Tag Archives: Contemporary

Hot Under the Collar by Serena Bell

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Hot Under the Collar
Author: Serena Bell
Series: Hott Springs Eternal #1.5
In: Chasing Holiday Tail (miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Small town romance
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2023

Thoughts

Reggie and Ford are a really nice couple, and a great way to introduce me to the world of Hott Springs Eternal, and even the Wilder Adventures series. Both of which I’m now going to dive right into and just… inhale. I mean, Reggie and Ford were just too damn cute, and they were a little bit older too. I enjoy my young adult stories, but sometimes I just need something that is a little bit more mature. With more mature couples who have experienced life.

I love that Reggie and Ford manage to go on their first date… because Reggie bought a puppy. And accidentally also purchased a date with a hot firefighter. The fact that his grandmother kind of orchestrated it all just made me laugh all that much harder. I mean, she is totally the kind of older woman that I want to be when I grow up. I’m sure that most people would read this short story and dream about the hot firefighter, band I totally did. But I also just love Nan all around. I’m looking forward to her popping up more and more in the rest of the Hott Springs Eternal and Wilder Adventures series.

I really enjoyed all of this little romance, but I must admit, the part that I enjoyed the most of it all was the Meet Cute. I mean, Reggie manages to set her house a little bit on fire. And when the sexy firefighter Ford gets there, he sees evidence of her self love and, you know, penis candles. Its definitely not the desired outcome of spending time by yourself. But it was definitely a Meet Cute that had me laughing out loud, to the surprise of my little family…

<- Hott ShotLady and the Scamp ->

Image source: Goodreads

Hott Shot by Serena Bell

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Hott Shot
Author: Serena Bell
Series: Hott Springs Eternal #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Small town romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

Thoughts

Hot Under the Collar introduced me to Quinn and Sonya as a couple. Then I realised that I had their story on my shelves. And wow, was I excited! I mean, they seemed like fun secondary characters, but finding out about their romance and falling for one another… this was so damn cute and fun. It’s also a fun start to a whole new series, one that I’m itching for the next one to come out!

The idea of a guy who is tied completely into his scientific endeavours having to work at a beauty salon was a great premise to begin with. Then, there was the actual reality of this – it shows that a lot of our misconceptions about who and what we are are often wrong. It also showed that Quinn didn’t need to conform to Sonya’s idea of kindness and welcoming – he was able to fumble his way to his own style and confidence. One that worked beautifully and highlighted that we are all kind in our own ways. Plus, it was a nice way to dispel that whole stereotypical myth that nerds can’t socialise. We can! But I’m an introvert, and sometimes I just don’t want to.

Sonya only contrasts Quinn superficially. I mean, on the outside, a scientist and a beautician don’t necessarily work, but like with many people, that difference is only skin deep. They are both fiercely independent individuals who strive to make their own way in life. However, I particularly loved how Sonya’s independence acted to her own detriment – she is incredibly strong, but we all need help sometimes. And I loved that the moment when she finally realises that she can ask for help was kind of hilarious. It was definitely one of the most memorable scenes of the book.

The catalyst for this series is the fact that Quinn’s grandfather dies, and, being a bit of an asshole, decides to leave his grandchildren with a challenge each. I absolutely loved this premise. Yeah, it doesn’t reflect nicely upon the old man, but I also like to think that he’s actually doing it to benefit his grandchildren. And, it sets up the rest of this series brilliantly, so now I’m excited to see what happens with the next brother in line for a not-so-grandfatherly challenge.

<- More Serena BellHot Under the Collar ->

Image source: Amazon

At Any Price by Brenna Aubrey

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: At Any Price
Author: Brenna Aubrey
Series: Gaming the System #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2013

Thoughts

I started reading this novel quite a while ago, and then I put it down. Actually, I went through a few attempts with this. Firstly I didn’t necessarily want to read it because I was worried that there was too much emphasis placed upon virginity (again). But then, I read the first part which contains Mia’s manifesto. And I was completely hooked – I mean, yes to pretty much everything she says and rants about there! But then the male lead was introduced and I felt pretty Luke Warm. So I stopped reading. But, eventually I realised that I still had to know what happened next! So I picked this up again, and I’m really, really glad that I did. Once I got over the hump of that first meeting, I actually really loved this story. And I ended up being really happy and comfortable with this novel and the many ethical moments throughout.

I think one of the things I really loved about this is that there are a lot of uncomfortable moments throughout the quite fun and sweet romance. I kept feeling a bit odd about some of the things in this story – a woman selling her virginity because it’s a socially pressured construct, prostitution, secret identities, addiction, there were so many discussions and moments that actually made me stop reading and pause. It’s hard for stories to do this in a manner that made me uncomfortable (enough that, as previously mentioned I did stop and start this a bit), but also made me want to keep reading. Aubrey does such a great job of highlighting some of the issues and impressions that society puts upon us. And reminds us that there are a multitude of ways to look at such things.

I must admit that I did guess the ‘twist’ at the end of this story. It wasn’t exactly a surprise, but I did like how this helped to further evolve the characters. It was nice that both leads were able to go through some serious growth and change. They both make mistakes, and stupid decisions, but they find a way back to one another. Plus, it just made the journey all that much more exciting – you already knew there was a secret that was going to make things unravel, so it was exciting to experience this!

For a book that had a bit of a rocky start for me, I actually really loved this. It was beautiful and fun. And, unlike many other romances that I read, there are more stories featuring this couple. Once they decide to take the plunge to happily ever after, they will still have challenges to overcome! Which, lets face it, is a way more realistic romance than just riding off into the sunset together. I can’t wait to read more stories by Aubrey.

<- Girl GeekAt Any Turn ->

Image source: Amazon

Snaps with Santa by Hope Ellis

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Snaps with Santa
Author: Hope Ellis
In: Chasing Holiday Tail (miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2023

Thoughts

This is a very cute and easy second chance / small town romance. I like that it is about a couple that never quite got their closure, but also don’t have all of the hang ups that some of these styles of romances have. It’s also pretty short, so probably not quite enough time and space to actually have a lot of the angst that is sometimes in a good romance.

I love that both of the characters in this are reconnecting after life beats them down. And that, even when they’ve had a few hard challenges thrown their way, they are still optimistic about the future. It’s nice to finish this short story with a whole lot of hope for the future, riding off into the sunset.

There is always something fun about the writing of Hope Ellis, and Christmas romances. And this was such a fun story that I will gladly read again.

<- Santa Claws is ComingRuff Day for the Rockstar ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Rival in South Africa by Liz Alden

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: The Rival in South Africa
Author: Liz Alden
Series: Love and Wanderlust #5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Travel
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2023

Thoughts

I was a bit surprised by how much I liked the idea of a story based on some serious rivalry, and the whole only one tent trope. I like that Alex and Nikki are constantly finding themselves pitted against each other. And that their mothers are the deciding factor in forcing the two of them together. Plus, this is partly based in South Africa, a country that I’ve visited and loved. One that I would seriously love to go back to… there’s just something amazing about it.

Although I loved and understood Nikki’s frustration at Alex’s constant infiltration of her life, it was pretty obvious that it was because he liked her. The awkward infatuation just made it all that much more intriguing to finally have the two characters get together. Plus, it meant that, as the reader, it was easy enough to get behind the characters becoming a couple. Sometimes it’s a bit harder if the jerky behaviour is just… being a jerk. At least in my experience.

As someone who has always wanted to do a lot of travel, but never had the chance, I kind of love the whole idea of the Love and Wanderlust series. Which just means that I’ve been meaning to read this for quite a while. I might have dived in right at the end of the series, but that is no hard ship. Plus, it was fun to read about a country that I’ve actually been to. Now I get to read about five other locations that I haven’t actually been to. The fact that this awesome travel is then combined with romance and finding your perfect partner is fantastic. Plus, at the end of the story (like the one other Liz Alden that I’ve written), the travel bugged partner doesn’t have to choose between love and travel. Rather, Nikki is able to pursue her joys and chosen career, and her and Alex are able to make it work.

The steam and love in this is enjoyable, but what I love the most is the idea of an alternative career. Something that is not 9 to 5, and from what I understand, is incredibly difficult to make your mark in. But, the gumption and pride with which Nikki is able to pursue her career is beautiful. It might not be the most realistic, but I don’t read romances for the realism. I read them for the joy of falling in love, and finding your own happily ever after to match your goals in life.

Alden manages to write a beautiful book that doesn’t just involve love and steaminess in a beautiful location. But, it also has two characters acknowledging each others’ flaws and finding a way to work together. There is no requirement for change, just a bit of communication to make each other happy. Which is probably why I love this book so damn much – no drastic change, just a whole lot of happy with a dash of steam.

<- The Player in New ZealandMore Liz Alden ->

Image source: Amazon

Rescued Beats by Arell Rivers

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Rescued Beats
Author: Arell Rivers
In: Chasing Holiday Tail (miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2023

Thoughts

This was a short story that was just kind of cute. I mean, it’s about a Scotsman (which I’m always a fan of) and the woman he falls for. Honestly, this was one of those incredibly easy reads that was really enjoyable at the time. However, from the moment I turned that final page, I pretty much forgot about what I read. Enjoyable and cute, but entirely forgettable.

A lot of the stories in the Chasing Holiday Tail anthology really didn’t have a Christmas theme to them, which was kind of disappointing. At least Rescued Beats has a Santa in it and a little bit more Christmas activity. I love that the male lead poses as Santa for his love interest, I mean, it’s one great way to show that you are really interested in someone.

Whilst I did enjoy this short story, I did find that there were a few character development moments that needed a little bit more. In particular, Livie’s parents and their controlling ways. It’s kind of shown that Livie is getting over this level of control, but that’s about the extent of it, which is somewhat frustrating. So much potential that just wasn’t quite reached.

<- Doggy StyleMutts About You ->

Image source: Goodreads

You Only Live Once by Maxine Morrey

Book Review, ,
Overview

Title: You Only Live Once
Author: Maxine Morrey
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

Thoughts

I wanted to love this story. And I really, really tried. But I just… couldn’t get into it and feel connected. I mean, I loved the idea of an adult second-chance romance. And that it somehow helps a woman who is a bit of a shut in to stretch her wings again. But, alas, none of that happened.

Ultimately, I didn’t read more than a third of this book. Again, I wanted to like it, but mostly, I just felt… absolutely nothing. No passion for any of the characters or the story line. So I decided not to continue. But this might be a good fit for someone else who can feel connected to the characters…

Image source: Goodreads

Mutts About You by Brenda St John Brown

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Mutts About You
Author: Brenda St John Brown
In: Chasing Holiday Tail (miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2023

Thoughts

I liked this story – it’s about an actress who goes back to her hometown, trying to find that spark again. But, unlike a lot of stories where ex-lovers just fall back in with one another, she actually realises how selfish her actions are. And, as a result, the story has a much nicer and kind of unique open-ended finish. One that made me seriously love this tail.

All of the potential in this story is kind of brilliant. I mean, it starts off with the potential for a relationship, and basically ends in the same space. But one with a bit more understanding and maturity than it started. If there is no romantic relationship in the future, there is definitely a beautiful friendship flourishing.

Cute dogs being up for adoption in England was already going to be a story that drew me in. But, with the talent of St John Brown, I definitely loved reading this story. And now I kind of wish that this short story just wasn’t so short.

<- Rescued BeatsIn Rover My Head ->

Image source: Goodreads

Skating on the Stars by Debra Anastasia

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Skating on the Stars
Author: Debra Anastasia
In: Wrap Me Up (Miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2023

Thoughts

This is one of those proposal stories which just featured everything going seriously wrong. I mean, some of it was a little cliché and silly. But, mostly I just loved the raccoon and the chaos that it inspired. It was a fun short story, and I will always think of the racoon when I reflect on this short story.

This might have been in a Christmas collection, but it is most definitely not a Christmas story. It takes place at valentines. Which, since I was reading this in anticipation for Christmas, was a little bit disappointing. But, it was still pretty cute and sweet.

I love that the couple featured in this story consider themselves married already, they just haven’t been through the ceremony. I would love for this kind of attitude to be a little more normalised in the romances that I read. It’s really sweet that they’re already committed and not questioning themselves and their commitment at all. Incredibly cute and sweet.

<- One Cruel WeddingWrap Me Up ->

Image source: Amazon

Lady and the Scamp by Kilby Blades

Book Review, ,
Overview

Title: Lady and the Scamp
Author: Kilby Blades
In: Chasing Holiday Tail (miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2023

Thoughts

This short story was just a little bit cute. Just because of the name, I had images of the Disney movie in my head this whole time. And it definitely did have those vibes. But also, it was entirely Kilby Blades.

I did think that this tale would be written from the point of view of the dog. I did like that it was from Callie’s owner. I mean, the story still focused on the dogs’ romance (woth heavy implications that there is a human romance), but it was a very different way to write a cute romance.

I think that my favourite part of this short story was the absolute calamity that was the charity event. I mean, a classy dinner with canine companions… yeah, you could totally call it. But it was still absolutely hilarious to read about.

<- Hot Under the CollarTess’ Tasty Treats ->

Image source: Goodreads