REVIEW: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

OUR REVIEW:

Just like all of the other Abby Jimenez novels I've read, I zoomed through this one; she has a knack for creating characters and scenarios that pull you in and make you care about their plights. In the case of Just for the Summer, Justin and Emma find each other via a funny story on Reddit and end up connecting through their similar dating stories. What starts out as a one off DM turns into several DMs that then turn into conversations and a suggestion that they try to break the dating curse they both seem to be under. Without a doubt, it's obvious that they're meant to be together and while I think Justin realizes that from the beginning, it takes Emma quite a bit of time to work through her denial. To say she has trust issues is probably the biggest understatement anyone could make, but it's accurate and understandable, as you get to know her story. 

Justin is created to be adored, in my opinion. He's considerate and fun and loving and attentive and really all the things anyone could ask for in a boyfriend. And while Emma is empathetic and caring and up for anything, her inability to let anyone in makes her mildly infuriating. Don't get me wrong, I understand why she does what she does but it's hard to see her denying what's right in front of her. 

These two characters have it anything but easy and yet they persevere and persist and you can't help but root for them the entire time. You know, absolutely know, that their love story is going to hurt before it's all said and done and yet you can't look away from it. You have to know how it's going to implode and how they'll make it back together. 

I really enjoyed their story, and all of the baggage and weight that they carry (Abby Jimenez is nothing if not consistent when it comes to giving her characters something to grapple with), their ability to work through it, and of course the connections that Justin and Emma have with all of the previous books. Funny and sad and infuriating and loveable--you're going to enjoy these two and their HEA.

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SYNOPSIS:

A sharp and scintillating summer novel that will make readers laugh out loud and cry happy tears from the New York Times bestselling author of Yours Truly.

Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work. 

Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected--including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

 

REVIEW: The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score

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OUR REVIEW:

By the time this review posts, it'll be wayyyyy beyond the Christmas season; the beauty of this novel, however, is that it doesn't need to be Christmas for you to enjoy it. The story of Cat and Noah is a tale as old as time--mortal enemies (because they don't really know anything about each other) who will eventually find out that they're both as good as people think they are. They'll begrudgingly give the other the trust and accolades that they deserve and as they get to know each other, love will soon follow. 

The Christmas Fix was a fun one. Cat is the hot, hardworking renovation reality tv star with a heart of gold (hiding behind her snark) and Noah is the hot, hardworking city manager also with a heart of gold (hiding behind his trust and control issues). Together they'll make you laugh and feel good at their happily ever after.

Fun, quick read. 

SYNOPIS:

She’ll save Christmas just to spite him…

There’s only one thing standing in the way of Cat King saving a small town’s Christmas festival: Grumpy town manager Noah Yates.

Single dad Noah takes his responsibilities seriously. When a late season hurricane turns Merry, Connecticut, into a disaster, he’s left scrambling to pick up the pieces of the town he loves.

At least, until home renovation expert and smoking hot reality TV star Catalina King arrives with a camera crew and a budget big enough to put the town back together again. But Noah doesn’t want a celebrity diva capitalizing on their tragedy or filling his daughter’s head with visions of glitz and glam.

Blonde bombshell Cat is used to being underestimated, but Noah has an uncanny knack for getting under her skin. They can’t be in a room together without rubbing each other the wrong way…except that time in the dark alley where the rubbing was just right. Can these enemies work together to pull off a Christmas miracle or will their fighting leave them both on the naughty list?

Author’s Note: These enemies-to-lovers deliver the holiday feels with a dirty-talking hero, ballsy blonde who never backs down, steamy hot break-the-dining-room-table sexy times, and a small town that still believes in the magic of Christmas.
 

The Worst Best Man by Lucy Score

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OUR REVIEW:

The reason why some reviewers didn't always love The Worst Best Man is exactly why I enjoyed it so much. It's way over the top, shallow fun. It features a poor-ish college student, Frankie, and a kazillionaire, Aiden, who are instantly attracted to each other but want nothing to do with the other. Their best friends' wedding is what throws them together and the shenanigans began. They snark and snipe and poke at each other, as well as laugh and enjoy the other's company. Of course they shouldn't work, and of course, they do. I love how they fall for each other, they support and protect each other, and how the overcome things to end up together.

All in all, a light, fun read. 

SYNOPSIS:

The bride is a doll. The groom is the perfect gentleman. But the rest of the wedding party? They're the stuff of nightmares. Rich? Check. Vapid? Double Check. Entitled? Not enough checks in the world. And the Best Man? More like the Worst Man.

But Maid of Honor Franchesca takes her duties seriously. Kidnapped groom? She's got this. Rude attendees? You just watch her handle them. So a Best Man with a big attitude and an even bigger...checkbook? Yeah, there's no way she's going to let that pretentious, judgmental jackhole ruin her best friend's wedding. No matter how sexy he is. (Well, that's the plan anyway...)

Aiden Kilbourn doesn't do long-term relationships. He's busy ruling the business world, and has yet to find a woman he can tolerate for longer than a month, two at the outside, anyway. Conquering the unconquerable is basically his bread and butter. And he hasn't met a challenge that he can't win. But Franchesca Baranski? This smart-mouthed girl from Brooklyn may just be his downfall.

 

REVIEW: The Social Graces by Renee Rosen

OUR REVIEW:

The Social Graces has been sitting on my kindle for a while and I'm glad I finally picked it up. This novel takes the real lives of the Vanderbilts and the Astors and fictionalizes aspects of their lives, while staying fairly true to many of the facts. I found myself stopping to google images and places because the way Rosen wrote their stories made me completely fascinated and dying to know more. 

I really appreciated how she made Alva and Caroline interesting and flawed and lovable--you couldn't help but root for both of them, even as you questioned some of their choices. I also enjoyed that she wrote about a large span of their lives, which made the novel feel very satisfying when you got to the end--it felt complete.

Interesting, historical read. 

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SYNOPSIS:

Named one of 2021’s Most Anticipated Historical Novels by Oprah Daily ∙ SheReads ∙ Frolic ∙ BookReporter ∙ and more...

The author of Park Avenue Summer throws back the curtain on one of the most remarkable feuds in history: Alva Vanderbilt and the Mrs. Astor's notorious battle for control of New York society during the Gilded Age.

1876. In the glittering world of Manhattan's upper crust, women are valued by their pedigree, dowry, and, most importantly, connections. They have few rights and even less independence—what they do have is society. The more celebrated the hostess, the more powerful the woman. And none is more powerful than Caroline Astor—the Mrs. Astor.

But times are changing.

Alva Vanderbilt has recently married into one of America's richest families. But what good is dizzying wealth when society refuses to acknowledge you? Alva, who knows what it is to have nothing, will do whatever it takes to have everything.

Sweeping three decades and based on true events, this is the mesmerizing story of two fascinating, complicated women going head to head, behaving badly, and discovering what’s truly at stake.
 

REVIEW: Avenging Angel by Kristen Ashley

OUR REVIEW:

Coincidentally, I just finished a reread of the entire Rock Chick Series and had no idea that Avenging Angel would happen to come out when I finished aaaaand be Rock Chick adjacent! NO IDEA. How I got so lucky, who knows but dang I hit the jackpot in my reading schedule. 

I loved Avenging Angel; it had all the things I love about the RCHB nation: hilarity, the best secondary characters, and the warmth and love that comes in all of Kristen Ashley's novels. In this first book in the new series, we get to watch Cap (aka Sniff) find his match in Rachel ("Raye"). He's opening the new Nightengale offices in Phoenix and she's a waitress in a funky coffee shop/cocktail/restaurant by day and a part time avenger at night. They "meet" when they both end up trying to bust a criminal at the same place/same time and are then inseparable. 

The narrative is told through Raye's eyes and her inner monologue is as goofy and endearing as all of the other RCs. And Cap is an evolved macho man--definitely has the sensibilities of one of the Hot Bunch but less caveman about it. They're both loveable, as are their friends, and I am DYING for the rest of the series. I can't wait to get to know them all (and how they see the RCHB, since they definitely make their appearances).

Great read! 

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SYNOPSIS:

Rachel Armstrong has a burning need to right the world’s wrongs. Thus, she becomes the Avenging Angel.

And maybe she’s a bit too cocky about it.

While riding a hunch about the identity of a kidnapper, she runs into Julien “Cap” Jackson, who was trained by the team at Nightingale Investigations in Denver. Now he’s a full-fledged member at their newly opened Phoenix branch.

It takes Cap a beat to realize Raye’s the woman for him. It takes Raye a little longer (but just a little) to figure out how she feels about Cap.

As Raye introduces Cap to her crazy posse of found family and his new home in the Valley of the Sun, Cap struggles with his protective streak. Because Raye has no intention to stop doing what she can to save the world.

But there’s a mysterious entity out there who has discovered what Raye is up to, and they’ve become very interested.

Not to mention, women are going missing in Phoenix, and it seems like the police aren’t taking it seriously.

Raye believes someone should.

So she recruits her best friend Luna, and between making coffees, mixing cocktails, planning parties and enduring family interventions (along with reunions), the Avenging Angels unite to ride to the rescue.