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Hello, all!

Pub Date: 1-18-21
Adult - Contemporary

Lucky Leap Day- Ann Marie Walker: Cara Kennedy was supposed to be visiting Ireland with her boyfriend, but now she's nursing her broken heart with a few pints with the locals. After knocking back one too many whiskey punches, Cara gets swept away in the Leap Day tradition of women proposing to men and goes down on bended knee to Finn, the handsome and charming Irishman she keeps running into. The only problem is, Cara has no recollection of these events until she wakes up the next morning in an unfamiliar bed with a tinfoil ring on her finger. With her flight back home only hours away, Cara has no choice but to bring Finn (and his dog) back stateside with her to try and figure everything out. When Finn lands an audition for an upcoming movie straightaway, Cara can't help but wonder if what they have is real or if he was using her for her Hollywood connections. As the days on Finn's visa tick down, will he be able to convince Cara she's the one for him before it's too late?

If you like the movie Leap Year or are just a sucker for a whirlwind romance, this is the book for you. It was so charming and adorable. I was instantly taken with Cara and Finn. They both had this loveable quality about them that just made me smile. Their relationship was, of course, very insta-lovey, but I didn't mind it so much. I didn't realize this was a closed-door romance going in, and while that's fine, I would've liked a little bit of steam. Aside from the characters/relationship, I enjoyed how Walker incorporated Irish slang and history into this as well because it helped immerse you in the story, and it was just fun to read. While I did enjoy this a lot, some bits felt predictable, and others were a little too convenient, but I still thought it was a cute and entertaining read.

Rating: 3/5

Pub Date: 8-3-21
Adult - Contemporary

The Dating Dare- Jayci Lee: Tara Park isn't one for relationships or one-night stands, but all that changes when she meets Seth Kim. She's instantly charmed by his flirty demeanor, and it doesn't hurt that he's more than easy on the eyes, so Tara can't say she minds when a game of truth-or-dare turns into a four-date agreement between the pair. Seth is leaving for Paris in a month, so there's no chance of her getting attached, or so she thought. The more time the pair spend together, the more neither of them can deny their feelings. What was supposed to be a fun fling quickly turns into something way more serious than either was anticipating. With the days dwindling before Seth's departure, both Tara and Seth will have to decide how far they'll go for love.

It sounded like this was going to be a sweet contemporary, and it was, but I couldn't help feeling bored throughout. There were a few things I liked, namely Seth. He was cocky and flirty, and I loved how caring he was towards Tara. There are mentions of how much of a player he is, but you never really see any evidence of that. He goes above and beyond for Tara, and it was adorable watching him plan all these dates for her. I did find Tara a little annoying at times, but other than that, she was fine. I think my main problem with this was the writing. It felt almost juvenile at times, and I had a tough time clicking with it. Despite that, I thought it was fast-paced and cute, but I don't think it'll be too memorable for me.

Rating: 3/5

Pub Date: 6-22-21
Adult - Contemporary

Love Scenes- Bridget Morrissey: Sloane Ford has just been killed off her long-running TV show and is in desperate need of a job, so she agrees to work as a producer on her famous family’s new WWII-era romance. What her family failed to mention was that the star of the film is none other than Joseph Donovan, her past co-star and the person who almost made her quit the business for good. When the pair had last worked together, Joseph made it a point to make Sloane’s life a living hell. Not even his handsome face and Irish brogue could make Sloane forget how unprofessional he was, but Joseph swears he’s changed and wants them to turn over a new leaf. As filming goes on, it’s clear that luck isn’t on their side, and when the leading actress gets fired, Sloane agrees to replace her. In doing so, Sloane reignites her passion for acting and can’t deny the on-screen chemistry she shares with Joseph. When that chemistry starts spilling over to real life, Sloane starts to realize she can’t differentiate the love between their characters from what she feels for Joseph, and maybe that’s not such a bad thing.

I was looking for something cute that I wouldn’t have to think too hard about, and this delivered. I thought the plot was fun and liked the movie aspect of it. I enjoyed watching Sloane and Joseph grow closer both on-screen and off. It wasn’t hard seeing how their relationship would play out, but the predictability didn’t lessen my enjoyment. There were times when I felt the focus was more on Sloane’s family rather than her and Joseph, so that took me out of the story a bit. While I liked this, there weren’t enough moments that stood out, but I’d still recommend it if you’re looking for quick to pass the time.

Rating: 3/5

Comments

  1. I really liked the movie Leap Year so I may have to give Lucky Leap Day a try. Thanks for the review!

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