Title: Gimme Some Sugar
Author: Molly Harper
Series: Southern Eclectic #3
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

Duffy and Lucy are such a cute friends to lovers, second chance romance. I love that they both had crushes on each other as children, but never acted upon them. But, as their lives built them and allowed them to grow, both decide that they still have feeling for one another. Plus, their decisions of the past led them both into not great marriages. And, even though they are traumatic and somewhat scarring, both Duffy and Lucy are able to find a way forwards and to move on from the horrors of the past. Plus, it adds such a great extra dimension of drama – personal traumas and ex-spouse drama. Brilliant.

For Lucy, the biggest complication from her ex comes from her in-laws. And I love that although she handles them with spine and a lot of confidence, she also does so with understanding and grace. Throughout this whole story, I was expecting Lucy to just completely blow up at her Mother-In-Law in particular. But, instead, she manages to handle her in a completely dignified manner. I can guarantee that I wouldn’t be able to be that calm and sane with somebody crossing that many boundaries with me and my kid. Plus, she is able to rebuild her life in a way that I can’t even begin to fathom.

Duffy’s entire family is amazing and adorable. They all come together to support one another, although they each have their own difficult and somewhat irritating quirks. I am absolutely in love with them, and, even though I’m sure it would be annoying at times, I kind of wish I had those close connections with my own family. To contrast, Duffy’s ex is kind of a complete and total psycho. Duffy might know that he’s being manipulated, but I still kind of found him incredibly frustrating and weak-willed where she’s concerned. I’m sure that these types of people actually exist. But I just can’t imagine it.

As much as I enjoyed the romance and the reconnecting of Duffy and Lucy, I think it was when they both stand up for themselves at the end which was truly beautiful. They might be able to stand by one another and up for each other. But, it’s when their relationship gives them both the confidence to actually stand up for themselves that is truly beautiful. It’s a great way to show their character growth, and highlight how healthy a relationship can be for somebody’s mental wellbeing.

Image source: Simon & Schuster

Title: Ain’t She a Peach?
Author: Southern Eclectic #2
Series: Molly Harper
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: 2018

This novel is just so damn cute. Which, considering Sweet Tea and Sympathy was very, very adorable, isn’t surprising in the least. I kind of fell a little in love with Frankie in Sweet Tea and Sympathy, which made it all that much more exciting to read about her in her own romance. The fact that this has more hijinks and insanity just made it that much more fun to read.

I know that just having a parent with cancer can leave you with zone medical trauma. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have cancer at a young age and deal with the resulting trauma. I thought that Harper dealt incredibly well with this topic and issue. Frankie’s neuroses might seem a bit extreme, but they are completely understandable. The fact that this further feeds on her not-so-healthy relationship with her parents just made me that much happier. Particularly since all through this, Frankie is AWARE that her reactions and relationships aren’t all that healthy.

Eric was quite a yummy lead. I enjoyed how he is immediately described as someone who is not traditionally food looking. Don’t get me wrong, I love my man candy hot, but I enjoy it when they’re a little bit unconventional in their yumminess. The fact that he is also able to push Frankie and see through her bullshit just endeared him to me that much more.

I thought that the parallels drawn between Jarred and Frankie were quite well done. There are many spoilt and treasured children throughout the world, but not all are actually spoilt people. Even though Frankie and Jarred have both had the potential to pursue the same pathways, they’ve made completely different choices. A good reminder that our choices are what ultimately create us and are incredibly important.

Image source: Simon & Schuster

Title: Sweet Tea and Sympathy
Author: Molly Harper
Series: Southern Eclectic #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2017

You know a book is going to be good when it starts with a massive event that goes belly up because there are flamingos trying to eat the centre-piece. Amongst other shenanigans. It certainly makes for an incredibly easy and fun read. One that I enjoyed far more than I had anticipated. Mostly because I had never heard of Molly Harper and had absolutely no idea what to expect. Turns out I should expect some lovely romance, some wonderful southern culture (which I still know next to nothing about) and a whole lot of random enjoyment.

One of the aspects I always enjoy in fish-out-of-water stories is the fact that you get to discover a never before understood world right alongside the main character. It lets you bumble into a world that you literally know nothing of, and discover all of the intricacies along the way. Margot’s discovery of the family that she never knew and a world that she never knew she wanted does this perfectly. Plus, the whole family vibe immediately makes her fit in, even when she doesn’t quite. Plus, there’s the whole getting to know her family that you get to do alongside her. And what a unique and quirky bunch that is! Again, I absolutely adored this.

This was kind of one of those insta-lust romances. It wasn’t insta-love (thank goodness), but there was still that immediate moment of petting between Margot and Kyle as soon as the story starts. Considering this is something that I don’t always love, I found it quite pleasant. I mean, who hasn’t seen some irresistible hunk and just thought… yummm?? The fact that it just gets continuously more complicated as the story unfolds just made me sink deeper and deeper into the relationship. This was one of those ones that I most definitely emotionally invested in. Not something I necessarily do with all of the romances that I’ve been powering through lately.

I love how this story finished with the couple wanting to see how the relationship unfolds and looking to a future. Indeed, love isn’t even mentioned throughout as anything but a future possibility. It’s not a given, and it’s not seen as the ultimate goal. Instead, there’s a sense of potential, happiness and contentment at the end of the tale. It’s sometimes frustrating how every romance finishes with a wedding and happily ever after feel. This felt like the steps that go towards obtaining that goal. I’m sure in the next few books in this series, I’ll probably find out that Margot and Kyle, do, in fact get their marriage and happily ever after. But I love how it doesn’t feel completely like a given.

Image source: Goodreads