From the blurb: In April Asher's new Supernatural Singles novel, a witch, freed from her constricting responsibilities, tries to find her place in the world—which might just be with a broody half-demon.Rose Maxwell spent her whole life preparing to be the next Prima on the Supernatural Council. But now that she’s stepped down, it’s time for this witch to figure out who she is and start fresh. Rose is trying to focus on herself, and not think about her impulsive one-night stand with Damian Adams, a half-Demon Veterinarian who she can’t get out of her head. Neither of them is looking for a relationship. When a misunderstanding requires Rose to complete community service hours at Damian’s animal sanctuary it becomes impossible for them to ignore their attraction to each other. A friends-with-benefits, no feelings, no strings arrangement works perfectly for them both. After Rose stumbles her way into a supernatural bounty hunting situation, Damian finds himself back on the periphery of a world he thought he left behind. Damian doesn’t approve of Rose becoming a Hunter, but if there's one thing he's learned about the stubborn witch, it was telling her not to do something was one sure-fire way to make sure she did it. There was only one other option—training her himself and hoping she changed her mind. But seeing Rose succeed awakens feelings Damian never knew he had...and shouldn't have. Because thanks to his ex's hex, he is unable to fall in love. If he does, he'll not only lose his heart—but his humanity. Publication Day: February 7th 2023 Purchase Link My thoughts:
As good as the first one! If you haven't read Not the Witch You Wed and would like to start the series from the second book, it can be read as a standalone. We get enough backstory of what happened to Violet falling in love with her gorgeous Alpha Lincoln and all the events that led to Rose stepping down from her postion of Prima Apparent, so don't worry you won't feel overwhelmed or lost, but if you have choice, start from the first book- Maxwell sisters and their Gran are a joy to behold and April Asher knows a thing or two about writing a super-charged hot and spicy scene. Back to Rose...I loved the relationship the three sisters had in Not The Witch You Wed and it was clear that whatever Rose decides to do with her life now, her triplet sisters are going to back her in every way possible..and this is exactly how the Magic Triad find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Rose tried to rescue two sick mares only to be caught red-handed and sentenced to community service in an animal shelter. She has a super strong affinity to animals (Could this be her purpose in life?), but the job involves dealing with a certain half-demon/veterinarian she had a one night stand with. Mature, responsible, and wise adults as we are, we do know that running into or even worse working with your one-night-let's-have fun-and-go-our-merry-way is a recipe for awkwardness and nothing else, but our little romantic hearts keep believing that no mattter how and where you meet your soulmate, you'll find your way to being with each other. With or without grand gestures. I was a big fan of Violet who needed to let it go and trust her powers and I'm an even bigger fan of Rose who is trying to figure out her place in life, without sugarcoating things or lying to herself. She is strong, capable, and focused on others (people and animals). Sometimes a serious relationship or even an engagement doesn't work out and it's only natural to feel lost until you find your feet again. Pretty realistic and this is what kept me hooked on the story. Plus, Damian is super-hot with his existential broodiness and dedication. These two have some serious chemistry going on... Only a devoted fan of the romcom genre could come up with this level of hotness! If curling up with a paranormal romcom is your idea of happiness, don't miss this sweet and spicy witchy series. Can't wait to read Olive's story, she may be the youngest of the three Maxwell sister, but she sure sounds intriguing! Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion. APRIL ASHER was hooked on romantic stories from the time she first snuck a bodice-ripper from her mom's bedside table. By day, April dons dark blue nursing scrubs and drinks way too much caffeine. By night, she still consumes too much caffeine, but she does it with a laptop in hand. She pens romantic comedies with a paranormal twist, but also writes high-octane romantic suspense as April Hunt. She lives out her own happily-ever-after with her college-sweetheart husband and their two children. 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.
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Summer is finally with us and what can be better than reading a lively, lighthearted romcom on a hot summer day like this? If you're stuck for choice, here is Melanie Mutton's newest release and it's fun, fun, fun!!! I don't know about you, but I adore lists, so no wonder this book won me over from page one. Scratch that, it was the cover that told me straightaway- my favourite tropes of enemies-to-lovers and GrumpyVersus Sunshine are coming in one hot package! Mia Sparks, a sweet and hard-working girl everybody in her small town of Shell Grove loves, knows she needs to stay away from her ridiculously hot and, yes, ridicullously grumpy boss, and the reasons make a list as long as her arm...But what can you do when there's the proverbial spark and the chemistry is just off the charts? Aiden maybe a shrewd businessman everyone loves to hate, but perhaps there's more to him than his evil reputation? One thing you can count on- he knows Mia is special and worth fighting for. I was looking for a quick and entertaining read and I knew Melanie Mutton never disappoints. I flew through this fast-paced book in a couple blissful hours and now I can't wait to come back to Shell Grove and find out what future has in store for Mia's friends! Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. From the blurb: A reality TV star and a cupcake-baking football player pretend to be a couple in order to save his bakery in this sweet and sexy romance.Jada Townsend-Matthews is the most reviled woman in America after turning down a proposal on a reality dating show. When she comes home to lick her wounds, Jada finds herself working at San Diego's newest cupcake bakery, Sugar Blitz, alongside the uptight owner and professional football player Donovan Dell. When a reporter mistakenly believes Jada and Donovan are an item, they realize they can use the misunderstanding to their advantage to help the bakery and rehabilitate Jada's image. Faking a relationship should be simple, but sometimes love is the most unexpected ingredient. Fake it Till You Bake It is a sweet confection of a novel, the perfect story to curl up with and enjoy with a cupcake on the side. Publisher:St. Martin's Griffin Publication Date: June 21st, 2022 Purchase My thoughts: There's something truly satisfying in feeling capable and knowing you can make something from scratch and it doesn't matter whether we're talking about a successful business or a perfect cupcake! Loved this new romcom from Jamie Wesley! Sweet and satisfying! Jada Townsend Matthews may appear confident and outspoken, but deep down she believes she is a disappointment to her brainy parents. To be fair, at twenty five Jada still needs to find her direction in life, but it doesn't have to be science or law. Jada's latest attempt to start her career of an influencer by participating in a TV reality show has backfired and now she is a bit of a pariah on social media. When her friend Olivia takes her to Sugar Blitz cupcake store, all Jada does is express her opinion and it's not her fault that the store owner Donovan Dell takes offence. The baking goods may be delicious, but the customers aren't there and that's the truth. In a twist of fate, Jada finds herself forced to take up a temporary job with Donovan and...both of them have a lot to learn. Yes, Donovan is a bit uptight, as having grown without financial stability, he craves logic, calm and order. He is also sweet and responsible...He is the proverbial good man who is hard to find. Jada, on the other hand, is both a ray of sunshine and a hurricane with her spontaneity and creativity. Opposites attract, grumpy versus sunshine, fake dating- pick your favourite trope, they are all here in this deliciously entertaining romcom. I loved the way the protagonists were so flawed and realistic. I knew Jada was my kind of girl when she focused all her attention on what brought the customers to the bakery on that particular day, why they wanted or rather needed their treat. My special mention and gratitude for the dyslexia rep! Light-hearted, charming, diverse- Fake It Till You Bake It is a fun summer read and I wholeheartedly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion. JAMIE WESLEY has been reading romance novels since she was about 12 years old when her mother left a romance novel, which a friend had given her, on the nightstand. Jamie read it instead, and the rest is history. When she's not writing or reading romance, Jamie can be found watching TV, rooting for her favorite sports teams, and/or planning her next trip to Walt Disney World.
GOUDA FRIENDS by Cathy Yardley is out now! Check out the gorgeous friends-to-lovers romcom and grab your copy today!Title: Gouda FriendsAuthor: Cathay YardleyGenre: RomComAbout Gouda Friends:Two high school BFFs reunite and endeavor to fix each other’s lives in this geeky romance from the author of Love, Comment, Subscribe. Tam Doan dumped her boyfriend after he threw away her gourmet cheese. Sure, it’s a little more complicated than that, but the point is, he had it coming. Newly single and unemployed, Tam calls up her best friend from high school and utters the emergency code word—goldfish. Next thing she knows, she’s on a plane back home. Josh O’Malley was a troubled, unconfident teenager. Now he’s the successful owner of a multimillion-dollar ghost kitchen. Tam, his high school BFF and fellow member of the Nerd Herd friend group, was instrumental in building his self-esteem. When she calls him out of the blue, he jumps at the chance to return the favor. Josh and Tam immediately get to work fixing her life—but again, it’s complicated. Their close friendship was always a lifeline between them; a blooming romance might confuse things. Still, at least one thing is for certain: their chemistry is un-brie-lievable.![]() Get Your Copy!![]() About the Author:Cathy Yardley is an award-winning author of romance, chick lit, and urban fantasy, who has sold over 1.2 million copies of books for publishers like St. Martin's, Avon, and Harlequin. She writes fun, geeky, and diverse characters who believe that underdogs can make good and sometimes being a little wrong is just right. She likes writing about quirky, crazy adventures, because she's had plenty of her own: she had her own army in the Society of Creative Anachronism; she's spent a New Year's on a 3-day solitary vision quest in the Mojave Desert; she had VIP access to the Viper Room in Los Angeles. Now, she spends her time writing in the wilds of East Seattle, trying to prevent her son from learning the truth of any of said adventures, and riding herd on her two dogs (and one husband.)Connect with the Author:Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | NewsletterMy thoughts: Friends-to-lovers is hands down my favourite trope! There's nothing more romantic than two people who know each other in and out and would do anything to make the other one happy. Tam had a hell of a weekend at work and then caught her boyfriend cheating only to find out that he had thrown her super special, limited edition cheese. That's it! Can you, should you continue sacrificing your own happiness and your own dreams for someone who doesn't seem to know you at all ? goldfish, goldfish...Tam's secret word with which she calls for help of her best friend Josh in California. Somehow she finds herself on a plane going back to people who care about Tam finally standing up for heself and chasing her own bliss. Josh and Tam were such sweet characters! I loved the way he kept putting her well-being and her freedom to choose for herself first. First, I thought it was going to be a slow-burn love story, but then...well, sparks flew, the chemistry and tension were palpable and the fireworks went off to the joy of any reader who loves a hot, sizzling romance! Whether your friends are super important to you and you see them on a daily basis or perhaps life has happened and you drifted apart a bit, you will relate to Tam and Josh's Herd of Nerds and will admire their awesome support. If you love your romance to be a bit on a geeky side with a touch of spicy and lots of cheesy puns, you won't be able to put this down! Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion. From the Blurb: From the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Game comes a new romantic comedy about the antics that ensue when three siblings come together for their parents’ fiftieth-anniversary party. Martin and Peggy Chance believe love should last a lifetime. With their fiftieth wedding anniversary on the horizon, they’ve modeled a beautiful relationship for their three grown children. But to their dismay, that lesson hasn’t quite caught on—the three siblings just can’t seem to take a chance and find love in their own lives. There’s Ford, the eldest, devoted to his work and resistant to romance…or so he claims. Cooper, the middle child, can’t get past his divorce—until he reconnects with a feisty baker from his past. And Palmer, the baby of the family, is the free-spirited world traveler who always pictured herself with someone other than a handsome small-town family doctor. When the Chance siblings come together to plan the ultimate anniversary party for their parents, they’ll have to navigate romantic entanglements, sibling rivalries, and the definitive end of their childhood. Whatever happens, The Reunion promises to be a fun, flirty, wild ride. Publication Date: February 22, 2022 Publisher: Montlake FREE in Kindle Unlimited Purchase My thoughts: This family story of three siblings who needed to rebuild their relationship was so much fun! Yes, there was a lot of bickering, finger-pointing, and we-take-no-hostages attitude-drama, but also lots of banter, and romance…and three kinds of cakes. The book hit the ground running- the emails between Ford, Cooper, and the baby of the family, free-spirited Palmer were really funny. All they had to do was organise a wedding anniversary party for their parents Peggy and Martin and be there for them to show their love and appreciation for these hard-working, affectionate people. But Ford is too busy crunching numbers and obsessively going over every business detail to notice his brother and sister would love to help him with the family business (outdoor equipment stores). He is also too busy to notice his wonderful assistant Larkin who knows him better than he knows himself. Cooper is struggling with people’s pre-conceived ideas of him- ever since his divorce he has done a lot to turn his life around and he is the only child who is there for his parents to rely on in their daily life. Palmer– okay, I didn’t particularly like Palmer (there’s a thin line between being feisty and being obnoxious), she has her own reasons for feeling lost. 3 siblings and 3 love interests- 6 POVs sound a bit intimidating, but it works in this book. Partly, because the love interests are sweet and decent people who often act as a voice of reason. Larkin isn’t just smart and efficient, she’s also emotionally mature and responsible. Oh dear, she will have her hands full with Ford! I wasn’t so sure about her brother’s relationship with Palmer- he didn’t manage to convince me Palmer’s sparkling spontaneity was the best kind of match for him and things between them moved a bit too fast for me. Nora (Cooper’s love interest) was the most self-assured out of all the protagonists, and I could relate to her point of view a lot. It’s just that she sounded a bit too much like a therapist at times. The writing was absolutely compelling and I found myself reading until the small hours, unable to put the book down. The humour also helped! All three relationships have an element of forbidden or rather a certain kind of dilemma in them, so it was interesting to see if the couples were going to stick together in the end or not. Above all, what I wanted to see was whether the Chances were going to find their way back to being a happy, close, and caring family again. I’m glad to have discovered this new-to-me author. Can’t wait to read her next book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book. Facebook / Goodreads / Instagram /Twitter / Website /Bookbub / Amazon Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for No Ex Before Marriage by one of my favourite authors Portia Macintosh. No Ex Before Marriage It's not over until someone says 'I do'... While her friends join the "Wife Club" one by one, Poppy feels like that part of her life is done and dusted. Already married and divorced she's not desperate to go through all that again. But what if her divorce never actually went through...? After a shock revelation Poppy not only discovers she is still married, but that Zac is about to have his second wedding! Coming face to face with her (almost) ex-husband after six years apart is never going to be easy. And when Zac panics and tells his new wife-to-be that Poppy is family, things can't get much worse as she is welcomed with open arms as part of the wedding party! As the memories flood back, can Poppy really leave the past where it is? And can she watch the first love of her life walk down the aisle to say 'I do' once again? Purchase Link My thoughts: Portia MacIntosh is one of my favourite authors as my local bookshop and my library card can attest. Her books are such a treat-lighthearted but with some serious issues explored on the way, with sweet and loyal protagonists, and incredibly entertaining plotlines. No Ex Before Marriage was no exception- once again five stars, Portia does it again! The book opens with a wedding scene. The last of Poppy Walker's childhood friends Rachael has joined the Wives' Club. She might have gone a bit over top with relegating Poppy to a sad singles' table, but Poppy is a good sport, she won't spoil her friend's wedding by complaining. Well, Poppy does have some things to be unhappy about. Her best friends have been excluding her from their social life. While Poppy was the first to get married, at the tender age of twenty four, she was also the first one to get divorced. Add her mum dying in a freaky car accident and her dad barely coping with his grief...What Poppy needs is love and support of her friends, but all she is getting is judgy comments. The single table would be an utter disaster, were it not for Kat, a fun-loving fellow pariah who reminds her to take every opportunity to live her life and have a good time. Then out of blue, Poppy's Dad informs her that her divorce was never finalised and she has very little time to correct the situation before her ex gets married in a private ceremony in a remote part of Scottish Highlands and Poppy doesn't think twice- she needs to save Zac, 'the nerdy love of her life', from becoming a bigamist. The pace was great. Portia hits the ground running with the opening scenes and the road trip and then lets us absorb what actually happened to Poppy and Zac's relationship through a series of flashbacks entertwined with the scenes at the Scottish castle where Zac and his influencer/ daughter of a movies star fiancee are getting ready for their wedding. It isn't difficult to guess what caused Zac and Poppy's breakup and when we finally got to discussing this heavy topic, I was very happy to see it was dealt with in an extremely sensitive way. It did add a touch of real life sadness to this very well-balanced book. Poppy is a very likeable protagonist, although, unlike Portia's other protagonists, she does come across as a bit weak- defeated by life? in need of a good hug and a fun night out with her friends? She's serious and honest, and takes responsibility for her own actions. She doesn't give up on her friendships, because sometimes life happens and you can drift apart, the important thing is to talk and make time for your lifelong friends. You're probably going to hate Poppy's friends at the beginning of the book and might not find it easy to forgive, but I bet it will make even more appreciative of Kat. Well, the more, the merrier, and there's place in life for all kinds of friend, old and new. I often see books described as heartwarming and uplifting and I don't always agree with the blurb, but that's exactly how this one felt. The message is great: live your life and do things, even though it might mean you making mistakes, because no one is perfect, live your life so that you don't have regrets later, have fun and take care of your loved ones. Highly recommended to anyone who appeciates a good British romcom. Thank you to Rachel, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Author Bio –
Portia MacIntosh is a bestselling romantic comedy author of over 15 novels, including Stuck On You and The Plus One Pact. Previously a music journalist, Portia writes hilarious stories, drawing on her real life experiences. Social Media Links Facebook https://www.facebook.com/macintoshportia/ Twitter https://twitter.com/PortiaMacIntosh Instagram https://www.instagram.com/portiamacintoshauthor/ Newsletter Sign Up Link http://bit.ly/PortiaMacIntoshNewsletter Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/portia-macintosh Today I'm delighted to present a guest post by Evie Alexander, the author of HighlandGames, a new hilarious rom-com, set in...Scottish Highlands, of course! My inspiration for the cabin in Highland Games The cabin in Highland Games is as much a character as Zoe and Rory are. The story starts with Zoe arriving at the cabin she has inherited from her great-uncle in the dead of night, and discovering it is in a complete state. It’s just one room, and the only things left inside are a rickety table and chairs and a Rayburn stove. My inspiration for the cabin has come from many places, but most of all, from a one roomed wood and cob barn that my friend (also called Zoe) built. It is one of the most earthy and romantic places I have ever been, with dogs and chickens running around inside, and a very old Rayburn stove in the centre. I remember once going to visit, and Zoe washed her hands in a water butt outside that had frozen over. She smashed the ice and plunged her dirty hands in, and I thought ‘oh my god you are so badass!’ Her cabin is full of amazing smells and texture and cool light, and was the biggest inspiration for the cabin in Highland Games. Another inspiration came on a holiday with old friends from University. We were staying in a big old rectory, and one day, my friend came running upstairs to get me as the owner had shown her a secret wooden house in the grounds. It was the most amazing structure, built around a tree, with a wood burning stove, secret cubby holes, and stained glass. I remember my jaw dropping when I saw it, as it was like something out of a fairy tale. There is something inside me that wants to live a very simple life in a wooden house in nature, and so the cabin in Highland Games is part of my fantasy blending with real places I have known. I knew that I wanted the cabin to be something that Zoe and Rory fought over, as both of them felt the same romantic tug towards it. In chapter one they meet for the first time at the cabin. It’s pitch black, and they argue about who owns the cabin and what Zoe is doing there. ‘Who the hell are you? And what are you doing sniffing around my house in the dead of night?’ The man-bear stopped laughing, and straightened up. ‘Okay. First up, it’s not the dead of night, it gets darker quicker up here than in the home counties. Second, I work on this land and saw a piddly little sports car abandoned on the track. I came to see what was going on and got attacked by a lunatic armed with a loaf of bread. And third, you can’t live here; it’s not fit for human habitation. I’ll show you the way to the village. There’s a pub with rooms you can stay in, and tomorrow you can go home.’ Zoe clenched her jaw and spat out her words like bullets. ‘Listen here, Mr Know-it-all, let me get one thing straight. This is my land and my home and I intend to live here. I don’t need an enormous, overgrown Yeti trespassing on my property and frightening the crap out of me. Now bugger off.’ She held up the loaf of bread. ‘I’m going to make myself some beans on toa—’ she remembered there was no electricity, ‘bread, and have a quiet night in.’ ‘Maybe watch some telly?’ he replied. ‘Surf the web? Have a nice hot bubble bath? Good luck with that.’ He stepped off the porch and strode away, whistling for the dog to follow him. Zoe stalked into the cabin and slammed the door as hard as she could. It rewarded her by falling off its hinges and landing with an almighty crash on the front deck. The man didn’t look back. Highland Games-Summary: A fiery heroine, a Scottish god, a cabin, a castle, and enough heat to warm the coldest Scottish winter… Highland Games is an unputdownable, enemies-to-lovers, romantic comedy, with sparkle and sizzle and a guaranteed happy ending. This sexy, witty, debut from Evie Alexander will have you laughing, swooning, and staying up way past your bedtime... Perfect for fans of Sally Thorne, Talia Hibbert, Sophie Kinsella, and Helen Hoang. If you’re looking for a riotous romantic comedy with plenty of heat, then Highland Games is for you! ♥♥♥ Welcome to Kinloch, and the hottest winter Scotland’s ever seen. ♥♥♥ Zoe’s always played it safe, just as her parents wanted. But when her great-uncle dies and leaves her a ramshackle cabin in the Scottish Highlands, she decides it’s time to change her life. Upping sticks seems like a good idea in her cosy flat in London, but the reality is very different. There’s no electricity or running water, the roof leaks and there’s no front door. If that wasn’t bad enough, she’s moved up in the depths of winter and her scorching hot neighbour wants her out. Rory’s got a fifty thousand tonne problem. If he can’t make Kinloch castle profitable, he’s out of a job. He needs a clear head, but there’s someone living in the cabin he saw as his own and she’s turned his world upside down. Rory needs Zoe out of Scotland, and out of his life. The trouble is, she has no intention of leaving. Let the games begin… Purchase Link Author Bio Evie Alexander is the author of sexy romantic comedies with a very British sense of humour. She takes a method approach to her work, believing her capacity to repeatedly fail at life and love is what has given her such a rich supply of material for her writing. Her interests include reading, eating, saving the world, and fantasising about people who only exist between the pages of her books. She lives in the West country with her family. website / facebook / instagram / twitter / goodreads/ bookbub / pinterest Giveaway to Win a signed copy of Highland Games, Shortbread and more… (Open to UK Only)
Prize is a signed copy of Highland Games, Exclusive postcard and bookmark, Personalised heart & Shortbread *Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize. ![]() You’re So Vain: A Royal Haters to Lovers Romance
-- EXCERPT: Slipping my phone into my purse, I give myself one last look in the entryway mirror. Ben’s profile says he’s five-ten, which I know means five-eight. As I’m five-ten, I’m wearing flats so as not to make him uncomfortable. While driving over Laurel Canyon Boulevard to meet my date at Chow’s—the latest West Side hotspot—I think about how online dating is really performed in code. Men lie about their height, their weight, and their net worth. Women lie about their age, their desire to start a family (men don’t want to hear the word “baby” come up until they’ve been married for five years), and how many boyfriends they’ve had. Men want a young woman with minimal baggage and no obvious desire to procreate. Women want a guy who isn’t always looking for a better option. I almost turn my car around in the next driveway. Instead, I flip on the sound system to distract myself from thoughts of bailing on tonight. My favorite Spotify playlist blasts vintage Enya through the speakers, causing my throat to fill with so much emotion I feel like I’ve just swallowed a bowling ball. I love Enya and her ethereal melodies about memories from past lives where she was a princess and love spanned multiple incarnations. Thank God for playlists. I’ve already burned through five Shepherd Moons CDs. By the time I pull up to the valet at Chow’s, I’m full-on bawling—damn these hormone shots! Oh, Enya, I long for the love you sing of! I can’t have always been the social pariah I am in this lifetime. Someone had to have loved me somewhere down the line. “Ma’am, I’m going to need you to step out of the car.” Am I being arrested? I look up and am jolted back to the present by a surfer-looking dude in a valet uniform. With a sigh worthy of a Disney Princess, I put my car in park and get out. Then I take my ticket and make my way to the front door. Weaving through what can only be described as a throng of fashionable people—the extremes Angelinos will go to be seen at the latest, hippest, coolest place is legendary—I finally make my way inside and up to the hostesses stand. “Hi there, I’m meeting Benedict Solomon.” The Baywatch babe wannabe looks up from her reservation book and excitedly declares, “Are you Bennie’s mom?” I’m either totally delusional about how old I look, or this girl is a cow. “His grandmother, actually,” I tell her with a smirk. Then I raise my left eyebrow with my most intense I’m-gonna-shiv-you-in-a-dark-alley-if-you-don’t-take-me-to-my-date-right-now look. She takes the hint and leads the way. Bennie is waiting at a table by the window. From a distance, he looks a lot younger than his JDate profile pic. A lot younger. Like twelve. The hostess says, “Bennie, your grandmother is here. Remember, order whatever you want, and Jocko will comp the bill.” Staring at my date, I announce, “I think there’s been a mistake.” ![]()
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My thoughts:
Seven Brides for Seven Mothers is one of my favourite series. This latest addition is as much fun to read as the previous books! We're back to the tiny European kingdom of Malquar. I don't want to spoil your enjoyment of Book 3, if you haven't read it yet, but one of the six children of Queen Charlotte and King Alfred is getting married and the book begins with the future-in-laws coming over for the engagement party. There's nothing more 36-year-old Lutece would like than to become a mother, but the dating scene in LA is horrendous and she's been hurt one too many times. Alistaire is the second in the line of succession. He is the proverbial 'spare'and has a reputation of a playboy. His friendly and outgoing disposition may have been mistaken for being flirtatious and irresponsible, but he has hidden depths. The book is a lovely opposites-attract-and-discover-they-were-meant-fo-each-other storywith a bit of help from Alistaire and Lu's mothers. Very enjoyable, easy to read, with great pace and likeable characters- highly recommended for any readers looking for a fun, romantic escape. Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours, NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for The Dating Game, a new hilarious rom-com from Sandy Barker. Dating Game ‘Hilarious and highly original’ Julie Houston, bestselling author of A Village Affair Once upon a time, twelve women joined the hottest reality TV show looking for love. Except one had a secret identity . . . Abby Jones is a serious writer. Or at least she will be, one day. Right now, she spends her time writing recaps of reality television under a secret identity. When a recap for The Stag – the must-watch dating show – goes viral, her editor thinks she should be on set, writing the drama as it happens. The good news: the next season will be filmed in Sydney. Sun, sea and a glamorous trip abroad, this could be Abby’s big break. The bad news: the producers don’t just want Abby to write the recaps, they want her to be on the show. Abby can’t think of anything worse than being undercover and followed around by cameras. But her career depends on it, and when she meets gorgeous producer Jack, Abby begins to wonder if this job might not be so bad after all . . . Purchase Links AmazonUK / Apple Books / Google Play / Nook / Kobo My thoughts: If you are a fan of reality shows (e.g.Bachelorette) and your favourite reading genre is RomCom, this is a must-read book for you! The Dating Game follows the adventures of Abby Jones, an aspiring serious journalist a.k.a Anastasia Blabbergasted, an online columnist with a wicked sense of humour. Well, 'adventures' is probably a wrong word, because Abby's social life is practically non-existent. She isn't exactly over the moon when her editor informs her she is about to go on the Stag! reality TV show as a contestant. Her reluctance somewhat diminishes when she meets Jack, the show's lovely producer, and finds out the latest season is to be filmed in Sydney. Abby has her own classification of the contestants and her recaps of the show episodes become even more 'sarky and snarky' with the insider knowledge. The only problem is that Daniel - the Stag- is becoming more and more interested, while it is absolutely clear that Abby would never fall for someone so self-obsessed. Strategising and catfights aside, the show turns out a great place to make friendships. If only Jack was a bit clearer about what he wants.... The book was pure fun! It isn't always easy to write romcoms-sometimes the author tries too hard,but the jokes fall flat, and sometimes you have a blast of time, because you have a similar sense of humour. Abby's re-caps were hilarious, but never unkind! I loved her attutude: caring about other people's feelings, honest and loyal. There is a whole cast of supporting characters, starting from Abby's BFF Lisa, who may or may not work for MI5, Abby's family, the inimitable Does on the show and ending with Harry, Jack's brother, who has an unfortunate propensity for walking on and spoiling the most romantic moments. Cute and entertaining, this book is a perfect summer read -no, it's not too late, there's always time for an emotional and heartwarming Christmas romance and there's always time for a quick, fun romcom! Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, OneMore Chapter and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Author Bio Sandy is a writer, traveller and hopeful romantic with a lengthy bucket list, and many of her travel adventures have found homes in her novels. She’s also an avid reader, a film buff, a wine lover and a coffee snob. She lives in Melbourne Australia with her partner, Ben, who she met while travelling in Greece. Their real-life love story inspired Sandy’s debut novel One Summer in Santorini, the first in the Holiday Romance series with One More Chapter, an imprint of HarperCollins. Follow Sandy: https://twitter.com/sandybarker https://www.facebook.com/sandybarkerauthor https://sandybarker.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sandybarkerauthor/ Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Reading!
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