Tag Archives: Small town romance

Fooled Around and Spelled in Love by Michelle M. Pillow

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Fooled Around and Spelled in Love
Author: Michelle M. Pillow
Series: Happily Everlasting #3
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Cozy mystery, Paranormal romance, Small town romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2017

Thoughts

Fooled Around and Spelled in Love is Anna and Jackson’s story. I actually read these a little out of order, reading Cupcakes and Curses first. Which meant that it was nice to read about how Macy’s boss, Anna fell in love as well. It was a cute little romance. But also a great cozy mystery, one in which told of the mystery of George’s death and also divulged Anna’s past relationships. George’s past was riddled with indiscretions, and his mother seems a little off-kilter. But I love that you find out parts of it as Anna race to find who killed her fried. It’s a beautiful cozy mystery, and one that I seriously enjoyed.

I love that this is a story that mostly follows a murder mystery, but in the solving and understanding, Anna and Jackson are able to get to know one another. And although there is the instant attraction that they both feel, they are able to slowly get to know one another. And eventually fall in love. The fact that Anna is suspicious of Polly, her eccentric aunt, just heightens the mysteries found in this story. There is a comfort in their falling, one that I kind of prefer to the crazy, whirlwind romances that I also read.

The cursed camera in this was a great object. It was given by Wilbur (a character in another Happily Everlasting story), and tied in a number of mysteries throughout this series. It’s both helpful in highlighting that there was a crime. And not so helpful in that it liked to mislead Anna. I mean, it’s cursed, so it’s not going to be a great idea to trust. I love how Pillow was able to use this object to further the story and give a couple of Red Herrings to the readers.

Everlasting is such a quaint town and I love how there is a multitude of crossovers throughout the stories and authors in this series. It’s definitely a town which has a lot of magic and mayhem. But, somehow, it’s still the kind of town that I would love to live in. I mean, a town fille with cooky characters who just exist as they are? Of course I’m intrigued by that.

<- Once Hunted, Twice ShyWitchful Thinking ->

Image source: Bol

Defying Our Forever by Claudia Burgoa

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Defying Our Forever
Author: Claudia Burgoa
Series: The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Small town romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2020

Thoughts

After reading A Moment Like You, I couldn’t wait to get into Leyla and Pierce’s story. There is so much set up and hints of what they are to each other, and it made it impossible not to dive straight into this when I got my grubby little e-hands on it. However, I didn’t expect quite so much history to their story. I thought we’d dive right into the rest of the Baker’s Creek timeline, but instead, about a third of this book covered their history and their mistakes. At first I found it a bit frustrating and wanted to charge forwards. But, as mistake after misunderstanding piled on top of one another, I realised that their story was just that much better for having their history so thoroughly included as well.

From the start of this series, you know that all of the boys have a fairly horrific father (although, I’m convinced that there will be a bit of a redemptive arc for him throughout). Yet, finding out more about the matriarchal side of Pierce’s family is somehow even worse. His family truly and deeply sucks and their manipulations of him from the very beginning are just cringeworthy. It just shows that no matter how strong and intelligent a person is, they are able to be manipulated by those in their lives. Particularly the “family” that has been around since the beginning – abuse and conformity become the new norm. Yet, I love that, in removing him from his family’s influence, the evil deceased father is able to remove their influence and finally let Pierce (who is very arguably a victim of abuse) to see the depths of their depravity and move away from that nonsense.

Leyla has one of the most tragic pasts I’ve read in a romance in a long time. Honestly, it almost bought tears to my eyes it was just that dang sad. And then, on top of her tragic backstory, she manages to fall for a man who is just too stubborn to realise that he’s broken and damaged too. I mean, just one of those things alone would be a tragedy, but both of them together? There are moments when I had to put the book down just because of the amount of emotional angst. Yet, I still found myself hoping for the couple to figure out their drama. Even in the multitude of moments when Pierce demonstrated his own trauma and inability to negotiate. Luckily, this tragic background for Leyla gave a huge amount of character growth (it did for Pierce too, but I liked Leyla’s more). I love that this is actually based a little on the backstory of a real person, and Burgoa just wanted to give her the happily ever after that she deserved…

Defying Our Forever was a love story filled with abuse and tragic histories, with breaking the mold and finding a happily ever after through forced proximity (yay for the evil Baker’s Creek father) and a willingness to change. I love that Leyla and Pierce are eventually able to find their way back to one another, even in the most difficult of circumstances. And that, eventually they are able to actually find an ending that is healthy and suited. There was a lot of emotional turmoil, but man did it make the reward at the end worth it. Now the plot continues to thicken, and I can’t wait to dive into more of Burgoa’s books.

<- A Moment Like YouCall You Mine ->

Image source: Kobo

Since You’ve Bean Gone by Lainey Davis

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Since You’ve Bean Gone
Author: Lainey Davis
Series: Farm 2 Forking #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: 2024

Thoughts

Since You’ve Bean Gone is a gorgeous little second chance romance. The fact that one of the early pivotal moments occurs with Ethan passed out in a sheep pen just makes it funny as well as very, very cute. I love that not only is this a second chance story, but also one that occurs at a crossroads of change in Ethan’s life.

I’m a big sucker for romances that focus on someone whom has a chronic illness. It normalises living with chronic illness in a way little else does. But, also doesn’t glorify and romanticise it. This was the first romance, or even novel, I’ve read which features somebody living the Crohn’s Disease though. I had a friend in university who lost his twenties to this, much like Lia and it was refreshing to read about living with a chronic illness like this.

As a partnership to the difficulties of living with Crohn’s, Lia’s doctor boyfriend is just… off. I spent the whole story waiting to see if he would be revealed as an incredibly unethical horror show. Or at least, face some kind of comeuppance for his treatment of Lia. However, their relationship ends fairly calmly and, although it was definitely a healthier way for things to go, the vindictive part of me was unimpressed.

Ethan is a wonderful counterpoint to some of Lia’s struggles. He’s quite sweet, and although hurt by the past, quick to forgive and move forward. Mostly because he’s incredibly accepting and understanding of the difficulties of the past. I do love that his biggest challenge and flaw isn’t actually letting Lia back into his life, but accepting the change that she brings. It’s the changes to the farms and admitting his own past mistakes to his brothers that he struggles with. The inherent flaws that made him so damn likeable.

Alongside the romance, I love that this is a farm story about learning to diversify and change. Traditional practices across the board have begun to be less lucrative, so it’s interesting what other options are out there. Plus there’s a sheep named Baabara Streisand running free causing havoc, so why wouldn’t you love this story?

<- More Farm 2 ForkingButter You Up ->

Image source: NetGalley

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

Total Eclipse of the Hunt by Mandy M. Roth

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Total Eclipse of the Hunt
Author: Mandy M. Roth
Series: Happily Everlasting World #5
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Cozy mystery, Paranormal romance, Small town romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2017

Thoughts

Jake was a great character in Once Hunted, Twice Shy, so I love that he got his own story and happily ever after! It also meant more Wilbur shenanigans. And just, general chaos. Plus, it opens up more of the Happily Everlasting world. Pete, Hugh and all of the other entertaining cast also make appearances, just so that Jake’s love story is all that much more fun and ridiculously enjoyable.

Kelsey is a great match for Jake, if not as engaging and relatable to some of the other female leads thus far in this series. She’s still got backbone, and I love that she comes “home” to rest in Everlasting. The fact that she gets the super dreamy centaur Jake when she decides to come to everlasting just makes it all that much better.

He might be a secondary character, but Wilbur is still completely totally and utterly a favourite. I mean, he pretty much spends the entirety of the book messing with and aggravating Jake and Hugh. I love that a seemingly innocent and sweet old man is actually the terror of a supernatural town. And that he finds serious entertainment in just… annoying pretty much everyone. And kidnapping people. And just generally being a menace.

Total Eclipse of the Hunt is ultimately a story about good and bad witches, and generations of wars between them. Having the name Babcock for a family of evil witches just… worked. On a level that I wasn’t expecting. I absolutely loved the whole dynamic, and that the guy I thought was evil wasn’t, and the one I thought wasn’t, was. A great little cozy mystery. But one that was about theft, and not death this time around.

<- Witchful ThinkingCurses and Cupcakes ->

Image source: Amazon

Witchful Thinking by Kristen Painter

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Witchful Thinking
Author: Kristen Painter
Series: Happily Everlasting World #4
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Cozy mystery, Paranormal romance, Small town romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2017

Thoughts

Witchful Thinking is a great story, and one that I will most likely read again. It was fun and light hearted, with just enough drama to keep me hooked in from the very first moment. Charlotte and Walker were a fun couple, and I like that they were in a race against time to figure out just who was hunting for the grimoire. And destroying Charlotte’s property, and just generally who was on the side of evil.

Whilst I really enjoyed this story, I found Charlotte to be almost annoyingly innocent. I mean, I still liked her, and eventually she showed some backbone. But it took a little while for her to get there, and it was a bit frustrating in the lead up. Then, it did make me even more happy when she decided to step up and act like an adult. Walker was incredibly loyal from the very beginning, and I found his inability to deviate from his loyalty to Charlotte to be quite cute and endearing.

This is the first Everlasting story I’ve read that wasn’t written by Mandy M. Roth – so it was nice to have a different perspective of this jointly created town. I love series which provide different facets of small town life by having stories crafted by different authors. That, and it gave me a whole new author to add to my shelves and investigate.

I love that this is a cozy mystery which features and evil book and evil witches. I mean, the book didn’t seem so evil, until you start learning about what spells inhabit it’s pages. I also love how the demise of the evil is actually really anticlimactic. A disgustingly fun way to spend an evening, guessing who the villain is and getting that easy happily ever after that I love.

<- Fooled Around and Spelled in LoveTotal Eclipse of the Hunt ->

Image source: Jana DeLeon

Once Hunted, Twice Shy by Mandy M. Roth

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Once Hunted, Twice Shy
Author: Mandy M. Roth
Series: Happily Everlasting World #2
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Cozy mystery, Paranormal romance, Small town romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2017

Thoughts

I love that this is a paranormal romance and a cozy mystery all rolled into one. I particularly love how Hugh and Penelope are falling in love and getting to know one another as they try and solve a pair of murders. Plus, then there’s Penelope’s grandfather and all of his insanity – the man who likes to kidnap others and is a kind elderly guy who also scares every single person in the town.

I love that Hugh is a werewolf, but his perfect soul mate is the daughter of a long line of monster hunters. And that Hugh is absolutely terrified of her grandfather. That in and of itself leads itself to a lot of high jinx and shenanigans throughout the story. It also means that instead of just Hugh and Penelope trying to solve a murder, her grandfather is running around causing chaos in his own controlling, crime-solving manner.

Although I absolutely adored Hugh and Penelope, I must admit that it was the secondary cast and the town of Everlasting that had me falling in love with this story. I mean, every single person in this was an absolute character. And all of their crazy together created an amazing and vibrant world that I can’t wait to get back to. And I can’t wait to see who falls in love next, who gets kidnapped, killed or robbed, whatever chaotic mystery is going to happen in the next Happily Everlasting World book.

I did end up guessing who the culprit was in this story, although, quite honestly, only moments before the big reveal. However, that is often why I like to read cozy mysteries – they are generally not filled with a mind bending mystery, but one that is big enough to keep you engaged. Plus, there is the fact that the culprit had a paranormal motive and wasn’t actually as evil as originally anticipated. Now I can’t wait for the next story in Happily Everlasting or Bewitchingly Ever After.

<- Dead Man TalkingFooled Around and Spelled in Love ->

Image source: Jana DeLeon

A Moment Like You by Claudia Burgoa

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: A Moment Like You
Author: Claudia Burgoa
Series: The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #2
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: 2020

Thoughts

Henry and Sophia are one of those beautiful and fun couples that I just couldn’t get out of my head. The fact that this whole story and relationship starts with Sophia thinking of Henry as Satan just made it all that much more entertaining. Even though their beginning might have been a bit unorthodox, ultimately they were total relationship goals and completely gorgeous. And, although this is the second story in the Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers series, it was a great introduction to Burgoa and the rest of the Baker Creek brothers.

I honestly thought at the beginning of this that there would be more hurdles to Henry and Sophia getting together. But, it just didn’t happen. And then, when they got together, there was still half of the book! I both love and hate when this happens – it’s great that they got together quickly, but then there were a lot of drama to get through. Which is exactly what I like to read about – the drama that happens after a couple gets together and really helps them to prove their mettle.

Although Martina is one such hurdle that Sohpia and Henry need to overcome, I love that Sophia is able to handle her with grace and dignity. Rather than pitting the women of this story against one another and having them try and take each other down, Sohpia is ablet o find a way for everyone to get out of an awkward situation with a happily ever after. And, in doing so, Sophia is able to build someone up to gain her own independence.

I love that this series sets all of the Aldridge boys up to have some huge battles in their future. It makes me desperately want to go back and read Loved You Once, but also leap forward in the series and dive in to Defying Our Forever. Each of the boys have a phenomenal battle on their hands, and I want to know how they’ll unravel. Plus, Sophia’s letter provides a great indicator to just how messy the situation is about to get, whilst also hinting that maybe their father wasn’t quite the evil being that they all believed him to be. He might not have been kind and good, but maybe not quite as thoroughly evil as anticipated.

<- Loved You OnceDefying Our Forever ->

Image source: Goodreads

Desperate Choices by Anna Windsor

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of hot romance book cover

Title: Desperate Choices
Author: Anna Windsor
In: The Mammoth Book of Hot Romance (Sonia Florens)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Romantic suspense, Small town romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011

Thoughts

I actually really enjoyed this romantic suspense story – I wasn’t entirely sure how it was even a romance when I first started it, but I was very quickly pulled in. Enjoying it way more than expected. Particularly because it featured a child being kidnapped – something that particularly leaves a horrifyingly sick feeling in my stomach when I read about it.

I love that Leah will stop at nothing to find her nephew, including risking her own life and career. She also talks about crime in her small town like a slow moving rot – one that needs to be dug out by the roots and destroyed. It’s a reminder of how easy it is to become corrupt when those in power are corrupt, or let the evil slide – I kind of want more butt kicking in this world to find that Leah and her beau managed to start making an impact on all of the crime.

There was so much violence and mayhem throughout this story, which seems to be something I seriously enjoy lately. Plus, there was also some yummy lust to keep your toes curling and lighten some of the chaos. I love that this had a happy ending, but with the ability to have so much more chaos and violence in the future.

<- Crimean Fairy TaleSorcery ->

Image source: London Borough of Bexley

Wilder With You by Serena Bell

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Wilder With You
Author: Serena Bell
Series: Wilder Adventures #3
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: 2022

Thoughts

I’m absolutely loving Serena Bell and the Wilder brothers. But I did find Jessa and Clark’s to be a little bit sad. I mean, it’s one thing to have hang ups from.past relationships, everyone does. But Clark’s hangup being that his wife died? And then finding out how it happened? It was REALLY extra sad as far as I was concerned.

Jessa’s ex is an absolute douche nugget, and I love how everyone else is just immediately against him. Plus, he’s a great catalyst for the fake dating trope that ends in a little bit of heartbreak. And the one tent. And just all of the happy, fun feelings that this story imparted on me.

Like all good romances, there comes that final hurdle at the end of this that needs to be overcome. I love that for Jessa and Clark, they both are at fault for the breakdown. And they both realise their mistakes before it is too late. Plus, they enjoy gathering around their family and the Wilder siblings definitely help Clark realise his own foolishness.

Alongside this gorgeous romance is the setting of Wilder Adventures. I love that Clark and Jessa originally connect camping in the wilderness. And the many ways in which the Wilder brothers have had to make the wilderness a whole lot more accessible. This is definitely one of those books I’ll be rereading for a sweet comfort read.

<- Walk on the Wilder SideA Little Wilder ->

Image source: Goodreads