Category Archives: Romance

March 25, 2022 · 12:02 am

Review: Foundation of Love by Amy Clipston

Title: Foundation of Love by Amy Clipston
An Amish Legacy Novel Book One
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 341 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Get swept away in the first installment of Amy Clipston’s Amish Legacy series.

They were “only friends” . . . but they wanted so much more.

Crystal Glick is grateful to live with her brother’s family since her father died and her fiancé, Owen, broke their engagement. Crystal loves her bruderskinner and cheerfully helps her sister-in-law through a difficult pregnancy with babies number seven and eight, but she yearns for a husband and children of her own.

Duane Bontrager is mourning the recent death of his wife, Connie, after twenty-four years of marriage. He and his grown sons have a thriving roofing business but can’t get used to life without her. As the young men prepare to launch out on their own, Duane can’t imagine life alone—nor with anyone but Connie.

When a roofing job at the Glicks introduces Duane and Crystal, they’re attracted in spite of their fourteen-year age difference. But their bishop thinks Duane is better suited for the sweet widow Tricia, and Duane’s sons object to his interest in any woman. Crystal’s family fears losing her indispensable help. If she must go, they’d rather she be reunited with Owen in spite of his betrayal.

They’re the only two who believe they’re a match made in heaven, can Duane and Crystal overcome the obstacles to love?

Review:

Foundation of Love by Amy Clipston is a charming Amish romance.

Thirty-three-year-old Crystal Glick is unmarried and lives with her brother Kane and her sister-in-law Leona.  Crystal takes care of her nieces and nephews as Leona takes it easy due to her current pregnancy. Crystal would like a family of her own, but without any prospects on the horizon, she tries to remain content with caring for her brother’s children. With six kids to care for and endless chores, she rarely has time for herself. When her brother hires Duane Bontrager and his three adult sons to replace their roof, Crystal is drawn to the friendly widower. Once she realizes her feelings are running deeper than friendship, she wrestles with other people’s objections to the age difference between them.  Will Crystal allow this chance for love and happiness slip away?

Ever since Duane’s beloved wife Connie passed way, he and his sons, Jayden, Tyler and Korey, have muddled their way through cooking, household chores and running their roofing business. Duane still deeply misses Connie and he is not looking for a new wife. But he greatly enjoys spending time with Crystal and as he gets to know her, his feelings turn romantic. But Duane is a little conflicted about their age difference, having more children and his sons’ reactions to his announcement he is dating are troubling. He is also being pressured to marry a widow in his community.

Foundation of Love is a touching romance with a wonderful setting and appealing characters. Crystal and Duane are vibrantly developed characters whose faith guides them through their obstacle strewn journey to happily ever after. Crystal is self-less and caring but she often puts other people’s needs ahead of her own. Duane is evenly tempered as he struggles to work through his son’s resistance to his fledgling relationship with Crystal. The romance is heartwarming but their future is far from assured. With one final conflict to resolve, Amy Clipston brings this first An Amish Legacy novel to an uplifting, smile-inducing conclusion.

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Filed under Amish, Amy Clipston, An Amish Legacy Novel, Contemporary, Foundation of Love, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Zondervan

March 24, 2022 · 12:01 am

Review: Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Title: Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Written in the Stars Series Book Three
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ+ (F/F), Romance
Length: 380 pages
Book Rating: C

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Following Written in the Stars and Hang the Moon, Lambda Literary Award winner and national bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur pens another steamy queer rom-com about former best friends who might be each other’s second chance at love…

Margot Cooper doesn’t do relationships. She tried and it blew up in her face, so she’ll stick with casual hookups, thank you very much. But now her entire crew has found “the one” and she’s beginning to feel like a fifth wheel. And then fate (the heartless bitch) intervenes. While touring a wedding venue with her engaged friends, Margot comes face-to-face with Olivia Grant—her childhood friend, her first love, her first… well, everything. It’s been ten years, but the moment they lock eyes, Margot’s cold, dead heart thumps in her chest.

Olivia must be hallucinating. In the decade since she last saw Margot, her life hasn’t gone exactly as planned. At almost thirty, she’s been married… and divorced. However, a wedding planner job in Seattle means a fresh start and a chance to follow her dreams. Never in a million years did she expect her important new client’s Best Woman would be the one that got away.

When a series of unfortunate events leaves Olivia without a place to stay, Margot offers up her spare room because she’s a Very Good Person. Obviously. It has nothing to do with the fact that Olivia is as beautiful as ever and the sparks between them still make Margot tingle. As they spend time in close quarters, Margot starts to question her no-strings stance. Olivia is everything she’s ever wanted, but Margot let her in once and it ended in disaster. Will history repeat itself or should she count her lucky stars that she gets a second chance with her first love?

Review:

Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur is an entertaining second chance romance. Although this newest release is the third romance in the Written in the Stars series, it can be read as a standalone.

Margot Cooper is the last of her friends to find love. Although she is mostly happy with her life, she is feeling like a fifth wheel and occasionally left out. Margot is the best woman for her friend Brendon’s upcoming wedding and she is shocked when the new events planner walks in. She knows Olivia Grant very well since they were best friends until their friendship ended after they spent one steamy week together a decade earlier. When Olivia needs a place to stay after a problem at her apartment, Margot invites her to stay with her. But her plan to keep things platonic between them is immediately tested once Margot realizes she is still intensely attracted to her former bestie. Will she be able to resist acting on her attraction?

Olivia is well aware Brendon’s wedding will either make or break her career. So, she is not going to allow her feelings for Margot get in the way of planning the perfect wedding. Since Olivia does not have anyone to stay with, she accepts Margot’s offer to become her roommate. Olivia has many wonderful traits but she is a bit of a pushover and a people pleaser. Will this come back to haunt her as she and Margot decide to give in to their very mutual desire?

Count Your Lucky Stars is a funny romance with a great cast of characters. Margot and Olivia are interesting characters but their unresolved issues continue to plague them. The storyline is engaging but the continued miscommunications become frustrating. The pacing is also rather slow. The love scenes between Margot and Olivia are blazing hot, very detailed and take place over several sizzling pages. Old and new fans of Alexandria Bellefleur’s Written in the Stars series will enjoy this laugh out loud romance.

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Filed under Alexandria Bellefleur, Avon, Contemporary, Count Your Lucky Stars, F/F, LGBTQ, Rated C, Review, Romance, Written in the Stars Series

March 15, 2022 · 12:01 am

Review: The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery

Title: The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Romance
Length: 418 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

One woman takes the vacation of a lifetime in this poignant and heartwarming story about the threads that hold a family together from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery.

Single mom Robyn Caldwell needs a new plan for her future.  She has always put her family first.  Now, with her kids grown, she yearns for a change. But what can she do when her daughter has become the most demanding bride ever, her son won’t even consider college, her best friend is on the brink of marital disaster and her ex is making a monumentally bad decision that could ruin everything?

Take a vacation, of course. Press reset. When her great-aunt Lillian invites her to Santa Barbara for the summer, Robyn hops on the first plane to sunny California.

But it’s hard to get away when you’re the heart of the family. One by one, everyone she loves follows her across the country. Somehow, their baggage doesn’t feel as heavy in the sun-drenched, mishmash mansion. The more time Robyn spends with free-spirited Lillian, the more possibilities she sees—for dreams, love, family. She can have everything she ever wanted, if only she can muster the courage to take a chance on herself.

Review:

The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery is a touching novel of self-discovery and new beginnings.

Robyn Caldwell is a divorced mom of two adult children who work in their father’s business. Eighteen-year-old Austin has recently graduated from high school and Robyn is frustrated he is not going to college. Twenty-two-year-old Harlow is a college graduate who is planning her upcoming wedding to fiancé Kip. Robyn is concerned Harlow is marrying too young and her daughter is always upset with her about one thing or another. With one drama too many and overwhelmed by thoughts of her future, Robyn decides to accept her beloved ninety-four-year-old Great-Aunt Lillian Holton’s invitation to visit her in California.

Robyn is a caring mom and friendwho suddenly realizes she has to make some choices about her future. She is also very irritated by Harlow’s immature and hurtful behavior. Robyn is tired of seeing her boss and friend Mindy inch closer to the brink of marital disaster. Fed up and needing space, she impetuously travels from her home in FL to a stunning surprise at Lillian’s.

Austin and Harlow are very close and both of them are becoming increasingly annoyed with their father. Austin is usually fairly easy-going but once he makes a decision, he sticks to it. He has been assuring his mother he has a plan for his future and he is on the verge of finalizing it. Already upset with her recent encounter with her mom, Harlow’s rock-solid certainty in her fiancé is suddenly on shaky ground. Hoping to put some distance between them and their problems, brother and sister head to Lillian’s to decide what to do next.

The Summer Getaway is a delightful novel with (mostly) appealing characters. Lillian’s eccentric home is the perfect place to distract Robyn, Austin and Harlow from their individual troubles. In addition to making plans for her future, Robyn has the opportunity for love if she is willing to risk her heart again. Harlow undergoes the most character growth when she is confronted with some hard truths about herself. Austin’s laidback attitude is the perfect foil for his sister’s melodrama. With a wonderful blend of humor and seriousness, Susan Mallery brings this marvelous novel to a heartwarming conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, HQN Books, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Susan Mallery, The Summer Getaway, Women's Fiction

February 22, 2022 · 12:02 am

Review: Accidently Perfect by Marissa Clarke

Title: Accidentally Perfect by Marissa Clarke
Hideaway Harbor Series Book One
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 400 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Workaholic Lillian Mahoney has given everything to her job. The hugely popular lifestyle show she helped create monopolizes her time, energy, creativity, and anything remotely resembling a life. But all it takes is the show’s womanizing, egomaniac star throwing a massive hissy on live TV to utterly implode Lillian’s career in a New York minute.

Now Lillian’s hiding out in the gorgeous and completely unknown seaside village of Blink, Maine. Out of gas. A stolen wallet. A broken heel. And worse, she’s somehow managed to completely piss off the town’s resident hunk, Caleb Wright. She’ll show that hot, grumpy single father exactly what she’s made of.

But Blink isn’t quite what Lillian expects—and neither is Caleb…or his feisty teen daughter she can’t help but love. And while her entire life and career are in shreds, Lillian might just discover what happens when she gives her bad first impression a second chance…

Review:

Accidentally Perfect by Marissa Clarke is a warmly inviting small-town romance.

Lillian Mahoney is the all work, not play creator of a popular lifestyles show. When the face of her company has a public melt-down, her sister, Erin, convinces her to take time off. Traveling to Erin’s cottage in Blink, ME is not without mishap but Lillian is unexpectedly charmed by the town and its residents. Well, that is everyone except Caleb Wright who is highly suspicious of her motive in offering to assist Roger McGuffy organize his life.

Lillian is dismayed to discover Blink does not match her vision of the coastal town. But she gradually grows to enjoy the slower pace of life. She is also thrilled when she becomes friends with many of the locals. Lillian is attracted to Grumpy Caleb so she is surprised when their adversarial relationship turns into something much deeper.

Caleb is a single dad to teenager Bethany. He works with his dad in the family boating business and Caleb has amassed an incredible portfolio of beautifully restored vintage boats. He has avoided romantic entanglements after his heart was broken by his former wife. He eventually realizes Lillian has no ulterior reason for helping Roger. But will Caleb decide to give in to his growing feelings for her?

Accidentally Perfect is a heartwarming romance with an appealing cast of wonderful characters. Lillian is genuine and kind-hearted but she is very stubborn. Caleb is very likable but he jumps to conclusions a little too easily. The romance between Lillian and Caleb is slow-growing but oh so sweet. Despite a late in the story conflict, Marissa Clarke brings this heartfelt romance to a sigh-worthy conclusion. This first installment in the Hideaway Harbor series is sure to be a hit with readers of contemporary romances.

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Filed under Accidentally Perfect, Contemporary, Entangled: Amara, Hideaway Harbor Series, Marissa Clarke, Rated B+, Review, Romance

January 31, 2022 · 12:02 am

Review: A More Perfect Union by Tammye Huf

Title: A More Perfect Union by Tammye Huff
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Historical, Romance
Length: 369 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Inspired by true events, A More Perfect Union is an epic story of love and courage, desperation and determination, and three people whose lives are inescapably entwined…

Henry O’Toole sails to America in 1848 to escape the famine in Ireland, only to face anti-immigrant prejudice. Determined never to starve again, he changes his surname to Taylor and heads south to Virginia, seeking work as a traveling blacksmith on the prosperous plantations.

Torn from her home and sold to Jubilee Plantation, Sarah must navigate its intricate hierarchy. And now an enigmatic blacksmith is promising her not just the world but also her freedom. How could she say no?

Enslaved at Jubilee Plantation, Maple is desperate to return to her husband and daughter. With Sarah’s arrival, she sees her chance to be reunited at last with her family—but at what cost?

Review:

Inspired by real life events, A More Perfect Union by Tammye Huf is a thought-provoking and sometimes heart-wrenching novel which takes place in the South during the mid-1800s.

Impoverished and starving due to the potato blight in Ireland, Henry O’Toole emigrates to America. Almost immediately upon his arrival, Henry changes his last name to Taylor due to discrimination toward the Irish. Desperately trying to avoid trouble, Henry leaves New York and becomes a traveling blacksmith. His path crosses with Sarah, who is a slave on the Jubilee Plantation, after he is hired by the owner, Matthew Johnson.  Despite the very real danger of a relationship between them, Henry and Sarah eventually fall in love. But is there any chance of a future for them?

Sarah is devastated to be separated from her mother and brother when she is purchased by Mathew and his wife Martha at a slave auction. At Jubilee, she is a house slave who takes care of the Johnson’s young son Thomas. She also works under fellow slave, Maple, whose bitterness at her circumstances makes her vindictive and petty. Sarah attempts to remain above the jealousies and infighting between the other house slaves. But once her relationship with Henry is discovered, the rest of the slaves turn on her.

A More Perfect Union is a captivating novel with a compelling storyline. Sarah and Henry’s romance is sweet yet seemingly hopeless under the circumstances. Matthew and Martha are devout Christians who treat their slaves better than other plantation owners. However, they are determined to protect their Southern way of life. As Sarah and Henry plot their escape, Matthew has other plans for her future. The tension builds with every chapter as Sarah and Henry’s efforts to leave are stymied at every turn. With one final act of desperation, Tammye Huf brings this poignant novel to a nerve-wracking yet heartwarming conclusion.

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Filed under A More Perfect Union, Forever, Historical, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Tammye Huf

· 12:01 am

Review: The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis

Title: The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis
The Sunrise Cove Series Book One
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 383 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Beloved New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis begins a new series—Sunrise Cove—set near beautiful Lake Tahoe, with a heartwarming story of found family and love.

During the snowstorm of the century Levi Cutler is stranded on a ski lift with a beautiful stranger named Jane. After strong winds hurl the gondola in front of them into the ground, Levi calls his parents to prepare them for the worst…but can’t bring himself to say goodbye. Instead, wanting to fulfill his mother’s lifelong wish, he impulsively tells her he’s happily settled and Jane is his girlfriend—right before his phone dies.

But Levi and Jane do not.

Now Levi’s family is desperate to meet “The One.” Though Jane agrees to be his pretend girlfriend for just one dinner, she’s nervous. After a traumatic childhood, Jane isn’t sure she knows how to be around a tight-knit family that cherishes one another. She’s terrified, and a little jealous. But an unexpected series of events and a host of new friends soon show Jane that perhaps this is the life she was always meant to have.

As Jane and Levi spend more time together, pretend feelings quickly turn into real ones. Now all Jane has to do is admit to herself she can’t live without the man she’s fallen in love with and the family she has always dreamed of.

Review:

The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis is a cute fake relationship romance.

Levi Cutler loves his quirky family but he does not fit in with them.  They run a sporting goods store near Lake Tahoe and he prefers to work with data and computers. Levi lives in San Francisco but he is currently  in Sunrise Cove on a rare visit back home when he finds himself in a freak snowstorm on top of a ski slope. He shares a gondola with traveling nurse Jane Parks and he tries his best to reassure her when their situation becomes dangerous. Afterward, Levi talks Jane into being his pretend girlfriend for an upcoming family event. As they spend time together, he realizes his feelings for her are deepening into love. But will Levi convince Jane to put down roots with him?

Jane is content to never settle in one place for very long. The only town she has any ties to is Sunrise Cove and she returns every winter. She rents a room from her best friend, Dr. Charlotte Dixon, who understands what motivates Jane’s continually roaming. Jane’s tumultuous childhood left an indelible mark and she closely guards her heart. Despite her reservations about her unexpected time with Levi, she enjoys his company. As their relationship takes a serious turn, will Jane give love a chance?

The Family You Make is a heartfelt romance with a wonderful small-town atmosphere. Levi and Jane are well-rounded appealing characters who are absolutely perfect for each other. The storyline is engaging but the pacing is slow to gain momentum. A lovely secondary story arc with Charlotte and Levi’s best friend Dr. Mateo Moreno adds dimension to the plot. The Sunrise Cove series is off to an entertaining beginning that old and new fans of Jill Shalvis are sure to enjoy.

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Filed under Contemporary, Jill Shalvis, Rated B, Review, Romance, The Family You Make, The Sunrise Cove Series, William Morrow Paperbacks