Tag Archives: Busy Bean

Studfinder by L.B. Dunbar

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Studfinder
Author: L.B. Dunbar, Heart Eyes Press
Series: Busy Bean #5
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Small town romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

I honestly don’t know much about the American judicial system, but this is definitely the first romance that I’ve read in which the couple meets through the restitution process. This might not have given me a huge amount of insight into the system, but it did give me a little bit of an idea. I’m also always looking for the novelty of a new Meet Cute with how much I read, and Rita and Jake meeting through the restitution process certainly met this criteria. The fact that Jake is actually innocent, somehow makes it a little bit harder to read about his past and time in jail.

Rita’s journey to become who she is now is a fantastic one. I love that she’s had a whole lot of challenges to overcome that would destroy a lesser woman, and that she does so with grace and kindness. Plus, even as she has found her feet and moved on again and again in life, she is constantly looking for new challenges. As much as this story is a romance, it is also Rita’s journey to find a new purpose in life at forty. And to have the guts to actually pursue it.

The biggest theme throughout this novel is the idea of forgiveness. Theoretically that is what the restitution program in America is about (but, as always, I have my doubts, society is not that kind). And, it is also a part of AA – forgiving oneself for the past and moving forwards. But, even bigger than this is that throughout this story, Rita and Jake also have to forgive each other for mistakes in the past. I both love and dread how much their pasts intertwine – it’s kind of sad and depressing. But, also, it drives the story forwards so well. And both Jake and Rita have so much growth from being able to forgive and move on.

As the mystery of the true arsonist unfolds, I didn’t think Dunbar would be so cruel as to have the real culprit be, well, the guilty one. It was brilliant, but also incredibly shattering. Plus, it meant that I really, really, really wanted there to be some form of justice for the real arsonist’s past actions.  However, as mentioned before, the theme in this story is overwhelmingly one of forgiveness, so I guess that I actually like how that whole story turned out. I just have to make the vindictive voices in my psyche be quiet for a moment or ten.

<- FriendzonedDoubletalk ->

Image source: Goodreads

Friendzoned by Rachel Blaufeld

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Friendzoned
Author: Rachel Blaufeld, Heart Eyes Press
Series: Busy Bean #4
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow, Medium, Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

This is an incredibly cute second chance romance. An easy read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I also love that it’s about more than a second chance romance, but about a second chance at life and the joys of finding ones own feet. I love that Murphy is finding her own feet and confidence throughout this tale. It’s a reminder that even when we get a second chance at love, sometimes its our second chance at living the life we want that is also important.

I liked Ben as a lead, but not as much as I loved Murphy as a lead. Mostly because Murphy is trying to find her own feet, fix the mistakes of the past and figure out what it is that she wants, without the pressures of her family. Again, a tough battle to overcome. And on the other hand, there is Ben who is not really great with his insecurities. And is really not working on overcoming them.

I might be just a little bit obsessed with maple syrup. And the yum yum treats that have been made from maple syrup. I kept getting distracted from the romance and the relationships to dream about the delicious food throughout this. I mean, honestly, who wouldn’t?

The way that Murphy is finally able to stand up to her family (and her insecurities) is freaking brilliant. I love how she is able to finally put her foot down and show what she wants in life. Again, it shows that Murphy works hard to get over her issues, and Ben just doesn’t. It’s also a reminder that for some people, family might not actually be worth much. And it’s okay to tell them that their toxic behaviours are really not okay.

I did really like all of the hints at the relationship between Brenna and Scott. I’m kind of hoping that one day they will get their own story – one that will be just as much fun as Murphy and Ben’s!

<- CakewalkStudfinder ->

Image source: Amazon

Cakewalk by Claire Hastings

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Cakewalk
Author: Claire Hastings, Heart Eyes Press
Series: Busy Bean #3
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

I wanted to love this book a whole lot more than I did. So far, I have really enjoyed everything in the Heart Eyes Press world created by Sarina Bowen. But this one… I just couldn’t enjoy it.

I think that I might just not have been quite in the right headspace to enjoy this, but it was also the main characters. They were both a little bit negative and although I completely understand it, it was frustrating to read. But, mostly I found GiGi really annoying. I mean, it’s great that she escaped an abusive marriage. But taking a job as a baker when you can’t bake? And then setting a house on fire because… YOU CAN’T BAKE… it was just… to frustrating.

All in all, this wasn’t my favourite book and not one that I enjoyed overly much. Maybe I’ll reread it again in the future and my attitude will change.

<- CowboyFriendzoned ->

Image source: Amazon

Cowboy by L.B. Dunbar

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Cowboy
Author: L.B. Dunbar, Heart Eyes Press
Series: Busy Bean #2
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

I like that this novel had a little bit of gender flipping in that it is Bull who is the serial dumpee. And Scarlet is the one who isn’t entirely sure of how much she wants to commit. The fact that these two meet and anticipate a one-night stand as a bit of a palate cleanser for both of them, and then can’t quite move on is also gorgeous. And then they get their gorgeous surprise. I might not be a huge fan of pregnancy as a driver to keep a couple together, but it really worked for this story. After all, it’s made very clear that these two really want to be together from the get-go. Which makes the pregnancy a convenient excuse, not a point of pressure.

Scarlett is an incredibly feisty pregnant woman, and this made me ridiculously happy. I don’t actually know many women who were totally mellow in their pregnancies (although my husband is convinced that I was actually the calmest I’d ever been). The final scene when she gives birth is actually my favourite of the whole book. I mean, everything in this is fantastic. But her feistiness and willingness to yell at just about everyone in that moment had me genuinely laughing out loud. It makes me wonder if Dunbar has had experience with feisty pregnant women in her history – she writes passionate and strong women with a heavy dose of sass so well.

I love that Bull completely lives up to his name in this book. There’s a few more sexually charged “living up to the name” aspects. But it was his bullheadedness that made me smile. Instead of confronting Scarlett head on and trying to gently sway her to his way of thinking, he just continues to silently work on her. This stubbornness is brilliant and a lot of fun to read. I seriously enjoyed how he is able to be patient and work with Scarlett’s insecurities and issues. Plus, when her ex appears, he continues to be kind of steadfast in his commitment to Scarlett. I also love that although the ex is sinister and causes a whole heap of uncomfortable issues, it ends up being Bull who really gets in his own damn way. There’s nothing like a character who makes silly decisions and ends up (sometimes hilariously) harming his own plans.

This was a fantastic read. It was fun, light and easy. But there was also just enough angst and trouble that it was impossible to put down. I had a lot of fun reading this. And the many sneaky cow / pregnant woman comparisons had me giggling. Since I’ve recently been through all of the joys of pregnancy, I was able to find this even more relevant and entertaining – a lot of laughter and smiles throughout this very sweet and cute romance.

<- SweetheartCakewalk ->

Image source: Goodreads

Sweetheart by Sarah Mayberry

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Sweetheart
Author: Sarah Mayberry, Heart Eyes Press
Series: Busy Bean #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

I was admittedly a little bit leery about reading this, after all, the blurb said that it’s a relationship between a woman and her sister’s ex. That just seems all kinds of wrong to me. But then I read it, and there is no wrong, just beautiful sweetness. I totally get why this story was called Sweetheart. It is honestly just too damn cute!!!

I found the personification of Jess to be really interesting and unique in this tale. For Beck, she’s the nightmare ex who totally messed him up, abused him and just shattered some of his sanity. In a normal story, she’d be the villain throwing a spanner in the works of the relationship going forwards. And it did do that, a lot. But then you see her through Haley’s eyes, and it’s impossible to hate her. Because although Jess has done some truly horrible things, she’s still Haley’s sister. And we tend to love and adore our families, even when they’re seriously difficult.

I also loved how Haley’s family dynamic was structured. From experience, I know that sometimes if there is a child with issues, the other one gets swept under the rug. And sometimes being the passive, easy-going one means that people can forget about your own needs and desires. Again, instead of just villainising the parents and having them as the “bad guys”, Mayberry is able to show how those dynamics can happen. Even when we love, we make mistakes and sometimes fudge things up a little.

I absolutely adored this book. The relationship between Haley and Beck was completely swoon worthy and adorable. Actually, it was just downright cute. But Mayberry was also able to deal with a whole heap of pretty intense and complex issues in Haley’s family dynamic. And provide a great reminder that even when we love each other (familial, romantic, platonic…), we still make mistakes. We just have to be open to fixing them.

<- More Heart Eyes PressCowboy ->

Image source: Goodreads