a teacher, novelist, recovering academic, and former political staffer. She lives with her high school sweetheart and a menagerie of pets and children in Virginia, and she occasionally finds time to read and write.

Photo courtesy of Author's Website.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

16
May
2023

#BookReview The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren @christinalauren @SimonSchusterCA @GalleryBooks #TheTrueLoveExperiment #ChristinaLauren #SimonSchusterCA

categories: 10/10, Book Review, Contemporary Romance, Noteworthy Book Releases

Title: The True Love Experiment

Author: Christina Lauren

Published by: Gallery Books on May 16, 2023

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 416

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Simon & Schuster Canada

Book Rating: 10/10

Sparks fly when a romance novelist and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the perfect Hollywood love story and take both of their careers to the next level—but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script.

Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached.

Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie?

Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter. But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experimentbegins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.

The True Love Experiment is the book fans have been waiting for ever since Fizzy’s debut in The Soulmate Equation. But when the lights come on and all eyes are on her, it turns out the happily ever after Fizzy had all but given up on might lie just behind the camera.

Review:

Charming, witty, and addictive!

The True Love Experiment is an amusing, heart-tugging tale that takes you into the life of Felicity Chen, a successful romance writer who, after realizing she has never truly been in love, reluctantly agrees to be the star of a new bachelor-type show based on her best friend’s DNA technology even if it means working closely with Connor Prince, the single father and documentary filmmaker who may find something he never knew he was actually looking for while producing a reality show he only agreed to do to save his career.

The writing style is humorous and crisp. The characters are fun, charming, quirky, and endearing. And the plot is an irresistible, enchanting mix of life, love, drama, friendship, emotion, snappy dialogue, hilarious hijinks, smouldering chemistry, tender moments, and steamy romance.

Overall, The True Love Experiment is pure magic. It’s a light, funny, entertaining read that’s deliciously swoon-worthy, undoubtedly one of my favourite reads of the year, and even though I never thought I’d say it, may have finally knocked The Unhoneymooners from the top spot on my list of favourite novels written by this amazing duo.

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

About Christina Lauren

Christina Lauren is the combined penname of longtime writing partners/best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, the New York Times, USA TODAY, and #1 International bestselling authors of The Beautiful and Wild Seasons series, Dating You/Hating You, Roomies, Love and Other Words, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, and the critically acclaimed Autoboyography.

Photograph by Alyssa Michelle.

13
May
2023

#BookReview The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead @ashleywinstead @KayePublicity @HarlequinBooks #TheBoyfriendCandidate #AshleyWinstead #GraydonHouseBooks #KayePublicity

categories: 8.5/10, Book Review, Contemporary Romance

Title: The Boyfriend Candidate

Author: Ashley Winstead

Published by: Graydon House on May 9, 2023

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 384

Format: Paperback

Source: Kaye Publicity

Book Rating: 8.5/10

A laugh-out-loud rom-com about learning to embrace living outside your comfort zone.

As a shy school librarian, Alexis Stone is comfortable keeping out of the spotlight. But when she’s dumped for being too meek—in bed!—the humiliation is a wake-up call. She decides she needs to change, and what better way to kick-start her new more adventurous life than with her first one-night stand?

Enter Logan, the gorgeous, foul-mouthed stranger she meets at a hotel bar. Logan is audacious and filterless, making him Alexis’s opposite—and boy, do opposites attract! Just as she’s about to fulfill her hookup wish, the hotel catches fire in a freak lightning storm—and in their rush to escape, Logan is discovered carrying her into the street, where people are waiting with cameras. Cameras Logan promptly—and shockingly—flees.

Alexis is bewildered until breaking news hits: pictures of her and Logan escaping the fire are all over the internet. It turns out Logan is none other than Logan Arthur, the hotshot politician challenging the Texas governor’s seat. The salacious images are poised to sink his career—and jeopardize Alexis’s job—until a solution is proposed: to squash the scandal, he and Alexis could pretend to be in a relationship until election day…in two months. What could possibly go wrong?

Review:

Clever, engaging, and sassy!

The Boyfriend Candidate is a flirty, feel-good tale about the hardworking, timid Alexis Stone who, after deciding to embark on a one-night stand after having her confidence shattered by an ex, finds her world turned upside down when her date turns out to be none other than Logan Arthur, the latest candidate for governor of Texas, and for the benefit of both their reputations and the political campaign agrees to fake date him until the election is over.

The prose is witty and sharp. The characters are focused, amusing, and driven. And the plot is a lighthearted, funny blend of life, love, introspection, friendship, secrets, deception, awkward situations, sweet moments and taking chances.

Overall, The Boyfriend Candidate is another charming, touching, delightful tale by Winstead that I thoroughly enjoyed and which, in my opinion, is the perfect choice for anyone who loves a good romcom that has a whole lot of hope, heart, and humour.

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

Thank you to Kaye Publicity for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

About Ashley Winstead

Ashley Winstead holds a Ph.D. in contemporary American literature from Southern Methodist University and a B.A. in English and Art History from Vanderbilt University. She lives in Houston, TX, where she drinks red wine and dreams up novels.

Photo by Luis Noble.

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