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Hello, all!
The Ex Vows- Jessica Joyce: There's nothing Georgia Woodward loves more than making a list, and with her best friend's wedding right around the corner, her number one priority is staying away from her ex, Eli Mora. That's easier said than done since Georgia and Eli are the best woman and man. Georgia has spent the years after their disastrous break-up trying to hide her feelings for Eli because the last thing she wants is to do anything that will jeopardize their tight-knit group of friends. But when the wedding venue burns down, leaving the bride and groom frantic, Georgia and Eli must work together to pull off a wedding miracle. At first, Georgia dreads the extra alone time spent with Eli, but she can't help but notice how different he is and how he feels more like the man she fell in love with all those years ago. Can Georgia put their past and her lists aside for the chance at something new?
I've realized that I love the second-chance romance trope, and this one was so fun. I related to Georgia and Eli in different ways, so it was easy for me to root for them. Their relationship felt natural and easy, and even when it was strained, you could tell there was so much love between them. Both had issues to work through and watching them work them out and come back to one another was so sweet. I also loved the family they had with their friend group. Joyce's writing is so breezy and fun to read that I flew through this in one sitting, and I'm excited to read whatever she comes out with next.
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| Pub Date: 1-7-25 Adult - Contemporary |
For One Night Only- Jessica James: Valerie Quinn has been a household name since she was a teenager. She and her friends skyrocketed to fame with their band Glitter Bats, and she's spent the last few years starring in a musical TV show. But when Valerie starts making headlines for all the wrong reasons, her show is left on the chopping block. She needs to drum up some good press, and she needs it fast. So, Valerie decides the best thing to do is reunite the band for one last concert. The only problem? Valerie must convince Caleb Sloane, the bassist, and her ex, to agree. Caleb and Valerie haven't seen or spoken to one another since the night their Vegas show broke them and the band up. But Caleb quickly realizes he still can't say no to Valerie, and so what if all their fans and the media think they're back together? This time, instead of hiding from the relationship rumors, the pair decide to play into it. But is it pretend if they both never stopped loving one another?
I love a good fake dating scenario, so I was excited to pick this up. I loved the idea of these two bandmates falling in love and then falling apart, only to come back together years later. But honestly, I didn't like Valerie as a main character, so I found it hard to root for her. She was so selfish and impulsive. She made decisions that impacted those around her without even asking for their input. Caleb and the rest of their bandmates were doing her a favor by coming back together, and I didn't love how she treated them. I warmed up to her by the end, but it felt a little too little too late. Caleb made this story for me. He was such a sweet cinnamon roll, and I just wanted to hug him. As for the plot itself, it was a fun time. There were parts of the writing I found a smidge unimaginative (I mean, the streaming network for Valerie's show being called The Network, and the band's label being called Label Records? Come on), but it was easy to fly through, and I ended up finishing it in one sitting. I'm not sure how memorable it'll be for me, but I'm interested enough to pick up whatever James comes out with next.
I love a good fake dating scenario, so I was excited to pick this up. I loved the idea of these two bandmates falling in love and then falling apart, only to come back together years later. But honestly, I didn't like Valerie as a main character, so I found it hard to root for her. She was so selfish and impulsive. She made decisions that impacted those around her without even asking for their input. Caleb and the rest of their bandmates were doing her a favor by coming back together, and I didn't love how she treated them. I warmed up to her by the end, but it felt a little too little too late. Caleb made this story for me. He was such a sweet cinnamon roll, and I just wanted to hug him. As for the plot itself, it was a fun time. There were parts of the writing I found a smidge unimaginative (I mean, the streaming network for Valerie's show being called The Network, and the band's label being called Label Records? Come on), but it was easy to fly through, and I ended up finishing it in one sitting. I'm not sure how memorable it'll be for me, but I'm interested enough to pick up whatever James comes out with next.
Rating: 3/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 10-31-17 Adult - Historical Romance |
A Daring Arrangement- Joanna Shupe: After being caught in a compromising position with the man she loves, Lady Honora Parker gets shipped off to stay with her family in New York. Before she left, her father told her to find a more suitable man for marriage, so Nora devises a plan. She'll find the most reprehensible man possible, leaving her father no choice but to reject the match and Nora free to marry the artist she truly desires. And Nora knows the perfect man for her scheme. Julius Hatcher is a wealthy financier with a rakish reputation, and he finds Nora's ploy enticing enough to agree. Nora is sure this will send her father into a tizzy, except instead of being the man whose exploits are all over the news sheets, Julius turns out to be the perfect fiancé. Instead of offending high society, he's charming them. Unbeknownst to Nora, Julius has an agenda, one he needs Nora's connections. Both went into this agreement for their own gain, but what happens when their ruse turns real?
Whenever I find myself in a reading slump, I pick up one of Shupe's books, and it all goes away. Her books are so fun, fast, and engaging. I always have a fun time reading them, and while this wasn't my favorite, I still enjoyed it. The premise was right up my alley (I will never say no to a fake courting scenario), but the execution was lacking. I thought Nora dumped her feelings for her previous beau too quickly for me to believe that she was ever in love with him in the first place. The romance between her and Julius was fine, but it was missing the sizzle I've come to expect from Shupe's pairings. Outside of the romantic aspect, I didn't care much for the plot and thought Julius's vendetta was boring. It had some cute moments, but it'll probably be the least memorable of Shupe's books for me.
Whenever I find myself in a reading slump, I pick up one of Shupe's books, and it all goes away. Her books are so fun, fast, and engaging. I always have a fun time reading them, and while this wasn't my favorite, I still enjoyed it. The premise was right up my alley (I will never say no to a fake courting scenario), but the execution was lacking. I thought Nora dumped her feelings for her previous beau too quickly for me to believe that she was ever in love with him in the first place. The romance between her and Julius was fine, but it was missing the sizzle I've come to expect from Shupe's pairings. Outside of the romantic aspect, I didn't care much for the plot and thought Julius's vendetta was boring. It had some cute moments, but it'll probably be the least memorable of Shupe's books for me.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 7-16-24 Adult - Contemporary |
The Ex Vows- Jessica Joyce: There's nothing Georgia Woodward loves more than making a list, and with her best friend's wedding right around the corner, her number one priority is staying away from her ex, Eli Mora. That's easier said than done since Georgia and Eli are the best woman and man. Georgia has spent the years after their disastrous break-up trying to hide her feelings for Eli because the last thing she wants is to do anything that will jeopardize their tight-knit group of friends. But when the wedding venue burns down, leaving the bride and groom frantic, Georgia and Eli must work together to pull off a wedding miracle. At first, Georgia dreads the extra alone time spent with Eli, but she can't help but notice how different he is and how he feels more like the man she fell in love with all those years ago. Can Georgia put their past and her lists aside for the chance at something new?
I've realized that I love the second-chance romance trope, and this one was so fun. I related to Georgia and Eli in different ways, so it was easy for me to root for them. Their relationship felt natural and easy, and even when it was strained, you could tell there was so much love between them. Both had issues to work through and watching them work them out and come back to one another was so sweet. I also loved the family they had with their friend group. Joyce's writing is so breezy and fun to read that I flew through this in one sitting, and I'm excited to read whatever she comes out with next.
Rating: 4/5
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