Category: Romance

Review: The Chief

April 11, 2016 Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Uncategorized 14 ★★★★★

Review: The ChiefTitle: The Chief (Highland Guard, #1)
Author: Monica McCarty
Links: Bookshop (affiliate link) |Goodreads
Rating:five-stars

Summary: This was just as good as the first book I read in the series and despite major similarities, felt like a fresh story.

For my Reluctant Romantic project in February, I read four romances and while I enjoyed them all more than I expected, my very favorite was The Recruit. This was book number six in the author’s Highland Guard series and I immediately wondered if I’d like the rest as well. I admit that I also had/have an image of romances as particularly formulaic, so I was especially curious if similarities between books by a given author would be great enough that they’d all feel the same. To find out, I picked up this first book in the series, The Chief. Read more »

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A Reluctant Romantic Review: Anything For You

February 27, 2016 Romance 8 ★★★

A Reluctant Romantic Review: Anything For YouTitle: Anything for You (Blue Heron, #5)
Author: Kristan Higgins
Links: Bookshop (affiliate link) |Goodreads
Rating:three-stars

Summary: This was a sweet story, but a little bland and unadventurous for my tastes.

After a secret, on-again-off-again relationship of 10 years, Connor O’Rourke finally gets up the courage to ask Jessica Dunn to marry him. When she turns him down, he’s stunned and refuses to keep seeing her. Although Jessica is heartbroken, she believes her past reputation and current responsibility for her younger brother make a normal relationship impossible. Fortunately, she and Connor may both have a difficult time moving on. Read more »

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Mistress Firebrand

March 18, 2015 Fiction, Historical Fiction, Review, Romance 6 ★★★★

Mistress FirebrandTitle: Mistress Firebrand
Author: Donna Thorland
Source: from publisher for review
Links: Bookshop (affiliate link) |Goodreads
Rating:four-stars

Summary: The romance and other plot elements were both enjoyable and complemented one another in a great way.

Jenny has always wanted to be famous for her plays, but had resigned herself to a background role until she has the opportunity to present her work to the playwright General John Burgoyne. British intelligence officer Severin Devere is concerned that Jenny will simply be a distraction for the womanizing general and during his efforts to control the situation is surprised to find himself falling for Jenny instead. Unfortunately, as Severin maintains his steadfast loyalty to the crown and Jenny begins to achieve fame writing propaganda for the rebels, they find themselves torn between their loyalties in the war and their loyalty to each other.
Read more »

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Books With Interesting Female Protagonists in Mini-Reviews

March 16, 2015 Fiction, Historical Fiction, Review, Romance, Thriller, Women's Fiction 8 ★★★

Books With Interesting Female Protagonists in Mini-ReviewsTitle: A Small Indiscretion
Author: Jan Ellison
Links: Bookshop (affiliate link) |Goodreads
Rating:three-stars

The main character of A Small Indiscretion is interesting in that she’s unlikeable, which seems to be the buzzword for female characters these days. Unfortunately, while I do want to see a diversity of both male and female characters, I don’t care if they’re unlikeable or not. What I want is for them to be understandable. Unlike Grace in Unbecoming, Annie has no explanatory backstory or clear motives driving her actions. This made her decisions, especially the ones I disagreed with or found stupid or selfish, hard to put up with. This book’s saving grace was that it did make me curious. As much as I wanted to shake Annie and ask her what she thought she was doing, I wanted to find out her whole story even more. It wasn’t my favorite read though and if you’re looking for an unlikeable or just different female protagonist, I think there are better books you could start with.

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Season of Storms

September 8, 2014 Fiction, Gothic, Magical Realism, Review, Romance, Women's Fiction 8 ★★★★★

Season of StormsTitle: Season of Storms
Author: Susanna Kearsley
Source: from publisher for review
Links: Bookshop (affiliate link) |Goodreads
Rating:five-stars

Summary: A beautiful, atmospheric book with great characters, full of exciting romance and adventure.

Galeazzo D’Ascanio last play is known as his most brilliant, but it’s never been performed. Each attempt has been plagued by disaster, starting in the early 1900’s with the first performance when D’Ascanio’s muse and lover, Celia Sands, disappeared the night before she was to play the leading role. Decades later, a young actress named after Celia Sands is asked to take on the same role in the play being stated by D’Ascanio’s grandson. Both the mystery of the play and D’Ascanio’s handsome grandson intrigue Celia, but the relics of the play’s history may prove more dangerous than they first appear.
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Cancel the Wedding

August 20, 2014 Fiction, Review, Romance 13 ★★★★

Cancel the WeddingTitle: Cancel the Wedding
Author: Carolyn T. Dingman
Source: TLC Book Tours
Links: Bookshop (affiliate link) |Goodreads
Rating:four-stars

Summary: Despite having a very average plot and sometimes frustrating main character, the quirky characters the authors created made this an enjoyable read.

Olivia has known for a long time that she doesn’t enjoy her “dream job” and she isn’t passionately in love with her fiance. She doesn’t have the courage to admit this to herself until she makes a trip to her deceased mother’s hometown to honor her last wish by scattering her ashes there. Once she starts to get to know people and learns more about her mother, she slowly realizes that she may not want to go home.
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Silver Bay

May 28, 2014 Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction 17

19802590Title: Silver Bay
Author: Jojo Moyes
Source: from publisher via Netgalley
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review Summary: After reading this book and The Girl You Left Behind, I feel like I can count on Moyes to deliver a story with a tough moral dilemma, intriguing secrets, unique characters, and an emotionally moving plot – everything I hoped for in this book!

Although Liza and her daughter Hannah will always be haunted by their past, they’re happy with their life in Silver Bay. Liza loves the hotel where she lives with her sister, the freedom of the sea, the acceptance of her community, and her lack of romantic entanglements. All of these things are threatened by the arrival of the handsome Mike Dormer. Mike arrives expecting to make a quick visit to start the process of building a resort and move on. Instead he finds himself deeply involved with the inhabitants of Silver Bay, leading him to question his commitment to his business-focused life. Read more »

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The Orphans of Race Point

May 21, 2014 Fiction, Literary, Romance, Thriller 22

The Orphans of Race PointTitle: The Orphans of Race Point
Author: Patry Francis
Source: from publisher for TLC book tour
Rating: ★★★★★
Review Summary: Although I found the way some characters’ stories played out a bit disappointing, this book was so poignant and emotionally moving that I was swept away by it anyway.

From the moment Gus Silva’s mother dies, Hallie Costa feels strangely connected to him. Although he refuses to speak for months after, it’s Hallie who finally helps him start to return to normalcy. When a terrible tragedy befalls them at their senior prom, Hallie is willing to stay by Gus’s side. And when years later Gus is accused of murder, Hallie wants more than anything to believe he didn’t do it. However, it will take Milla, the daughter of a woman Gus was counseling, to help Gus escape the shadow of his past. Read more »

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One Hundred Names Review and Giveaway

May 8, 2014 Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction 12

15732712Title: One Hundred Names
Author: Cecelia Ahern
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review Summary: This book has Cecelia Ahern’s signature charm, transforming ordinary life into something  beautiful.

Things are not going well for Kitty Logan. The story that was supposed to make her career has turned into a scandal and her beloved mentor is dying. When her friend passes away, she leaves Kitty with a mission: to write the story she always wanted to write. Unfortunately, all Kitty has to go on is a list of one hundred names. She’s on a tight deadline and isn’t sure she’ll even be able to find the right people, much less meet all of them and find out what connects them. Solving this puzzle for her mentor is a challenge, but one which might just help Kitty solve some problems of her own. Read more »

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The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

April 30, 2014 Literary, Romance 27

18293427Title: The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Source: from publisher for She Reads Book Club
Rating: ★★★★★
Summary: I am on a roll with wonderful books that make me cry. This book was beautifully written with well-rounded, believable character and a very enjoyable focus on books.

A. J. Fikry, owner of Island Books, has become something of a loner. After his wife’s death, his bookstore is doing poorly and he’s doing his best to push away help from friends and family. However, as A. J. deals with a mysterious package which appears in his store, he slowly realizes that he needs help. Beginning to reach out to others, he begins to change his life and the lives of those around him for the better. Read more »

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