Tag Archives: Contemporary romance

Feel the Heat by Kate Meader

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Feel the Heat
Author: Kate Meader
Series: Hot in the Kitchen #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Food
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2013

Thoughts

This is probably the third Kate Meader book that I’ve read. And although I enjoyed it, it did take me a little bit longer to get into than her sports romance books. Maybe because I’m kind of hooked into the sports romance stories lately, and maybe it was just the characters. Either way, I did ultimately really enjoy this story, and once I actually got invested (a few chapters in, instead of immediately), I didn’t want to put this down. I wanted to find out how Lili and Jack were going to make their differences work and find their way to a happily ever after.

One of the things I’m really liking about Kate Meader’s stories is that there is a whole lot of character development that each of her protagonists go through on their way to finding their happily ever after. It might be all about the love connection and romance as the main driver, but the fact that this is often just a catalyst for a couple to figure out who they are individually is great. In the case of Lili, her gratefulness that her Mum is alive and role in the family as primary caregiver has seriously shaped her life and approach to relationships. I love that her relationship with Jack is what drives her to start to look at the walls and self-sabotaging behaviours that this has caused. It’s a journey throughout the entire novel, and one that made me think of my own shortcomings and walls caused by very similar circumstances.

Alongside Lili’s journey of self discovery is Jack’s. by being surrounded by Lili and her somewhat chaotic family, he is forced to think though what it is about food that he truly loves. I mean, I was going to enjoy this story with all of the Italian food and family that filled the pages anyway. But that love of food and drive to always learn that completely defines Jack made me (eventually) fall further in love with this whole story. I also love that they are both pushed from their comfort zones. And at different parts of the story, they are both chasing one another, and running. Making it a little bit less one sided with the whole courtship thing.

Aside from how much I enjoyed Lili and Jack and their journey to one another. Particularly with his snobbish beginning and her very hesitant one, I also loved Lili’s family dynamics. It shifted as the story unfolded, but I always dreamed of having a big insane family like this. I kind of have it, but we aren’t quite so in each others’ lives. Then there’s the passion for food and family businesses, the willingness to ultimately be loyal to each other, even if it takes some of them a little bit to find the right way in which to do this… a glorious romance with a great cast of secondary characters.

<- More Kate MeaderAll Fired Up ->

Image source: Kobo

After Care by L.B. Dunbar

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: After Care
Author: L.B. Dunbar
Series: Sexy Silver Foxes #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Midlife romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Thoughts

I did wonder if reading this story was going to be a little bit triggering for me. I mean, it’s a romance which features a breast cancer survivor as the female love interest. And yeah, I did wonder if it was going to be highly triggering to read, having just lost a family member to cancer. But, somehow, it was incredibly joyful and kind of cathartic at moments to read. I found After Care to be absolutely adorable and totally unforgettable. This was a great “silver fox” romance that had me smiling, frowning and just all around enjoying this in every moment that I could.

Although Tommy helped Edie in a lot of ways, he was also completely a knob to her at times as well. I love that he found her sexy as is, and is constantly all about pleasing her and making her happy. However, when he was actually tested and needed to demonstrate that he actually has faith in her… well, he failed miserably. I mean, the man spends the entire story telling Edie that she needs to trust him. But then, when she needs the benefit of the doubt, he just… walks away. What an absolute fool. He kind of redeemed herself, but not enough for my satisfaction. It made the “happily ever after” portion a little more difficult to swallow than usual.

In amongst Edie’s relationship with Tommy, she also manages to create her own Found Family. Honestly, I actually think that her relationships within this were more powerful to me than the actual romance. I love a good Found Family story, and the fact that Edie is able to do this after a series of huge things have run her life off course made it all that much better. Plus, it highlights how wonderful her children are in supporting her through everything. I loved the entire secondary cast dynamic and how powerful this was to forming Edie’s happily ever after.

I can’t wait to read more stories of Dunbar’s Silver Foxes. I’m not quite in my own midlife romance, but I’m probably heading closer to that end of the scale than the new adult stories. Although I wanted Edie to give Tommy a bit more pushback when he messed up, I also loved her forgiving nature. It made for a fun and sweet story. One that I will most probably read again, and has definitely made me intrigued to read more from this series as the next midlife romance couple takes centre stage.

<- The Sex Education of M.E.Midlife Crisis ->

Image source: Goodreads

Royal Valentine by Jenn McKinlay

Book Review, ,
Overview

Title: Royal Valentine
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Series: A Museum of Literature Romance #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2022

Thoughts

This is a short and cute novella. It is filled with fun little twists and turns without being too angsty. I love that Molly and Albert have this great little whirlwind romance. And then he just disappears. Because this is a contemporary romance, I knew that he would have a good excuse. And I knew that there would be a happy ending. But I loved how Molly has to come to terms with this nonsense. And there’s the whole re-meeting moment that was all kinds of awkward and delicious at the same time.

I really enjoyed that for the first half of this novella, you get to follow Molly and Albert along as they fall for one another. But then, the second half is all about them reconnecting after Albert disappears. It means that, in following them fall for one another, I was so much more emotionally invested than I would have otherwise been. Anything that can get me this emotionally invested in such a short amount of time writes a wonderful romance, and the fact that I was completely rooting for these two from the beginning, right up until the end makes me feel ridiculously happy to read more of McKinlay’s books in the future.

This was a fairly normal Prince and Pauper kind of trope. But, rather than feeling privileged to be with a man who is so far out of her financial league, Molly is seriously suspicious. I love her level of cynicism, this is coming from a reader who would seriously freak out if her husband bought flowers. So I understand that level of cynicism. Plus, it made her more realistic. No one I know ever believes in the happily ever after with no strings attached. It’s the strings we choose to take on that make our happily ever afters perfect.

<- More Jenn McKinlayThe Attraction Distraction ->

Image source: Goodreads

Knock Out by Jiffy Kate & SmartyPants Romance

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Knock Out
Author: Jiffy Kate & SmartyPants Romance
Series: Fighting for Love #4
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Sports romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

Thoughts

It’s really not that uncommon for a fighter and trainer to end up in a relationship, and I really like how this dynamic was built upon in Knock Out. Don’t get me wrong, it could be an incredibly difficult and serious breach of etiquette, but both Ozzi and Willow navigate this dynamic with finesse and kindness. Plus, I love how they build their relationship up from their points of vulnerability and getting to know one another to the final moments when they realise how much they truly care for one another.

Knock Out finishes out the Fighting for Love series, but I’m kind of disappointed that it’s the last. There’s one more Viking brother to fall in love! It’s supposed to set Viggo up for another series, but I haven’t seen any evidence of it. And I’m seriously disappointed. Viggo has more hang ups than his other four brothers, and I really, really want his story. Plus, everything that involves a family that is this heavily enmeshed in MMA is going to draw me in… I mean, not only is it a wonderfully familiar world, I also have fallen stupidly in love with these brothers and the life that they end up building in Green Valley.

I really liked Ozzi, but honestly, his commitment to running away was truly ridiculous. No human is stagnant, and yet I’ve met people like this. Those who think that a certain way of living is there to define them until their last breath. I’m really not sure why people stick to such preconceived notions of who and what they are, but I completely understand that it happens. And this rigidity and (quite frankly) stupidity made Ozzi that more realistic and interesting. It just takes him a little longer than I would like to realise that people change as they grow, and that’s actually okay.

I might have liked Ozzi trying to figure out who he is and what he wants from life, Willow is trying to learn how to trust. Her battle and willingness to change was definitely the more intense and interesting of the two internal stories of growth. Then, she decides to fight for her sister, her skills and just her life in general. I love that this entire story really centres around the fact that Willow is learning how to thrive, not survive her life. And that she is doing it whilst learning how to become a single mother and taking on a pretty intense responsibility that a lot of people would balk at.

As much as I loved this story, I desperately wanted more MMA. That may have been partly because when I read this, I hadn’t actually trained for three weeks, and that always makes me a little twitchy. Some of the facts in this aren’t quite true to the MMA world that I know (but I’m also based in Australia). But the grit, the determination, the emotional release that comes with training… all of these things are wonderfully familiar and left me smiling after I turned that final page.

<- Eye CandyMore SmartyPants Romance ->

Image source: Amazon

Going Down on One Knee by Christina Hovland

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Going Down on One Knee
Author: Christina Hovland
Series: Mile High Matched #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Celebrity romance, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Thoughts

Brek and Velma have an interesting meeting, one filled with assumptions and innuendos. I love that for Velma, she is still hooked into her past assumptions of what she wants in life. Dealing with the curveballs that are thrown at her, and wondering what her five year plan should look like now. For Brek, he’s absolutely smitten at first sight, and actually shows a whole lot of patience with Velma’s issues. From the very beginning Brek and Velma are the very typical opposites attract couple. But I love that their “opposites” manage to balance each other out and make them both stronger as individuals, as well as a couple.

I read this when I was having a particularly bad night, and honestly, this was the perfect antidote for that – it was sweet, light and a really pleasant read. Whilst there was a lot of conflict throughout, it was all enough to keep me engaged and not want to put this story down. I love that this ended in the happily ever after I so needed, and it gave me all of the warm fuzzies that I truly needed. I wanted a departure from the annoyances and difficulties of real life for a little while, and Going Down on One Knee did that perfectly.

Most of the romances I read involve a man making a silly assumption that tends to derail the relationship for a little while. I love that, in the case of Going Down on One Knee, the one making the silly assumption is the woman. Velma’s assumptions about what makes a good life, what makes a good partner lead her down a silly road that almost derails her life. And I love that its her mistakes and silliness that gets in the way of the happily ever after. But, I also love how quickly she realises this and manages to turn it all around.

The whole cast of Going Down on One Knee was absolutely beautiful and I love how all of Brek’s friends rally around the couple. Also the different ways in which Dean and Claire respond to Velma’s crush when it all comes out. Then, there’s the fact that Velma and Brek are falling for one another in amongst weddings, bridal chaos and all sorts of nonsense. My personal favourite being Sophia and Troy’s side story – they might not get the ending that they planned on, but the definitely get the one that they need.

<- More Christina HovlandRock Hard Cowboy ->

Image source: Barnes & Noble

Fall in Kentbury by Claudia Burgoa

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Fall in Kentbury
Author: Claudia Burgoa
Series: Kentbury Tales #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Small town romance
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

Thoughts

McKay and Bishop, as with many of the romance books that I enjoy, have a really nice Meet Cute. She’s drunk, he’s hoping for a hookup (and then does the non-creepy thing and takes care of her), then she overshares. Which, of course, leads to all sorts of nonsense when they reconnect a little while later. And misconceptions and misunderstandings. All of which, I, of course, thoroughly enjoy. I did read Fall in Kentbury a little out of order, so I can’t wait to go back and read Christmas in Kentbury – getting myself up to date with some of the different characters that fill this small town.

There is something I really love about a small town romance, and the Kentbury Tales ticks all my boxes for this genre – it’s a gorgeous small town, everyone knows everyone and cares. And it’s just such a quaint and picturesque setting. One in which people are able to slow down and enjoy the everyday joys of their lives without the hustle and bustle of a capitalist society. I mean, it might not be the actual reality of living in a small town, but I like that this is the way it is sometimes depicted. It’s all just a little bit cute.

Whilst this wasn’t a long novel (not like some of the other Burgoa books I’ve read), I did also read it in one sitting. Partly because it was a shorter length than some of the other Burgoa books on my shelves. But, mostly, it was because it was just too good of a book. Honestly, I was reading it in an instant when I really didn’t feel like parenting, and this was the greatest way to escape from my responsibilities. Plus, I’m always a sucker for a good small town romance, they’re just really cute and sweet. This also had a little less angst than some of the other romances that I’ve been devouring lately.

The character development for McKay in this story was brilliant. She figures out how to break free of her controlling family. But, rather than settling immediately into a new relationship, she decides to spread her wings. Rather, Bishop actively encourages her to go and explore the world. To discover who and what she is. And then, when all is said and done, she is able to return to what she knows will make her happy, not what could potentially make her happy.

<- Christmas in KentburyLove in Kentbury ->

Image source: What Is That Book About

Charming Daphne by Morgana Bevan

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Charming Daphne
Author: Morgana Bevan
Series: True Platinum #1.5
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Rockstar romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2021

Thoughts

Charming Daphne was a wonderfully quick and easy novella to read. It’s a forced proximity / second chance romance that I really enjoyed. And I like how quick and easy it was to read on a night when I was feeling a little stressed and overwhelmed by the responsibilities of life. Plus, the fact that Daphne and Matt are stuck in an elevator and forced to deal with their issues was a great way to reveal secrets and reconnect a couple that were obviously meant to be together. It was a beautiful and cute way to spend an hour of my time.

Matt was a bit of a peripheral character in Chasing Alys, so it was nice to get to know him a little bit better. Especially as he is incredibly driven, and although he ultimately helps the couple, he is also a little rigid in the ways that he chooses to do this. So it’s nice to see some of what drives him, plus it’ll probably give more context to his character as we meet more members of the band that he manages throughout the series. Although I’d often be disappointed at the shortness of his story, I actually quite enjoyed that it was a novella length tale, and not a full length novel. Matt is a peripheral character to me, and this keeps him that way in my mind’s eye.

Past and present collide beautifully in Charming Daphne. Matt has to reveal why he kept secrets from Daphne and torpedoed her career. She has to learn to trust again. And then, to tidy up the entire adventure, the very figure that has caused so many issues in their past reappears in the most unexpected of ways. This was such a fun and tidy story, and it makes me want to pick up the True Platinum series again.

<- Chasing AlysWinning Nia ->

Image source: Bol

Volatile by Carina Alyce

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Volatile
Author: Carina Alyce
Series: MetroGen After Hours #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Romantic suspense
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

Brandon and Jennifer have a great Meet Cute in Volatile. It is full of flirty, somewhat lustful banter. And it makes you think that they are immediately going to connect in a very intimate way. Until he arrests her for having bombs in her car. Which is the beginning of this story, and a beginning I completely adored and could get behind. Volatile then continued to keep building from there in a way that made it almost impossible to put down. I absolutely adored this adventure, and it has made me really keen to read the other Carina Alyce series, and also Burn Card, the next book in this MetroGen series.

I really enjoyed Jennifer as a character, she was the absolute sunshine in this sunshine – grump romance, but she was also the aggressor. I love that she spends the entirety of this story pushing Brandon outside of his comfort zone. Rather than just letting his excuses slide, he is constantly encouraging and pushing him into new territories. Not in an overbearing way, but in the format that she is helping him expand his horizons. The end of this story and the point of highest conflict is a great example of this. Jennifer is able to help Brandon reach his full potential, with a healthy push, one that really makes him stop and think.

Although Jennifer is the aggressor, Brandon is a great support for her. He does eventually become a little more aggressive with his own romantic / sexual intentions. But, I love that, professionally, Brandon has no issue with standing back and letting Jennifer lead the investigation. Rather than being all macho and moronic about it. He happily follows her lead, and also consistently reminds others that she is the lead. Particularly in a situation in which he could very easily take over (it’s his town and his people), he still supports Jennifer and hands the reigns over.

I was really intrigued to how the romance / sexuality of this story was going to play out. I’ve read two Carina Alyce novellas, and I know that she’s been involved in writing Grey’s Anatomy (because of her bio). But I wasn’t sure how that would translate into on-page intimacies. This was definitely well written. And there were some scenes that I most definitely would not be reading in a public space. It was not vanilla sex and it was the kind of writing that had me fanning myself a few times whilst reading it. Which just makes me want to dive into some more of Alyce’s works – there was great steam, and great character development, and a really gorgeous relationship at the centre of it all.

<- CycloneBurn Card ->

Image source: Goodreads

Brave Enough to Love by EmKay Connor

Book Review, ,
Overview

Title: Brave Enough to Love
Author: EmKay Connor
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Romantic suspense
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2022

Thoughts

A nice and short novella that was enjoyable, but not overly memorable. I enjoyed reading this and would be happy to pick up another EmKay Connor novella, but also wouldn’t be rushing to read one. Obviously, I’m very eh about the reading of this. That may also be because, at its core, this is a story about a couple who is on the verge of separation. It is about people who are still trying to be together, but too many mistakes and too much distance leads them to start to fracture. A kind of similar circumstance to myself when I was reading this, so it also might just be the fact that it was touching a little too close to home.

Again, something that felt a little too familiar – the fact that a lot of the issues, at least from Lou’s point of view is his voluntary distance. Rather than facing up to the difficulties in his relationship, he chose to pull away from Katie. Luckily, he does choose to own up to his shortcomings and work on being better. It’s almost too late, but I love that he’s able to actually see where his mistakes lie and work on improving himself.

Even though Lou realises his mistakes before being shot, the danger he finds himself in just helps to drive home how important his relationship is to him. I know that, even though I have not been in such a horrible situation, it took almost breaking to make me realise how much I don’t want to give up on the person I love more than anything else. Like I said, not a bad novella, but definitely one that hit a little bit too close to home in the reading of it.

<- More EmKay ConnorMore romantic suspense ->

Image source: Goodreads

Beach Boss by Liz Alden

Book Review, ,
Overview

Title: Beach Boss
Author: Liz Alden
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Vacation romance
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Short story

Thoughts

After reading this short story, I just want more of the Wanderlust Resort. I mean, I got to see Emery and her partner in The Rival in South Africa, and Clara from Nutcracker with Benefits is also mentioned in Beach Boss, so I love the cross over. And it was good to see their origin. But, I also wanted more of the resort in the Caribbean and the different couples that could fall in love here.

There is something dreamy and sweet about a vacation romance. The fact that this is a story all about falling in love with a Caribbean beach as the backdrop is just so damn cute. Plus, Emery is also reeling from the death of her father and trying to figure out how to rebuild his business. It makes the love and support in this story all that much sweeter and more endearing. Plus, Emery’s mum absolutely sucks. I mean, yeah, she has hurt feelings from the past with her dad. But to take that out on your own child? Absolutely unbelievable. So much nope.

This is a really quick and cute read about two people finding their way back to one another. They both have crushes on each other from years ago, but the depth of feeling and maturity just grows and grows with the advent of age and understanding. I absolutely adored this story, and as I mentioned before, I would love more of this Resort and all of the potential it shows!

<- More Liz AldenMore vacation romance ->

Image source: Knotty Kays Book Club