Today is my stop on the blog tour for More Than Peaches, the sixth book in Christine DePetrillo's lovely Maple Leaf series. It's a sweet and entertaining romance, and it is out now, so if you are a fan of the genre make sure you check it out!

About the book:
Title: More Than Peaches
Author: Christine DePetrillo
Genre: Small Town Romance
 

With that disheveled mass of blond hair, those piercing emerald eyes, and the faint Irish accent, Grady O’Donnell was, in fact, adorable.
 
Grady O’Donnell serves drinks to all who roam into his bar, The Clumsy Grasshopper. His heart had once been filled to the rim with love back home in Ireland, but the Universe shattered that bottle. He’s started over in busy Boston, and he’s happy to mix his business, his painting, and his lazy beagle, Cricket, into a life he can easily swallow. Most of the time.
Lena Clover brightens people’s days in Boston with her natural wares at Clover’s Fruit and Flower Shoppe. She’s been so involved in running her farm and store that she’s let her love life seriously wilt. The only love she gives out is to her silly dog, Snowy. Her business partner wants to help her cultivate that part of her life, but after her last relationship, she’s still not ready to stop and smell the roses with anyone.
 
Until she meets Grady.
Brought together to work on wedding arrangements for Rachel and Harris, their mutual friends, Grady and Lena have to face the fact that maybe, just maybe, there is a little room to explore the instant attraction blooming between them.
If their plans don’t get weedwhacked, that is.

Get Your Copy Today!

 
Catching Up with the Series:
More Than Pancakes
More Than Cookies
More Than Rum
More Than Pizza
More Than Cocoa
More Than Candy Corn

My thoughts:

Another gorgeous instalment in Christine DePetrillo's sweet sweet Maple Leaf series! If you have read the first five books, you'll be delighted to see the familiar faces and  their happily-ever-afters (although let' face it, we never doubted our favourite couples are meant to last). This time it's Grady O'Donnell and Lena Clover's story and, of course, you're going to fall in love with this couple too!
Grady's life's been touched by tragedy in his home Ireland. Now he's busy running a successful pub, painting dreamy pictures that celebrate his family's romantic lore and taking care of his lovely beagle. His friends would love to see him settle with a good caring woman, but Grady's happy to stay true to his past until...he meets Lena who is helping his friends with their wedding preparations. Lena has her own reasons for putting dating and romance on the back burner. Both of our protagonists seem settled and content with their loveless lives and yet when they do meet there's an instant connection.
Christine DePetrillo knows how to create strong and independent characters with a heart of gold. Grady and Lena's story draws you in from the word go and it sure made me stay up all night turning pages. There was danger, suspense and intrigue on one hand, and sweet kindness that only comes when you're ready for a second chance in life and know it can blossom into something special.
I would recommend this book to anyone who believes real romance is based on respect and understanding. Great ending to a great series!

Description
Alex Jenkins, an ambitious ex-motorcyclist and heir to billions, fakes his engagement to Evie Cooper to claim his inheritance. But with a single kiss, everything changes.

Alex Jenkins has a reputation: he's Atlanta's most eligible bachelor, a former competitive motorcycle racer, and a man who isn't afraid of a bit of a challenge. But when the off-limits marketing intern Evie Cooper catches his attention, self-control has a whole new meaning.

Both Alex and Evie attempt professionalism but their undeniable passion pushes them further to the edge. Between in-office outfit adjustments and late-night secretarial work, their close proximity is pure torture.

The suspense builds as Evie is reluctantly drawn into an engagement-for-show so Alex can secure his place as the company’s successor. His reputation as a bad boy is not exactly on brand and a serious commitment could prove to his family that he is mature enough to take over. With the engagement comes family drama and the ever-present eye of the matriarch, Alex's steely and strong grandmother, Eleanor Dorothy Jenkins.

As Evie becomes immersed in the Jerkins clan, her humble origins come into stark contrast with the snobbery of the billionaire lifestyle. Awash in new-found lust and overwhelmed by a world of luxury, Evie struggles to decipher between what is a ruse and what is real.

Can Alex exchange his love for the chase for real love? Can Evie’s spunk and personality win over Alex’s family? Can their raw passion transform their fauxmance into a meaningful relationship?

Publisher: Wattpad Books
Publication Date: January 24, 2023

Purchase

Also available for purchase from Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Books-A-Million, Kobo, Apple, your favorite US indie bookseller, or your favorite Canadian indie bookseller.

My thoughts:
 I didn't realise that this is the second book in the Pretenders series (the first one dealt with Alex's sister Savannah's love story). You can read Crash as a standalone, but if you want to read Drive, do it first, as there will be multiple spoilers in the second book.
If you love the fake dating trope, you know it's all about the motivation, the tension, the suspense -will they get discovered? if they do, what will happen next? will they admit their feelings are anything but fake?
Evie Cooper has a very good reason to consider her charming boss's proposal. For the last two years Evie has been raising her teenage sister Sabrina after a tragic death of their parents in a car accident. If only marketing internships paid more. When due to a mix-up with a temporary assistant, Evie's existence is brought to his attention, Alex can't help thinking Evie might be the solution to his immediate problem of proving to his grandmother he has changed his lothario ways and is ready to settle down with a nice, steady girl... It helps that Grandma Eleanor already likes Evie and suspects Alex and Evie are an item.  Eleanor is about to choose her successor and the CEO of the company. The only two contenders are Alex and his slimy cousin Beau who has already caused Alex a lot of heartbreak. On the other hand, Evie is desperate for a bit of break, but bills keep piling up and Sabrina is still too young to help her out. Plus, kind-hearted Evie is definitely on team Alex as far as his rivalry with Beau is concerned. But will their ruse succeed once they are surrounded by Alex's family? and will they manage to separate their fake courtship from very real feelings that are beginning to emerge and grow?
I have to admit life has dealt Evie a tough hand...Still, the money exchange fake dating is probably one of my least favourite scenarios in this trope. Also, while I could totally understand how a twenty two year old can feel crushed by poverty, I still think Alex could have helped Evie without any stipulations or conditions. He did behave in a very entitled way, coming from the world of privilege.
Dual POV narration worked really well in this book, adding to our understanding of the protagonists and how their feelings (which were quite complex and ambiguous even at the beginning of their 'business project') change and develop. The story is entertaining and very easy to get into which is partly due to the writing style full of interesting, memorable detail. I would definitely like to read more books by Tamara Lush.
Recomended to anyone who likes the fake dating trope, poverty Vs privilege, family drama and opposites attract-and, of course, anyone who loves a good HEA at the end of their romance book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the review copy provided in exchang efor an honest opinion.

"Sophie Sullivan’s writing feels like a warm hug.” —Rachel Lynn Solomon, bestselling author of The Ex Talk
Hailey Sharp has a one-track mind. Get By the Cup salad shop off the ground. Do literally everything possible to make it a success. Repeat. With a head full of entrepreneurial ideas and a bad ex in her rearview, her one and only focus is living life the way she wants to. No distractions.

Wes Jansen never did understand the fuss about relationships. With a string of lackluster first dates and the pain from his parents’ angry divorce following him around, he’d much rather find someone who he likes, but won’t love. Companionship, not passion, is the name of the game.

When Hailey and Wes find each other in a disastrous meet cute that wasn’t even intended for them, they embarrassingly go their separate ways. But when Wes finds Hailey to apologize for his behavior, they strike a friendship. Because that’s all this can be. Hailey doesn’t want any distractions. Wes doesn’t want to fall in love.

What could possibly go wrong?

Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin
Publication date: 17/1/23
Purchase link
ISBN 9781250624208, 1250624207

My thoughts:

A lovely final book in a delightful series featuring three brothers and their different ways to Happily-ever-after. If you loved 10 Rules For Faking it and How to Love Your Neighbour, you must have been waiting impatiently for this third and final book. If you are new to Sophie Sullivan's romcoms, don't worry, it can definitely be read as a standalone.

Hailey Sharp is a ray of sunshine-  sweet and independent, Hailey never complains or relies on other people to solve her problems. Instead of wallowing in misery after her emotionally-abusive  relationship came to an end, Hailey sold her apartment, moved to a new town and opened a business of her own. Now what she really needs is to focus on making her salad bar successful and ...finding friends, becoming a part of this lovely, vibrant community.

Wes Jansen has decided to follow his brothers to California and continue building their cybersecurity/investment business as far as possible from their father. Unlike Chris and Noah he doesn't want love and family, as they are too difficult to predict and control. He doesn't even want to date casually. What he needs is a friend, and luckily he already has a perfect candidate for that- Hailey, after their embarrassing meet-cute. All they have to do is set their boundaries and not let their feelings grow in (un)predictably romantic ways....

If friends-to-lovers happens to be your favourite trope, you know how often it is about old childhood friends or schoolmates or a best friend's brother/sister. Sophie Sullivan explores something else her - two people may be perfect for each other, but aren't ready to date seriously not this specific person, but anyone. Hailey's just started her business and needs time to forget her ex's lies, Wes is ...very rigid and uptight. They both have parents issues (very different, but with the same outcome)-the author writes about something very realistic and relatable, but in a light-hearted, entertaining way.

Recommended to anyone who likes slow-burn romance, sweet, likeable characters (both main and secondary), and happily-ever-afters. Can't wait to read Sophie Sullivan's next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

SOPHIE SULLIVAN (she/her) is a Canadian author as well as a cookie-eating, Diet Pepsi-drinking, Disney enthusiast who loves reading and writing romance in almost equal measure. She writes around her day job as a teacher and spends her spare time with her sweet family watching reruns of Friends. She has written Ten Rules for Faking it and How to Love Your Neighbor, and has had plenty of practice writing happily ever after as her alter ego, Jody Holford.

Do you like strong, independent female protagonists?
Here is a brand-new romcom featuring a small business owner Indigo who still needs to figure out a few things to make sure her private life is as successful as her career.

From the blurb:

Hair done. Nails too. Make-up flawless. Indigo knows she looks good . . . now if she could only find someone who could see her as she saw herself: fearless, strong, sexyIndigo has most of her life figured out. She’s a successful business owner. She’s got a lovely family and wonderful friends–who are totally invested in her finding a partner as amazing as Indigo is. It’s the last part of the equation for the happy life she knows she deserves. But you have to kiss a lot of frogs until you find your prince--from hotshot lawyers to looks-great-on-paper types, Indigo’s dating life is red hot! But if it is long-lasting love she wants . . . she may need to look no further than right in front of her.

Publisher: Wattpad Books
Publication Date: December 6th, 2022
Amazon
Also available for purchase from Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Books-A-Million, Kobo, Apple, your favorite US indie bookseller, or your favorite Canadian indie bookseller.

Paperback ISBN: 9781990259289
E-ISBN: 9781990259296

Amber Samuel is a writer, a Wattpad Star and a high school teacher. She lives and works in Texas. The Many Dates of Indigo is her first novel.

From the blurb:

In this Regency rom-com, when a Duke and a reporter team up to uncover his family’s secrets, their search brings up more than they bargained for—including their feelings for each other.Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair only tolerate one another for the sake of their nearest and dearest. Everyone believes that the two of them are meant to be together, but Diana and Giles know that their constant pithy barbs come from a shared disdain—not a hidden attraction. Diana loves the freedom of working at the newspaper too much to give it up for marriage, and Giles is happily married to his bachelor lifestyle. But they do have one thing in common—the secrets they can’t risk escaping.

When Giles’ father, the curmudgeonly Duke of Harpenden unexpectedly turns up his toes, it’s only a matter of time before someone comes crawling out of the woodwork who knows the true circumstances of his only son's birth. As the threat of blackmail becomes real, Giles must uncover the truth of his parentage first, or else he and all those who depend upon him will be ruined—and dogged bloodhound Diana is his best hope at sniffing out the truth. As Giles and Diana dive into his family’s past, the attraction that the two of them insisted wasn’t there proves impossible to ignore. Soon, the future of the Sinclair estate isn’t the only thing on the line…

Publication date: November 8, 2022
Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin
​
Purchase

My thoughts:

If you'd asked me two years ago 'Contemporary or Regency?' I wouldn't have hesitated -'Contemporary, of course!', but then I discovered Virginia Heath and her delightful historical romcoms and learnt that they have everything a romance reader can wish for: entertaining storylines with the best tropes, funny, memorable characters, swoonworthy heroes and sassy heroines...and lots and lots of banter.

No wonder I fell hook line and sinker for Minerva Merriwell and Hugh Standish in Never Fall for Your Fiancee, the first book in the Merriwell Sisters series, and now the wait is finally over and we have the second story where Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclaire get their happily-ever-after. If you remember these hilarious secondary characters from the first book, you already know they love nothing better than a bit of verbal sparring. Now that Giles' best friend Hugo is married to Diana's sister, these frenemies have grown even closer, although they are still long way from admitting how much they appreciate each other's company.

Having had a very rough start in life, Diana is proud of having become one of the most sought-after reporters. Her scathing exposes make sure helpless victims of rich scoundrels get a chance for justice. When Giles' father suddenly passes away, the feelings of the new Duke of Harpenden aren't that straightforward. One thing he knows for sure, he needs answers to some questions buried in the past before someone uncovers the dirty secret of his illegitimate birth and uses it to ruin him and all the good he can finally do with the money he inherited from the old miser. But who can Giles trust in this delicate situation if not the belligerent, nitpicking 'grammarian' aka the Truth Hound Diana Merriwell?

​Yes, there's chemistry and sizzling attraction between the main characters, but there's so much more- trust, understanding and willingness to fight for each other's well-being and happiness. I love nothing more than a strong, independent female protagonist who will push the envelope and defy other people's expectations. All of this in deliciously entertaining, easy-to-read package (I love Virginia Heath's sense of humour and her writing style) and you have me reading until the small hours., wondering why on earth I thought Regency Romance can't be fun.

Recommended? Sure! Now I can't wait for Virginia Heath to write the next story in the series. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Griffin for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Author Bio – When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Twenty-two books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virginiaheathauthor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VirginiaHeath_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiaheathwrites

Today I'm delighted to participate in the blog tour for Breaking the Friendzone by May Lynn.



From the blurb:
 
Revenge is sometimes best served . . . in bed


When Lacey Mason was six-years-old, her family moved to the Hamptons. A beautiful location, for sure, but not much fun when you’re the only kid in the area. When Lacey stumbles upon her next door neighbor, Luke Drake, on the beach it is instant friendship. For the next four years they spent almost every waking hour together. But just as summer inevitably turns to fall, all good things must end. When Lacey’s family sells their house and leaves the Hamptons, the pair vow to always stay in touch. But a dramatic meeting when they are teens leaves their friendship in tatters and Lacey’s heart broken.

Fast forward seven years, and 22-year-old Lacey returns to the Hamptons. During a night out partying, who does she run into? Luke Drake. The only thing is Luke doesn’t recognize her. At first, Lacey thinks it’s hilarious—a case of karma finally catching up with the golden boy—but then she realizes that all the feelings she’s buried for so long aren’t going to stay buried . . . especially when she and Luke are thrown together by internships at their family run company, Drake-Mason Pharma.

Luke Drake wants to be anywhere but the Hamptons, and he certainly doesn’t want to be interning at his dad’s company. Luke’s got a secret plan: make enough money to break away from his controlling father and strike out on his own. Then one night he sees a girl at a club, and after an incredible night together, he discovers that the mystery girl is his childhood friend: Lacey Mason. He knows what he did to her when they were teenagers was wrong and is determined to spend the summer showing Lacey that he’s changed . . . and that they belong together.

However, family secrets, including the one that ended their friendship in the first place, may prove to be too much, and Lacey may not be willing to let Luke break out of the friendzone.

Available for purchase from Amazon,  Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Books-A-Million, Kobo, Apple, your favorite US indie bookseller, or your favorite Canadian indie bookseller.

Publication Date: October 18, 2022
Publisher: Wattpad Books

My thoughts:

If you've been following this blog for some time, you probably know that enemies-to-lovers ( tension and passion) and friends-to-lovers (genuine care and trust) are my favourite tropes. So when I saw the description of Breaking the Friendzone and realized it will have both,  I simply had to read it.

We meet Lacey Mason when this sweet little girl is just about to make her first real friend Luke Drake at Hamptons where her parents bought a house and yes, we know he will be the One. The story fast forwards to Lacey being twenty two, out clubbing wth her friend Rachel, who is in a desperate need to forget her messy break-up. Things get spicy between Lacey and her 'one night stand'- Lucas who doesn't remember their past. Then they thrown in working together and all the drama begins!

I loved the dual POV in this book- it adds so much depth and insight how both sides see the situation and what they are feeling. Luke and Lacey's story is complex and based on lots of secrets and family issues, so having both perspectives made everything more engaging.

The attraction and chemistry between the protagonists is strong, but this isn't all the book is about- they are complex, flawed characters you can easily relate to and care about. The steamy things were hot, hot, hot! but there's also real connection and feeling.

May Lynn's writing style is fun and entertaining with all the banter and passion I look for in my romance books. Now I'm very intrigued about Lacey's best friend Rachel and can't wait to read her story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

About May Lynn:
 
May Lynn is the author of the Wattpad Paid Stories hit, Breaking the Friendzone. Her love of pharmacy, romance, and mystery led to her writing this breakthrough story, which now holds over five million reads on the platform. May grew up in the Dubuque, Iowa, area and now resides with her husband and their dog in a nearby lake town. When not writing on Wattpad, she enjoys reading, concerts, cooking, and time with family.
 
Instagram: (link)
Twitter:  (link)
TikTok: (link)
Pinterest: (link)

From the blurb:

A debut sexy romantic comedy about a woman getting her groove back and getting a second chance at love.Vanessa Jared, a 40-something divorcee, decided that the best way to pull herself out of their post-divorce slump was to form The Savvy, Sexy, Singles Club and start the "Do Me" portion of her and her friends' lives.

But on the two year anniversary, a sexy sheriff shows up on Vanessa's doorstep wanting her to help him keep his little sister from marrying her no-good ex. Vanessa is not down for this at all. She wants nothing to do with her ex...until she spots a photo of her ex's new fiancee wearing her grandmother's ring--which he clearly stole from her. So now it is on. Vanessa is ready to take this trifling (fill-in-the-blank) down. What she does not expect is to fall in love along the way.

Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin
Publication date: September 20th
ISBN 9781250773395, 1250773393
Purchase Link

My thoughts:
Can we just admire this hot and sexy and sensual cover? gorgeous!!!

Two years after her divorce, Vanessa Jared is still trying to find her feet and her purpose in this new life without her manipulative and abusive husband Karl. Luckily for her, she's made two fantastic friends Cree and Janae, both of whom were attending the same Post-Divorce Support Group, and founded their own fabulous Savvy, Sexy, Singles Club. Vanessa is approached by the Sheriff of the small town of Monroe Hills, where incidentally both of her friends live. Michael Park's much younger sister Cindy has just got engaged, but Michael's intuition told him the man is not to be trusted, so he did a little investigation and decided that a little help and a friendly talk from this so called widower Karl Scott's ex-wife might be exactly what is needed. Reluctant as she is to intervene and break another woman's heart with the sad truth, Vanessa finally agrees and it isn't just about getting back her grandmother's engagement ring stolen by her good-for-nothing ex, it is about doing the right thing. Little does she know that this trip is going to change her life...

I was immediately drawn in the story and my heart went to the protagonist. Vanessa reminded me so much of my smart, sexy and sensitive friend and all the turmoil and emotional pain of her divorce and how difficult it was for her to re-build her confidence and start her new life. LaQuette shows life as it is from the courage it takes to file a divorce and walk away from an abusive partner to how hard it is to start trusting people, how even a simple comment can rub you wrong way because you don't want to be patronised or taken advantage of. We also see other aspects of divorce through the secondary characters and their challenges. My admiration for creating realistic, relatable characters in an age group which doesn't get enough representation in romance and not shying away from portraying real life problems.

While Vanessa is rediscovering her independence and what it means to take care of yourself so that you can love and take care of others, Michael is also doing his own balancing act of being a strong, protective older brother without either spoiling his little sister or never letting her spread her own wings. There's also wonderful cast of supporting characters- fully developed and well-differentiated with their own unique voices that add more humour and genuine emotion to the overall story.

The chemistry between the protagonists- oh my gosh! Normally I don't go for anything insta, including instalust, but here there's all this immediate powerful attraction Vanessa and Michael feel for each other, all this tension that keeps building up. When they do act on it, it feels natural and it's hot, hot, hot, it's like fireworks going off on a New Year's Eve. Once again, I am so happy to see the author showing that asking for and expressing consent is crucial.

LaQuette's writing is engaging and I could almost hear my friends talking and teasing each other on a night out. With all that, there is a certain gravitas- she knows that the issues she's raising are important and have to be dealt with in a sensitive way.

All I can say, I can't wait to come back to Monroe Hills for more hot and sizzling romance!

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Griffin for th ereview copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

From the blurb:

Smart, capable heiress Emmeline Pershing will do anything to keep her beloved home; and all it takes is an arranged marriage and a teeny white lie to fulfill her family’s silly inheritance rules! But now her little fib means that she and her completely unsuspecting husband are going to inherit big — and very messy! —trouble in this spicy, sexy delight from bestseller, Suzanne Enoch.

Emmeline and William Pershing have enjoyed a perfectly convenient marriage for eight years. Their relationship is a seamless blend of their talents and goals. They’ve settled into separate, well-ordered lives beneath the same roof, and are content to stay that way—or so Emmeline thinks. And if William has secretly longed for a bit more from the woman he adores, he’s managed to be content with her supreme skills as a hostess and planner, which has helped him advance his career.

Then when Emmeline’s grandfather, the reclusive Duke of Welshire, summons them both for his birthday celebration and demands they bring their two little angelic children, William is stunned to discover that his very proper wife invented not one, but two heirs to fulfill the agreement for living at Winnover. But surely if Emmeline and William team up and borrow two cherubs to call their own, what could go wrong? Enter George, age 8, and Rose, 5—the two most unruly orphans in Britain.

As the insanity unfolds, their careful, professional arrangement takes some surprisingly intimate turns as well. Perhaps it takes a bit of madness to create the perfect happily ever after.

Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: September 20th, 2022
Purchase Link

My thoughts:

Positively delightful!My first book by Suzanne Enoch and, now that I've discovered her witty and entertaining writing style, it won't be the last.

The premise was hilarious- Emmeline has to get married as soon as possible in order to secure her place in her own house. The house is 'on the lease' from her grandfather the Duke of Welshire. Once it gets vacated, the first girl in her generation to get married secures the use it for five years and should she have a child in the following five years, she and her spouse can stay there for all their life. Emmie's horrible cousin just got engaged, so the news of her own parents leaving the house and moving to Bath comes as a bit of shock and a call to action. On the spur of the moment, Emmie proposes a marriage (of convenience) to her childhood friend Will Pershing, who (unbeknowst to her) has been harbouring tender feelings for her. Match, set, marriage! Winnover House is hers…for the time being.

Fast forward eight years and our fabulous protagonist finds herself in a new predicament. While her marriage to Will may be considered an exemplary partnership, the couple are childless, so Emmie might have been less than completely truthful when she informed her family that she has two sweet, but unfortunately very sickly children. Now the Duke is summoning all his close and distant relations to celebrate his birthday and would love to see Emmie and her family. Including the non-existent children. It turns out it isn't that easy to borrow two children for a few weeks and pass them as your own offspring...Still our enterprising protagonists succeed in finding two orphaned siblings George and Rose Fletcher. Now the destiny of Winnover House and the couple's reputation will depend on the feisty orphans' ability to pass for Flora and Malcolm Pershing. No pressure!

It is quite hard to classify this book- there's a lot of comedy for sure, but just a tiny bit of romance as Emmie and Will re-discover the joy of attraction to each other. The romance in this book is absolutely secondary to …everything else that is happening, above all, the children's shenanigans and Pershings gradually developing a better understanding of what being a parent or a guardian involves. I did want more romance or failing that more friendship/that elusive understanding that good couples have. At the beginning Emmie Pershing is totally oblivious to anything but her own socialite role. As the plot develops, this changes and she finally sees the light and her own very attractive and incredibly patient husband. To be fair to Emmie, she had a very cold and emotionless role-model of her own mother, so discovering that she herself might even want to be a parent is going to take some time…and some pages.

George and Rose are adorable: strong-willed, resourceful, independent and completely right for their age. Again there's a bit of repetition as both the children (especially George) and Pershings go through a change of heart and build up some kind of trust. Perhaps the book could have been shorter, especially had another character, important to the children, not been introduced, but boy, did he ratchet up some drama!

Of course, there's only one way in which this romcom could end, but this predictability comes from the internal plot logic and character development and I never say no to a HEA in my romance books.

Overall: more on the comedy side than romance, but also sweet (don't let that king-size bed on the cover mislead you), entertaining, and fun. Recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Griffin for the review coopy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

About the author:
A native and current resident of Southern California, SUZANNE ENOCH loves movies almost as much as she loves books, with a special place in her heart for anything Star Wars. She has written more than forty Regency novels and historical romances, which are regularly found on the New York Times bestseller list. When she is not busily working on her next book, Suzanne likes to contemplate interesting phenomena, like how the three guppies in her aquarium became 161 guppies in five months.

From the blurb:

An overachieving lawyer. A failing bookstore. A childhood friend. The chance of a lifetime.

Lizzy “Overachiever” Chung, Esq. doesn’t know the meaning of “can’t.” That is until she passes out from a panic attack during her first trial. Her law firm gives her paid time-off to “relax,” but she has no clue how.

Jack Park, her childhood friend, wants her to rediscover the iridescent joy she had pre-law school and college, and convinces her to stay with him in Weldon. He's been planning to move away from his parents' loving but overprotective gaze and more specifically away from Weldon and his family’s brewery, but that can wait a few more weeks until his friend finds her footing again.

But when an unexpected attraction flares between them while Lizzy tries to resuscitate a failing bookstore on Weldon, the two must choose between past dreams or their forever together.

Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: July 26, 2022
ISBN 9781250621146, 1250621143
Purchase

My thoughts:

This is my third book by Jayci Lee and by now I can call myself a real fan! If you've read A Hot Mess and The Dating Dare , you'll be delighted to come back to the fictional town of Weldon with the most creative desserts ever and weird, but hilarious beer names.

Let me count the reasons why you should read the book:
-Food, food, and food!!! Food for recharging after a hard day/week/year, food for a happy family reunion, food for a difficult conversation, and food for getting over a heartbreak. Lovers of Korean cuisine, don't miss this ode to taste, flavour, texture, and comfort Korean dishes bring to weary souls all over the world.
-Quite a large part of the book is set in a bookstore! actually, in two bookstores, one in LA, the other one in Weldon. Jayci Lee even includes a little tirade against people who don't understand the importance of reading romance- human connection and guaranteed HEA, anyone?
- Friends-to-lovers trope. It is one of my favourite tropes, although it isn't easy to create the right kind of tension. Our protagonists Jack and Lizzy have known each other since they were ten, and at least one of them has had a massive crush on their BFF.
-Likeable characters at a crossroads in their lives... Lizzy is an attorney and a litigator as well, so everyone expects her to be super-ambitious and thrive on fight and conflict, while she is struggling with anxiety and needs to think hard whether she is pursuing the right kind of career for her. What I liked about Lizzy was the way she took charge and acted, once she had a clear picture of a problem. She didn't particularly strike me as a high energy person, but her excitement about ticking off 'done' items off 'to do ' lists was positively contageous.
Jack refuses to be a victim of his own insecurities- he might be the business mastermind behind the family brewery business, but it isn't his passion that drives it, and it isn't his dream, so, fair enough, Jack is ready to step out of his comfort zone and venture into a brave new world. What he doesn't want is to lose his BFF- Lizzy...and we all know that going from friends-to-lovers is a journey that can be undertaken only with the right person and at the right time.
- Romance. There a few scorchingly hot moments- yay, strong men with washboard abs and toolbelts...alternatively, strong men in sexy aprons who aren't afraid to admit they don't know much about cooking (despite having grown in a family restaurant, hmm), but everything is tasteful and full of passion.
-steady-paced and low-angst- did you really want lots of drama and tears in this heatwave???

Sweet and entertaining, Booked on a Feeling is perfect for readers who love food descriptions, traditional tropes, small town setting, and HEA. Can't wait to read Jack's twin brother's story!

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Griffin for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

About the author:
JAYCI LEE writes poignant, sexy, and laugh-out-loud romance every free second she can scavenge and is semi-retired from her fifteen-year career as a defense litigator. She loves food, wine, and travelling and incidentally, so do her characters in books like The Dating Dare and A Sweet Mess. Jayci lives in sunny California with her tall-dark-and-handsome husband, two amazing boys with boundless energy, and a fluffy rescue whose cuteness is a major distraction.

About the Book:

Finding Happiness at Heritage View

Welcome back to Heritage Cove, the little village by the sea brimming with character, community and friendship. The perfect place to fall in love…
Running Heritage View Stables is everything Hazel ever dreamed of. She loves working with the horses and managing the business with her brother. But after a terrible incident, she’s not sure whether she'll ever be able to put things back the way they were.
Gus is ready to start over. He’s moved him and his ten-year-old daughter Abigail to Heritage Cove, where he’s opening his own vet practice. Everything is falling into place, especially as he watches Abigail start to come out of her shell for the first time since the accident.
Neither Hazel nor Gus is looking for love, but could they each be what the other needs? And is happiness even a possibility when their pasts won’t let them go?
Join new friends and old, as summer comes to Heritage Cove.

Publisher: Boldwood Books
Publication Date: July 6th 2022

Purchase

My thoughts:

As sweet and heart-warming as its gorgeous cover!
This is a part of a series set in a fictional village of Heritage Cove, so some of the readers will rejoice at seeing all the familiar faces and catching up with the beloved characters. Others, like me, will enjoy this lovely book as a standalone.
So what kind of reader is this book perfect for? anyone who loves reading about small towns/villages with a strong sense of community and anyone who loves a second chance at love, life and happiness story, and, of course, anyone who loves horses and horse-riding.
You'll love Hazel, the owner of Heritage View Stables, from the first scene of a live drawing class with a nude model- Hazel's embarrassment endeared her to me straightaway! Then we meet Abi, a sweet girl who is really keen on housing her horse Denby at Hazel's stables, and her protective father Gus, who is about to open his vet practice in the village. Both Hazel and Abi need to overcome fears and lack of confidence and put their past behind, but it isn't easy to deal with trauma and lingering emotions. Can Heritage Cove work its magic on these new characters and let them find peace and happiness? Expect misunderstandings and miscommunications, but also acceptance, kindness and support in this sweet and touching story.
I really enjoyed this charming story and would love to continue with the series!

About the author:

Helen Rolfe is the author of many bestselling contemporary women’s fiction titles, set in different locations from the Cotswolds to New York. Most recently published by Orion, she is bringing sixteen titles to Boldwood – a mixture of new series and well-established backlist. She lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and children.