Review: Pride and Puppies

I’ve gotten away from reading “true” romances these days. You know the ones, where the entire plot is based around two characters who will end up together at the end of the story without much else happening. I make an exception for Lizzie Shane, however. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying her Pine Hollow series and the latest, Pride and Puppies, was no exception. It was so delightful!

Here’s the book’s description:

Dr. Charlotte Rodriguez is single—again—and she blames Jane Austen. She made brooding, aloof men sound oh so dreamy. But after years of failing to find her own Mr. Darcy, Charlotte decides it’s time to swear off dating. She’s going to lavish all her love and affection on someone who actually deserves it: her new puppy, Bingley.
And there’s no one better to give her pet advice than her neighbor and coworker George Leneghan. He’s quiet and patient and, best of all, way too sweet to ever be her type. But as their friendly banter turns flirty, the unimaginable happens—Charlotte starts catching feelings.
Just as Charlotte is trying to untangle what it is she truly wants, George announces he’s contemplating a cross-country move. Suddenly, Charlotte wonders if she’s kept her soulmate in the friend zone so long that she’s entirely missed her chance at a happily ever after. Dear Reader, could it be possible she’s had it wrong all this time?

First things first, this is not a Pride and Prejudice retelling. It is, however, an homage to Jane Austen, an author who is clearly close to Lizzie Shane’s heart. Charlotte and her sisters were all named after Austen characters - and yes, Charlotte can’t believe she’s named after heroine Elizabeth Bennet’s best friend who marries the horrid Mr. Collins - because their mother had loved the author. So, once you know that you’re not expecting Mr. Darcy to stride across the moors, you can buckle in for a sweet and fun romance that has lovely Austen touches.

I love a good friends to lovers trope but it’s always hard when it’s clear one of the characters has romantic feelings from the start and the other is an oblivious idiot. That was the case with this book as George most definitely wanted to date Charlotte as soon as he met her but Charlotte just didn’t see him as someone for her. Surprise, surprise, she had some work to do on herself and her self-esteem. A bit of a tired trope? Perhaps. But it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of this book one bit.

Part of the appeal of these books is the small town they’re set in, Pine Hollow. It’s the quintessential small town setting and so lovely. I’d move there in a heartbeat. The neighbours all look out for each other, there are great shops and restaurants to enjoy, and they have lots of nature in their backyard. What’s not to love? (Why, yes, I am a small town girl at heart.)

You don’t have to read all the books in Lizzie Shane’s Pine Hollow series but I think you should. Pride and Puppies was such a lovely romance and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series. What kind of doggos will we get to meet next?!?

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.* 

Review: You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince

As soon as I heard the title of Timothy Janovsky’s latest novel, I was intrigued. How could I not be with a title like You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince? It just screams, “Pick me up and read me!” I didn’t know it was also telling me I was going to love it but that’s what happened. This might be my favourite Christmas read of the season!

Here’s the book’s description:

Bring a little joy to the world?
Not today, Santa.
Matthew Prince is young, rich, and thoroughly spoiled. So what if his parents barely remember he exists and the press is totally obsessed with him? He’s on top of the world. But one major PR misstep later, and Matthew is cut off and shipped away to spend the holidays in his grandparents’ charming small town hellscape. Population: who cares?
It’s bad enough he’s stuck in some festive winter wonderland—it’s even worse that he has to share space with Hector Martinez, an obnoxiously attractive local who’s unimpressed with anything and everything Matthew does.
Just when it looks like the holiday season is bringing nothing but heated squabbles, the charity gala loses its coordinator and Matthew steps in as a saintly act to get home early on good behavior…with Hector as his maddening plus-one. But even a Grinch can’t resist the unexpected joy of found family, and in the end, the forced proximity and infectious holiday cheer might be enough to make a lonely Prince’s heart grow three sizes this year.

Enemies to lovers romances are really tough for me but I keep giving them a try because everyone once and awhile a rom com like this comes along and I remember how excellent that trope can be. Neither character really dislikes the other, it’s the circumstances that have them all twisted up and once they move past that, well, then sparks can fly! And fly they did. *fans self*

I’m not going to be the first to compare this read to Schitt’s Creek and I likely won’t be the last, but I’ll do it anyway. If you loved that show, you’ll really enjoy this book. Matthew had so many David moments which resulted in a lot of cringing and laughing. Hector isn’t quite like Patrick but he’s a perfect match for Matthew. It’s not just the two main characters who gave off Schitt’s Creek vibes but the whole town. The name of the town has totally flown out of my head, naturally. It’s a more thriving town than Schitt’s Creek is with a successful college and there’s no motel, just a B&B that was all booked up – no room at the inn! But there’s a coffee shop with the best barista in town (and an all-around stand-up woman) and there’s a mix of wacky and loveable everywhere you look. Schitt’s Creek with a dash of Stars Hollow, perhaps.

Matthew and Hector are both quite young, so they act like you’d expect of young men – focused on the immediate needs and wants and not fully being able to see the big picture. Some may think the romance was a bit insta-lovey but I didn’t find that to bother me. It’s a Christmas rom com. What else would I have expected? It was because of their youthfulness, I think, that the third act break up played out the way it did. Personally, I was pissed at how it turned out and I was Very Angry at a certain character (neither Matthew nor Hector). I was reading a romance so I knew it would all work out in the end, but I found myself wondering how on earth things would get patched up. I was rewarded with a really lovely Happily Ever After, which pleased me greatly!

The Christmas aspect of this novel was present without being overwhelming and I had no problem with this story billing itself as a Christmas rom com. There’s a lot of festive spirit including a Christmas tree farm visit and an outdoor light festival. There was also an emphasis on the importance of family, whether that’s blood family or chosen family and that was a really nice touch too. Matthew already had a big heart, just one that he hid, but I’m sure it grew three sizes over the course of the novel. (OK, I just re-read the book's description and it makes the same Grinch reference so just pretend I made it first, alright?)

I really very much enjoyed You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince and think others will have a lot of fun with Timothy Janovsky’s novel as well. It was full of laughs, heart, and Christmas spirit and I definitely recommend it!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.* 

Review: The Next Worst Thing

I used to read romances of all shapes and sizes all the time. I’ve been balancing my romance reads with more mysteries as well as my beloved historical fiction and, these days, I tend to read more rom coms than romances. And I think there’s a reason. I’m finding it harder to connect with the love interests in such sweet stories. The Next Worst Thing was one of those chaste romances and I just couldn’t get invested in Sara Jane Woodley’s latest novel. I wanted to enjoy it, obviously I really did. But it ultimately let me down and I’ll probably forget all about it as soon as I hit publish on this post. Was it the worst thing? No, not really. (Unlike that pun!) It just wasn’t a book for me.

Here’s the book’s description:

I’m just trying to get through this week alive.
I didn’t ask to organize this wedding. And I certainly didn’t ask for the world’s worst best man as an assistant.
But my brother is marrying the love of his life, and I’ll stop at nothing to give him a perfect wedding day–and get our family’s Inn some much-needed publicity in the process.
Which means playing nice with James Weston.
My brother’s best friend and I have been feuding for as long as I can remember. We don’t like each other, plain and simple.
Or is it?
Is it possible that James isn’t the monster I’ve always thought him to be? And why does he keep showing up to save me right when I need him? (Not that I’d EVER admit it).
Falling for James is not on my carefully color-coordinated agenda.
Too bad nothing seems to go according to plan when James Weston is around…

Audiobooks always take me a little bit longer to read, especially these days when I don’t have time for long walks or working on puzzles or crafts (even though I need to go for walks and have an abundance of puzzles and crafts to do!) and my commute is only about 20 minutes. Long enough to listen, for sure, but not quite long enough to get totally stuck into a story. But. I can make time to listen and when I don’t? I know that’s probably the book’s fault. It took me so long to get through The Next Worst Thing because I just wasn’t excited about getting back to it.

There was a lot about this book I should have liked. Brother’s best friend with a hint of teenage crush (even if they didn’t realize at the time that they were totally into each other)? Small town? Event planner heroine? Swoony, English-accented hero? All things I love. And yet…I struggled hard with this story. I don’t think I particularly loved Ivy – she seemed so self-deprecating for no reason and no one likes when a strong, independent lady doesn’t realize that she’s a bad ass. She had a loving family in her brother and grandparents and none of them thought she was less-than for being a woman (though it would have been great if her grandparents had listened to her or she had tried harder to tell them how she felt about the inn). She had a fabulous BFF in Daisy. So, what, she was clumsy? I’m clumsy. You know how many doors and walls I walk into? I don’t let that embarrass me. I laugh, confirm to colleagues that, yes, I DID just shoulder check a doorframe, and move on.

The other issue was all the “miscommunication” that ran rampant in the story. Yes. I used quotes. There wasn't any real miscommunication. If people had just freaking TALKED to each other there would have been zero drama. So, I couldn’t get behind any of the issues that popped up. It made the characters all seem so young and immature.

Speaking of young and immature. I have absolutely no idea how old the characters were supposed to be. There were mentions of ages and how long ago they had been in high school but none of it really added up. Should that have mattered? No. Was I already annoyed so any little thing bothered me? Um. Yes.

As I mentioned, I listened to this one on audiobook and I really liked that there were two narrators. It helped me get a bit more invested in the story than I think I would have otherwise. Justis Bolding and Oliver Hunt did a great job bringing Ivy and James to life (even if I found them two-dimensional). Hunt had a delightful accent which also helped! His female dialogue voice was…a tad irritating at times but I’ve for sure heard worse. And Bolding was able to pull off an English accent when she was voicing James. I’d be happy to listen to more audiobooks by either narrator.

Obviously, The Next Worst Thing was not a winner for me. The basic romance and the miscommunication between pretty much every single character was just too much for me to be able to fall in love with Sara Jane Woodley’s novel. It is the first in a series and I will say that I’m ever so slightly intrigued to find out what happens next with the characters in Mirror Valley so it wasn’t a total write off. Maybe I’d like the next romance more?

*An ALC was provided by the publisher, Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Small Town, Big Magic

It’s almost Spooky Season which, for me, means cursing the cooler weather (I’m sure I’m a Fall Girl at heart but I hate hate hate saying goodbye to warm weather and knowing snow is coming!), drinking pumpkin beer, and reading witchy books. I don’t particularly love Halloween (other than the tiny chocolate bars) and scary stuff is so not my jam. But novels featuring witches? Especially with a dash of romance? Oh yes. I’m into that. So, I was really interested in Hazel Beck’s novel Small Town, Big Magic which is the start of a new, contemporary magical series. It wasn't the best but it actually was fun to read!

Here's the book’s description:

Witches aren't real. Right?
No one has civic pride quite like Emerson Wilde. As a local indie bookstore owner and youngest-ever Chamber of Commerce president, she’d do anything for her hometown of St. Cyprian, Missouri. After all, Midwest is best! She may be descended from a witch who was hanged in 1692 during the Salem Witch Trials, but there’s no sorcery in doing your best for the town you love.
Or is there?
As she preps Main Street for an annual festival, Emerson notices strange things happening around St. Cyprian. Strange things that culminate in a showdown with her lifelong arch-rival, Mayor Skip Simon. He seems to have sent impossible, paranormal creatures after her. Creatures that Emerson dispatches with ease, though she has no idea how she’s done it. Is Skip Simon…a witch? Is Emerson?
It turns out witches are real, and Emerson is one of them. She failed a coming-of-age test at age eighteen—the only test she’s ever failed!—and now, as an adult, her powers have come roaring back.
But she has little time to explore those powers, or her blossoming relationship with her childhood friend, cranky-yet-gorgeous local farmer Jacob North: an ancient evil has awakened in St. Cyprian, and it’s up to Emerson and her friends—maybe even Emerson herself—to save everything she loves.

Emerson was…interesting. Truthfully? She drove me bonkers. But…I still cared about what she was up to? I think I just struggle with people who think they know best and try to manage everyone in their circle. I think what helped me enjoy reading about Emerson was that she wasn’t doing anything because she was cruel. She just figured she knew what was best. And I can’t imagine it would have been easy to find out that everything you thought was true was…not.

I also wasn’t totally sold on the romance in this one. Friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes so you’d think I’d be All In when it came to Emerson and Jacob. But the fact that he was grumpy for no apparent reason (turns out there was a reason) and the whole magic amnesia thing…something didn’t quite work for me. Was I still rooting for them? Duh. I love me a Happily Ever After (or, in this case, a Happy For Now). But the tension just wasn’t quite…right.

I always enjoy seeing how different authors approach magic and what rules they put in place in their worlds. I also always appreciate a nod to the history of witches and Salem and so on. (Maybe that’s the historical fiction lover in me!) I liked that there were different types of witches in Beck’s world and they had different types of powers and they were stronger together with one of each type of witch.

In all honesty, looking back at Small Town, Big Magic has me wondering what, exactly, kept me turning the pages and why I’m looking forward to the second book. I think I enjoyed the broad strokes of the story – the why of the cursed town and what will happen – more than the narrow specifics – the personalities of the characters and so on. I will definitely read the next book in the series but it will be one I’ll borrow from my local library.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: As Seen On TV

I was so so so SO excited when I learned Meredith Schorr would be publishing a new book and with Forever, no less, one of my favourite publishers. I’ve known Meredith for years and have loved her work so to have her traditionally published rom com, As Seen on TV, in my hot little hands was a thrill. And it was such a enjoyable read, too!

Here's the book’s description:

Emerging journalist Adina Gellar is done with dating in New York City. If she’s learned anything from made-for-TV romance movies, it’s that she’ll find love in a small town—the kind with harvest festivals, delightful but quirky characters, and scores of delectable single dudes. So when a big-city real estate magnate targets tiny Pleasant Hollow for development, Adi knows she’s found the perfect story—one that will earn her a position at a coveted online magazine, so she can finally start adulting for real . . . and maybe even find her dream man in the process.
Only Pleasant Hollow isn’t exactly “pleasant.” There’s no charming bakery, no quaint seasonal festivals, and the residents are more ambivalent than welcoming. The only upside is Finn Adams, who’s more mouthwatering than the homemade cherry pie Adi can’t seem to find—even if he does work for the company she’d hoped to bring down. Suddenly Adi has to wonder if maybe TV got it all wrong after all. But will following her heart mean losing her chance to break into the big time?

OK – tough things out of the way first. I have to say that I wanted to love this one more than I did. Does it mean it was bad? NO. It just means my expectations were SKY HIGH. It was tough to swallow when Adi drove me nuts with her incredibly naïve views on small towns, as I grew up in a small-ish town. That said…I did really like that the story was a twist on the Hallmark movies we’ve all watched. The small town isn’t always the place to find a Happily Ever After!

There was a bit of a nostalgic feel to this book, even though it’s very much a contemporary set rom com with a young heroine. It felt like the rom coms of many years ago, you know the classic ones that we all rewatch over and over again. There was a lot of heart and a lot of cringeworthy moments with laughs along the way and all wrapped up with a Happily Ever After bow. It was delightful.

Schorr created an amazing cast of characters with this book. Even with Adi’s questionable thoughts about small towns and how to be a journalist (my partner is a reporter so I’ve had a front row seat on the profession for a long time), I still loved her. I wanted to hang out with her and really get to know her better, which is something I always look for in my rom coms. And Finn!? Yes, please. I shouldn’t be surprised that Schorr wrote such a fabulous hero because the love interest in her self-published Blogger Girl series is just as wonderful. Adi’s best friend, Kate, and Adi’s mom were amazing side characters and I loved how strong all the relationships were between the women. So good.

Meredith Schorr’s new novel is perfect for fans who love old school rom coms. As Seen on TV is full of love and laughs and will leave romance readers feeling satisfied.

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.* 

Review: The Christmas Village

After Christmas 2020 I told myself I would do Much Better when it came to reviewing Christmas 2021 books. I would be on top of it and get the reviews up in a timely manner. Reader, that did not happen. No, I simply couldn’t keep up with full time work and full time school and reading and reviewing All of the Books. So, here we are, over a month after the Big Day and I am still reviewing Christmas romances. Woohoo! The Christmas Village by Annie Rains was a sweet romance read that was, unfortunately, completely forgettable. Seriously. I couldn’t remember a thing about it when I sat down to write this review. *cringes*

Here’s the book’s description (which did, thankfully, remind me what the book was about):

Lucy Hannigan has inherited her mother's bulldog, Bella, and her childhood home, the only pink house on Gingerbread Lane. With the holidays coming up, the pressure is on to decorate the house for the annual lights competition and maintain her parent's winning streak. But Lucy already has her hands full as a midwife and a new landlord-to her ex-fiance.
When Miles Bruno is suddenly asked to move out of his rental home, he's grateful to Lucy for taking him on as a tenant. But their broken-off engagement doesn't make it easy to live next door. Sparks still fly between them, and he'd give anything to get back in Lucy's good graces. But to do that will take much more than just tree trimming and house decorating and contest winning. Will one wildly grand romantic gesture on Christmas Eve finally soften her heart?

Once again, the small town + second chance got me. With a bonus Christmas storyline! How could I turn it down? I didn’t and maybe I should have. I’m finding I’m totally over the whole “we were so in love but were torn apart by Circumstances and now we’ve been thrown back together and we remember why we were in love and we’ll live happily ever after” storylines when they were So In Love when they were, like, children (or, you know, eighteen). I love romances. I love the predictability and warmth and loveliness of the stories. I don’t love when I don’t care one iota for either of the leads and have a hard time understanding why they broke up in the first place. And don’t seem to actually work through the “issue” in the end anyway. That’s what happened with Lucy and *checks description again* ah yes, Miles. The reason they broke up was valid enough but there was SO much happening with it that just got brushed aside when they really should have had more conversations about it. It blew my mind a little, to be honest. You can’t just start over, friends!

I also admit I wasn’t expecting such a chaste storyline. I’m fine with all sorts of steam levels but considering what had happened in the couple’s past, I kind of expected more than just handholding (I think there were kisses too but please see: “Kaley doesn’t remember anything about this book” as discussed above). And, for some reason, it irked me a lot and my poor little romance reading mind was a bit boggled.

Now, the Christmas element was lovely. There’s Christmas in the title and there’s Christmas in the story. Most notably, the light decorating competition. I LOVE Christmas lights so it was really fun to read as the pair decorated the house. Christmas spirit was also found in the storyline about family and how sometimes your found family is just as important as your blood relatives.

So…no. I didn’t like The Christmas Village. I’m sure there are fans of Annie Rains out there and I do really wish I had become one of them but I will never again think of this novel once I press publish on this post. I know you can’t win ‘em all but it really does make me sad!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Cover Reveal: Escaping Christmas

It shouldn't be a secret that I've loved Marie Landry's novels for a long time. They always make me so happy! So I'm really excited to share the cover for her upcoming novel, Escaping Christmas! Yes, she has another book coming out this year! Yay! 

Here's the book's description:

What happens when the so-called Queen of Christmas feels more like Scrooge? In actress Josslyn Hazelwood’s case, she decides to escape it all: the heartache and mess of her very public divorce, the press, and, most of all, the holidays and everything that comes with them. Spending a few weeks in the small town of Honeywell Hollow as “just Joss” is exactly what she needs.
Liam Doherty is happy to help Joss test her BFF’s theory that the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. Her no-strings-attached holiday fling soon becomes more entangled than a string of Christmas lights, and she finds herself not only caught up in a whirlwind romance with Liam, but also getting sucked into the festive fun of Honeywell.
Joss knows she’s falling for both Liam and Honeywell, but the ghost of Christmas Past is determined to visit this Scrooge after all. No matter how much she tries to escape her past and Christmas, she’s forced to confront them both before she can appreciate the gifts of Christmas Present.

It sounds like just the kind of magical and romantic Christmas tale I love.

Ready for the cover?

I AM IN LOVE. Just absolutely swooning over here.

Escaping Christmas is releasing on November 22 so get those preorders in. Especially because it will cost a little bit less for you if you do! The ebook is available for pre-order on Kindle (for just $2.99!), Kobo, Apple Books, and Nook. Paperbacks will be available during release week (if not sooner).

And for those who love to know just what you're getting into when it comes to you romances, here are your tropes: contemporary romance, holiday fling, Christmas romance, small town romance, celebrity romance, Canadian romance, steamy romance.

I cannot wait to dive into this one!

Review: Sweet as Pie

It's always a delight when the inside of a novel is as sweet as the cover. That was the case with Alicia Hunter Pace's latest novel, Sweet as Pie. The cover made me want to devour it and I was happy to find a romance story that was just as delectable. I really enjoyed it and am so excited that this is the first in a series - so I know there are more lovely novels to come!

Here's the book's description:

Evans Pemberton has always had a problem saying no. To her overbearing Mississippi Delta family, to her business mentor’s push to expand her thriving pie shop and to her lifelong crush, Jake Champagne. But Jake chose her beauty queen cousin three years ago and ghosted on their close friendship. When he comes to her small town in Alabama with a new pro hockey franchise, Evie fears she’ll lose her heart all over again. Of course, she'll forgive him like the good Southern woman she is, but anything more than that is off the table.
So why can’t she stop baking for him?
Jake is looking forward to a new team, a new town and a clean slate in Laurel Springs. After a disastrous year, the hockey hotshot is leaving his past behind—even betting his best friend that he can stay away from women. But he’s happy to reconnect with a piece of home when he visits Evie. Between slices of Mississippi mud pie and chicken potpie, he’s starting to remember all the good times they had and the man he always intended to be. Not to mention what a fool he was to let Evie get away…
How will they find a future together when she can’t say no and he can’t say yes? The path to true love isn’t quite easy as pie, but it sure is sweet in the end.

There are all sorts of my favourite tropes in this novel - small town, sports, and friends to lovers. Plus, there was a bakery! Yum! Though - can it really be a small town when an NHL franchise is playing there? I feel like there's some sort of contradiction happening but that's far too much analysis for this sweet little book.

Evie and Jake are both lovely but they have a lot of issues to work through. Jake is acting like an idiotic twentysomething year old divorced hockey player (I had to constantly remind myself that the pair were really young, I think 21 because they sometimes acted a lot older, even when they were being dumb) and Evie is a Yes Girl which causes all sorts of trouble. Even though I love friends to lovers, it's a tad bit harder when it's obvious that one of the friends has wanted to be lovers for a long, long time and the other is totally unobservant and had no idea (cough Jake cough). But the friendship base is still there and makes for a really great relationship.

After not reading a sports romance in a long while, I finished two this month! The Dating Playbook (review here) had a football player, whereas Sweet as Pie featured a hockey player. I know a lot more about hockey than football (I live in Canada and like sports so it's no surprise I've picked up a lot about the sport) which can help when reading a hockey romance. Of course, it's not really about the hockey so if you're an avid hockey fan, you'll likely find yourself wanting more. But, I liked the balance in this novel and enjoyed the hockey, baking, and small town romance vibes that all worked together. I don't really know how salaries work in the NHL but I know hockey players make a ton of money. That said, I don't know if Jake really made enough to be able to throw money around on all that he did. Maybe my frugal nature just couldn't help but judge his spendy ways! I'm glad that Evie made fun of his "bug car" because it drove me nuts too!

The next book in the Good Southern Women series will be Smooth as Silk and will release in February 2022. There was an excerpt in the back of Sweet as Pie that has me super excited to read Hyacinth and Robbie's story. And not just because I'm hopeful for a "trip" to Scotland in that book as Robbie is a hockey player from Scotland. It should be an absolute delight as well.

Sweet as Pie is just as sweet as you'd expect. Alicia Hunter Pace's novel doesn't lend itself well to picking it apart for a review, as I've realized, but I would definitely recommend this if you want a fun and cute story to get lost in for a little while.

*A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, in exchange for a post on Instagram. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Love Next Door

I'm always excited when a new Helena Hunting novel is released. The Canadian romance author has a knack for creating really enjoyable (and often steamy) reads that are lots of fun. Love Next Door is her latest, which just published at the end of July, and I was really looking forward to it. Ultimately, it was good but there was something about it that I felt was lacking.

Here's the book's description:

When Dillion Stitch left her hometown, she had no intention of going back. But when her brother gets into trouble, Dillion reluctantly agrees to return home to take her place at the family business.
Being back in Pearl Lake after all these years feels familiar, but also brings a few surprises. She’s quick to notice that someone new has shown up at the cottage next door. Dillion gets more than an eyeful when she goes to check out the newcomer and meets Donovan “Van” Firestone—her beloved neighbor’s grandson—in all his unclothed glory.
Having gotten off to a rocky start, it’s not long before they begin bickering with each other all over town. All that back and forth inevitably sparks an undeniable attraction. But Dillion’s family has issues, Van’s family resents him, and neither Dillion nor Van feels truly at ease in the small town. For these Pearl Lake exiles, home isn’t just where the heart is—it’s where things get complicated. 

Just like Dillion and Van got off to a rocky start, I think their story was rocky for me at the beginning. I thought Dillion was an idiot for wearing high heels while driving a moving van to a super small lakeside town. Does any woman really love high heels that much? It was like she had something to prove, like just because she was leaving the city didn't mean the city was leaving her. And who decided that high heels were a city thing? It did not endear me to her right away and it was really hard for her to win back my affection. And how on earth did they never spend time together when they were teens if Dillion was as important to Van's grandmother as we're led to believe? At the very least Van would know who Dillion was when he was emailing with her and wouldn't assume it was a dude. There were just too many boneheaded moves right at the start and it was hard to come back from that.

In addition, the issues with Dillion's brother seemed to come out of left field. I think it is extremely important to normalize discussions around mental health and getting the help one needs with no stigma but...the actual way this all came about? Left me scratching my head. It's really hard to explain but it was just like I couldn't believe that Dillion was the only one to pick up on the issues and I also didn't really think that she had. It was really strange.

All that being said, the relationship between Dillion and Van, once they realized that they were not mortal enemies, was super hot. Their (annoying) bickering at the start turned into something that was real and I was rooting for them. I knew they'd have to have a Happily Ever After (duh, this is a romance novel) but I really wasn't sure what that was going to look like. I was really happy with the way things all turned out. 

I also loved the setting. Technically this is set in a small town outside Chicago but during a recent Zoom chat with Hunting and my bookstagram friends, she mentioned that it was totally inspired by the small town in Muskoka (cottage country in Ontario - though some people will say there are other cottage locations in the province, I grew up just south of "true" Muskoka so it totally has my heart). It definitely made me want to drive north to find a cottage near my hometown (curse you, COVID!) but it was a testament to how talented Hunting is in setting the scene so you could really feel like you were there (and really wish that you were in front of a lake while reading it!)

I didn't love Love Next Door - I don't even know if I particularly liked it - but I'll still read Helena Hunting's next novels. Her stories are never the exact same and I like that she writes all sorts of different romances. This is the start of a new series and I think I'll still check out book two.

*A copy of this novel was provided by Thomas Allen & Son, the Canadian distributor, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Only for You

Barb Curtis published her debut novel, Forever with You, last year and I thought it was super cute so I was excited for the next book in the Sapphire Springs series. Only for You, just published today, featured a new couple in the small western New York town and I loved it.

Here's the book's description:

Will a fake relationship between two friends lead to true love?
After having his heart broken on national television, Tim Fraser knows only one way to stop the gossip about his love life-a new girlfriend. The problem is, he's done with romance forever. A fake relationship with his friend and Sapphire Spring's sweetest baker, Emily Holland, seems the perfect solution to getting rid of his newfound fame, but their fleeting fauxmance is stirring up the kinds of feelings Tim has sworn off for good.
Emily has secretly lusted after Tim for years, but pretending her feelings are all for show never factored into her fantasy. Still, her decades-long crush makes it impossible to say no to Tim's proposal. But with each date, the lines between pretend and reality blur, giving Tim and Emily a tantalizing taste of life outside the friend zone . . . if they can find the courage to give real love a chance. 

I liked Only for You so much more than the first book in the series. I think a lot of that had to do with the couple in this story. There was something about Emily and Tim that had me enjoying their love story more - even when it was driving me bananas! Both characters are big hearted and so kind. They have their differences, which makes things interesting, but their values are so similar. It was hard to see how Tim could be so blind to Emily's feelings for him.

Tim's obliviousness knocked off a few swoon points, to be honest, because he just couldn't see what was right in front of him. It was hard to understand some of his hangups and I'm glad Emily approached things the way she did near the end. I was Team Emily, as much as I adored Tim, and even though I knew he'd get his head on straight because, hello, this is a romance, I would have been right by Emily's side with her bestie Leyna (the heroine from the first novel), telling her she was better off without the knobhead and we'd find her someone else who was perfect for her. 

As I mentioned in my review of the first book, this story technically takes place in New York state but Curtis did her wine research with a winemaker in Niagara in Ontario, which is where I live. I can totally picture the town near that winery and it fits so well with the town of Sapphire Springs so I couldn't help but picture it again as I read this novel. I almost feel like pitching the Maple Magic Festival to the town because it sounded like SO much fun. 

I'm already looking forward to getting back to Sapphire Springs in whatever novel Curtis writes next. I think the story will feature Rob, Leyna's brother and friend to every character we've met so far. He's been through a nasty divorce but seems like such a wonderful guy so I hope we get to see his Happily Ever After too.

Only for You is such a sweet read that you'll have finished in no time. This story is perfect for those who like closed door romances and small towns that are a character all on their own. Barb Curtis' second novel thoroughly entertained me - so much so that I'm sad the story is over! Definitely consider picking this one up!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: A Lot Like Love

I really enjoyed Jennifer Snow's Wild River series, set in Alaska, so I was excited to see her publishing another small town romance series, this one in a much sunnier state on the West Coast. A Lot Like Love is the first in the Blue Moon Bay series, which is set in a small town in California. The town is super cute, the people are great, but, at the end of it all, the overall story didn't wow me. Was it bad? Definitely not! I just don't think it was as good as it could have been.

Here's the book's description:

They have different ideas about the fate of an old inn...until it brings them together.
When Sarah Lewis inherits a run-down B&B from her late grandmother in coastal Blue Moon Bay, the logical thing to do is sell it and focus on her life in L.A. But when she learns that interested buyers will only tear it down in its current state, she feels a sense of obligation to her grandmother to get it back to the landmark tourist destination it once was...even if that means hiring the best contractor for the job, who happens to be her old high school crush.
Wes Sharrun’s life has continued to unravel since the death of his wife three years before. Now with a struggling construction company and a nine-year-old daughter, he sees the B&B as an opportunity to get back on his feet. Unfortunately, despite trying to keep his distance, his daughter has taken a liking to Sarah, and his own feelings are tough to deny.
As they spend more time together painting, exploring a forgotten treasure trove of wine in a basement cellar, and arguing over balcony placement, the more the spark between them ignites. But will saving the B&B be enough to convince them both to take a second chance at love?

In a case of really unfortunate timing, I had recently read Mermaid Inn by Jenny Holiday (another Canadian romance author, like Snow). There were, at first glance, far too many similarities between the two and it took a little bit for me to shake it off. Really, it was a small town and a woman had been willed a B&B that she wasn't expecting from an elderly relative and was thrust together with a guy from her past. All the other little nuances were quite different, which I could see by the end of the story.

I found the character development to be a bit...lacking. Not too much with Sarah and Wes but the secondary characters did not stand out and I don't find myself wanting to get back to Blue Moon Bay immediately. Marissa, Wes' daughter, was the liveliest character in the whole story. I also struggled with a lot of the connections between them. Everyone seemed to have different memories of high school (don't ask me how long ago it was because there seemed to be conflicting timelines that I could not figure out) and I couldn't really understand, at times, why any of them interacted with the others. The whole Lia storyline seemed shoehorned in, even though the event was the catalyst for Sarah deciding what she wanted to do.

Despite all of the above, there were some great points to this romance. I loved that Sarah worked in the tech sector and that she could be a great role model for Marissa, who was obsessed with all things STEM. Wes was a great dad who wanted to support his daughter, even more so after his wife's death, but he's super old school and couldn't understand why his daughter would be into all that, even if he was trying. I appreciated that Sarah's final decision didn't really have anything to do with Wes (and Marissa). He played a part, for sure, but she knew what she needed to do from a career and personal (not romantic) perspective. 

All in all, A Lot Like Love was...fine. I have a strong feeling this could have been a case of right book, wrong time because I really enjoyed Jennifer Snow's other romances. If you're a sucker for small town romances, you might really enjoy this one.

*An egalley was provided by the publisher, Entangled, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Once Upon a Puppy

I really enjoyed Lizzie Shane's holiday romance that kicked off the Pine Hollow series. So, after enjoying The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, I was happy to pick up Once Upon a Puppy and revisit the town (and doggos) to see what had been happening since the holidays. It was a delightful romance and I already can't wait for the next book in the series!

Here's the book's description:

Opposites attract when a straitlaced lawyer and whimsical party planner must fake-date as co-parents of a rambunctious Irish wolfhound in the second book of this im-paw-ssibly charming small-town romance series.
Connor Wyeth has a plan for everything. But when he adopts Maximus, an unruly Irish wolfhound mix, he gets more than he bargained for. If he doesn't act fast, the big dopey mutt is going to destroy his house. The only person Max ever listens to is the volunteer who used to walk him at the shelter—a perennially upbeat woman whose day job is planning princess parties for little kids. Connor couldn't ever imagine that she'd be able to tame such a beast as Max, but he's desperate enough to try anything.
Deenie Mitchell isn't looking forward to spending more time with uptight, rules-oriented Connor—no matter how attractive he is. But when her sister announces her engagement, Deenie realizes he's the perfect person to impress her type-A family. When she learns he needs a plus-one for his law firm's work events, an unlikely alliance is formed. But as they play the perfect couple, the friendship—and the feelings—that are forming start to feel all too real. Opposites may attract, but can the man with a plan for everything and the misfit who makes her own rules ever find common ground?

I've recently started coming around to the enemies-to-lovers trope, but only if they're done in a certain way. I cannot understand it when the couple-to-be is fighting constantly and almost cruel to each other but a little bit of sniping and banter that turns into a romance? That I can handle. Especially when they don't really know each other to start and don't actually want to dislike the other person. With Connor and Deenie, their lives are so vastly different, they get on each other's nerves because they can't understand each other. But once they get to know each other and the why behind their lifestyles? Opinions change and sparks start to fly. And that's really enjoyable to read in a romance. Plus there was also a fake dating trope and I enjoy that one too. You know there are going to be issues but OF COURSE they're going to realize they should actually be dating each other. I love it!

Connor and Deenie were so great to read about. They were both wicked smart but showed it in different ways. They were also both hiding major parts of themselves and I loved reading as they were encouraged to really look at what they love and learn it's OK to feel certain things and want different things than maybe you'd always wanted. The feelings between the two seemed really genuine and watching them grow from annoyance to acceptance to friendship to romantic was lovely. 

It was really nice to see what was happening with the rest of the residents of Pine Hollow, too. Shane has created a really great little town and residents that I care about. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I think I know which couples are up next and both will provide lots of swoon and amusement!

Once Upon a Puppy was such a fun read and the romance is perfect if you want something that you know will put a smile on your face. Lizzie Shane has created such a great romance series and I'm really looking forward to book three already!

My review of The Twelve Dogs of Christmas is here if you missed it! 

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Blog Tour: New Girl in Little Cove

New Girl in Little Cove is an absolute delight. I know that I say that about a lot of books but it's been awhile since I've been left with a wide smile on my face when I finished the story because I was just so damn happy for the characters. Damhnait Monaghan's debut novel kept me entertained and I enjoyed myself so much while I read it.

Here's the book's description:

After the local French teacher scandalizes the fishing village of Little Cove, Newfoundland, by running off with a priest, the school looks to the mainland to fill the job quickly. They want someone who can uphold their Catholic values and keep a motley group of largely unwilling students in line.
The position is filled by mainlander Rachel O’Brien—technically a Catholic (baptized!), technically a teacher (honors degree!)—who’s desperate to leave her current mess of a life behind. She isn’t surprised that her students don’t see the value of learning French. But she is surprised that she can barely understand their English… Is it a compliment or insult to be called a sleeveen? (Insult.) And the anonymous notes left on her car, telling her to go home, certainly don’t help to make her feel welcome.
Still, she is quickly drawn into the island’s traditional music and culture, and into the personal lives of her crusty but softhearted landlady, Lucille, her reluctant students and her fellow teacher Doug Bishop. But when her beliefs clash with church and community, she makes a decision that throws her career into jeopardy. In trying to help a student, has she gone too far?

I'll let you in on a secret...I almost didn't read this book. I had the chance when it was published in Canada in March but I was overwhelmed at the time (life is a lot right now, isn't it? and knew I wouldn't want to cram it into my reading schedule. Then I had the opportunity to take part in a blog tour for the US publication, which was May 11. I had since seen a few blurbs from respected authors and reviewers and I really was quite intrigued by a debut Canadian author with a book set so firmly in Newfoundland. So, I signed up and here we are! I'm so glad that I did. Not only because I was able to find yet another Canadian author that I enjoy but because I really needed this kind of story. 

I've never been to Newfoundland, or anywhere in Canada east of Ottawa, really. (Not much travel to the west either...traveling in Canada is expensive!) It's on my bucket list and I know enough to know that the way of life in a small town of 389 people, especially in 1985, would be much different than what I'm used to in Ontario. Little Cove doesn't exist but Monaghan based it on some of the small towns she knew when she lived in the province. I loved that the story was unapologetically Canadian and as unique as I expect Newfoundland to be. I could relate to Rachel on a number of occasions when one of the locals would say something to her and she'd have absolutely no idea what they meant. I would like to think that I wouldn't have had the idiotic idea that Rachel had which made me cringe so hard (I won't say what it was because I think the scenes are important ones). All that to say, I really felt like I was there in Little Cove with Rachel and I loved it.

I think the ending was a bit...rushed, perhaps? I loved that everything was tied up neatly (not something I need in every book but it was perfect for this read) and there were Happily Ever Afters all over the place. The scandal at the end and the revelation of who was leaving her notes (and dealing with a character who was annoyed that she didn't tell them about the notes...I didn't understand that one)? That was a bit clumsy but it still didn't take away my enjoyment of the overall story. There were also a few times where it felt like I was being told things to much rather than shown them but I chalked that up to debut novel writing and moved on. It won't keep me from reading whatever Monaghan writes next.

I wasn't sure I was going to love that the story took place in 1985. It was veering a bit much into autobiographical territory, as I knew Monaghan had lived in Newfoundland, but it all made so much more sense when I read the author's note. I learned that Monaghan had also been a new teacher around that time, so it's no wonder Rachel's emotions came through so well in her teaching scenes. She said that she chose the time period, in part, because she knew the time and what it was like to be a twentysomething in Newfoundland in the eighties. But it was also to allow for Rachel to really feel like a fish out of water with no easy way to stay in contact with friends and family. Not like today when we're relying so heavily on online conversations. That revelation made it click so much more for me and I agree that the story could not have been what it was had it not been set in 1985.

Damhnait Monaghan has written a novel that should be read by everyone, not just Canadians. New Girl in Little Cove is just what you need during these bonkers times - a story that is full of heart, characters you'll adore, and a setting that seems familiar and foreign all at once. I hope you read it and are left with the same smile I had when I finished the last page.

Buy New Girl in Little Cove:
BookShop.org * Harlequin * Barnes & Noble * Amazon * Books-A-Million * Powell’s

Connect with the Author:
Website * Twitter * Instagram *Facebook * Goodreads

About the Author:
DAMHNAIT MONAGHAN was once a mainlander who taught in a small fishing village in Newfoundland. A former teacher and lawyer, Monaghan has almost sixty publication credits, including flash fiction, creative non-fiction, and short stories. Her short prose has won or placed in various writing competitions and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, Best Small Fictions, and Best Microfictions. New Girl in Little Cove placed in the top six from more than 350 entries in the 2019 International Caledonia Novel Award.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the US publisher, Graydon House Books, via NetGalley in exchange for a review for the purposes of a blog tour. All opinions are honest and m own.*

Review: Second Chance on Cypress Lane

Reese Ryan's Second Chance on Cypress Lane came out last December but it was a really great read for spring. It was light and full of heartfelt moments and told a sweet second chance story.

Here's the book's description:

When a romance gone wrong lands reporter Dakota Jones in the pages of the tabloids, her rising star crashes and burns. Instead of getting the weekend anchor job she'd been promised, she's promptly shown the door. Which leaves her one option: return home to lick her wounds, eat lemon meringue pie, and plot her comeback while actively avoiding the man who once broke her heart.
Dexter Roberts made a huge mistake when he walked away from Dakota, and he's regretted it ever since. So when Dakota returns to Holly Grove Island to regroup and decide what's next, Dex can't pass up the opportunity to win back the love of his life. Now he just needs to convince Dakota to give him a second chance. 

I've always said one of my favourite romance tropes is second chances. I've read a bunch lately (in the last couple of years) that have kind of disappointed me. I have a sneaking suspicion it's because I put too much pressure on the trope and the novels (which aren't bad at all) can't quite live up to my expectations. I think I've also had a stretch where it seems like ALL of them are a second chance after almost 20 years as the couple broke up before going away to college and then reconnect (almost always in their small town) many years later. There are only so many ways that story can go. Ryan's novel didn't surprise me in too many ways but it was really sweet to read as the people around Dakota and Dexter keep telling them that they're clearly meant to get back together and you could see that they were so much happier since they had reconnected.

I really liked the setting. Small town stories can do no wrong in my book. (Don't try to prove me wrong. Let me enjoy my small town charm.) I've never been to North Carolina but it's always seemed like a nice place to visit. I loved that Holly Grove Island was on the upswing and the small town was trying to stay current and restaurants and shops are being revitalized. I can see how great it'll be to read on through the rest of the series that's planned. And I cannot wait for Nick and Em's story. Or Sinclair and Garrett's. Oh, boy, I'm excited.

The steam level in this book was just right for my mood (I'm happy for all steam levels, in case you're new). Doors are open but it's not intensely descriptive. Plus the pair are so totally into each other which makes it SO much better. There's history and there's respect (even if they're a bit wary because their hearts, especially Dakota's, were broken so many years ago) and there's love (even if they haven't admitted it yet). That's pretty sexy.

I had a good time reading Second Chance on Cypress Lane and I'm going to keep my eye out for the next in Reese Ryan's series. I want to revisit this small town and see what everyone's up to!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Enjoy the View

I've been having so much fun reading Sarah Morgenthaler's Moose Springs series. I liked Mistletoe and Mr. Right, the second book, a bit more than The Tourist Attraction, the first, and I liked Enjoy the View a bit more than that! I don't know if it's because I'm loving the town more the more I read about it or there was something about Easton and River's story that really drew me in. No matter the reason, I enjoyed reading it!

Here's the synopsis:

A grouchy mountaineer, a Hollywood starlet
And miles of untamed wilderness...
What could possibly go wrong?

Former Hollywood darling River Lane's acting career is tanking fast. Determined to start fresh behind the camera, she agrees to film a documentary about the picturesque small town of Moose Springs, Alaska. The assignment should have been easy, but the quirky locals want nothing to do with River. Well, too bad: River's going to make this film and prove herself, no matter what it takes.
Or what (literal) mountain she has to climb.
Easton Lockett may be a gentle giant, but he knows a thing or two about survival. If he can keep everyone in line, he should be able to get River and her crew up and down Mount Veil in one piece. Turns out that's a big if. The wildlife's wilder than usual, the camera crew's determined to wander off a cliff, and the gorgeous actress is fearless. Falling for River only makes Easton's job tougher, but there's only so long he can hold out against her brilliant smile. When bad weather strikes, putting everyone at risk, it'll take all of Easton's skill to get them back home safely...and convince River she should stay in his arms for good.

As usual, I was both frustrated and understanding of how the residents of Moose Springs were treating River. They need the tourists to be able to stay financially viable but they also want absolutely nothing to do with them. So, they treat River pretty terribly. She, like I, can't quite understand why they don't want their town overrun with tourists so her enthusiasm rubs them all the wrong way. I don't think they need to be assholes though and I felt the same as I did when Lana was butting heads with the entire town as well. And there's even a quick scene with Zoey, the heroine from the first book, is "othered" and treated like an out of towner. Graham may be head over heels in love with her but it's like it physically pains and sickens him that she didn't grow up there. It's the strangest thing.

I've never had the urge to climb mountains. I could barely get my spindly arms to cooperate during rock climbing week in gym class during high school. (I haven't tried it as an adult but since I seem to have developed a fear of heights, I figure I probably shouldn't give it a go.) But. That doesn't mean that I was uninterested in the story as Easton, River, and her team climbed Mount Veil. (Which, as I'm realizing as I'm writing this...doesn't actually exist.) The mountain climbing took up a longer portion of the book than I expected (and maybe a touch too long and technical) and there was a lot of drama. Like absolutely terrifying and I-was-afraid-for-their-lives kind of drama. It added to the suspense of the building romance between River and Easton. It was like climbing the mountain was a giant, long foreplay session. And that was not a bad thing! I remembered that Morgenthaler keeps everything other than kissing behind very closed doors so I liked that the pair flirted and teased each other. It was so fun and sweet to read.

Speaking of love stories. There's a marmot that follows Easton and the group when they're climbing the mountain. It is the most ridiculous thing but I absolutely adored it. Because why not have a rodent fall in love with a tall, bearded mountain man. Honestly, I can't explain how hilarious and adorable it was.

Even though the Moose Springs series hasn't WOW-ed me, I've been having a lot of fun reading Sarah Morgenthaler's novels. Enjoy the View has been my favourite so far and I definitely recommend reading it (and the rest of the books) if you want to armchair travel to Alaska. They're funny and sweet and the small town feel is so great to read (especially for this small town girl). I do hope there will be another book - I want to see Ash, Easton's twin sister, get her love story too!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.* 

Review: Christmas on Peach Tree Lane

Ah, holiday romances. Sweet and festive with a guaranteed Happily Ever After complete with a Christmas tree or five. That's what Christmas on Peach Tree Lane gives readers (seriously, it had way more than five decked out Christmas trees). Jules Bennett has written a holiday story worthy of the Hallmark treatment and readers will be pleased with a romance that leaves them smiling.

Here's the synopsis:

Event planner Violet Calhoun lives to deck the halls, and her quaint Southern hometown’s fiftieth annual Tinsel Tour will be the event of the season. With a magazine crew on hand to document Peach Grove’s transformation into a winter wonderland, this year’s festivities have got to be the holly-est, jolliest yet. She does not have the time to deal with a Grinch—even a gorgeous one like Brady Jackson.

Divorce attorney Brady has plans to divest himself of his family’s ancestral mansion and be back at his Atlanta firm by New Year’s. Hanging so much as a wreath on the door is not a part of that plan. Nor is dealing with an annoying—though undeniably adorable—elf.

But Violet is all about making holiday magic happen. As they work together to stage Brady’s historic house, the town grump reveals he’s more sexy than Scrooge. And after some mind-blowing kisses, what starts as a Christmas flirtation starts to feel more like a year-round affair…

I know I'm not alone in loving the "big city worker coming to a small town and finds the meaning of life and Christmas" stories. As long as they're interesting, I don't care that they follow the same formula. In this story, Brady is the one who leaves the city (under duress, I may add) and Violet shows him that small towns have their own charm and can offer just as much as a big city can.

Bennett does a good job of making the reader understand that Brady isn't really a jerk. He's hurting and grieving after the loss of his grandfather and doesn't know how to make sense of these feelings. Luckily, Violet understands that too. I think if he had come across as super rude, instead of just a bit grumpy, I would have had a harder time rooting for him and Violet to get together. (And root for them, I did.) I do wish that Bennett hadn't had Brady and Violet's friend, Simone, go on a couple of dates a few years prior. I don't think it was necessary and just added weird tension that wasn't needed for the story.

I definitely appreciated how committed Violet was to her job and how Bennett made it clear that Violet is so busy and always working because she genuinely loves it. That's a stark contrast to Brady who works all the time because he can and feels he has to. Sure, he's a great lawyer but that doesn't necessarily mean he's loving what he does. Work will look different to a lot of people and this story showed that nicely.  

When I pick up a holiday romance I want a Happily Ever After with a sprinkling of festive cheer. Christmas on Peach Tree Lane delivers, though it's definitely a Christmas book you can read well before Christmas arrives as the big day doesn't actually feature in the novel. I think Jules Bennett has set us up for a new small town series and I'm happy she decided to start it off with a story that showcased the town and the magic of Christmas.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Merriest Magnolia

Note to self: make sure you check if a book is part of a series before you request it. I hadn't realized that The Merriest Magnolia was actually the second book Michelle Major had written in her Magnolia Sisters series. It wasn't the end of the world but it meant I wasn't prepared for not knowing everything about the characters but expecting to. I got over that fairly quickly but then the rest of the book kind of let me down.

Here's the synopsis:

Home for the holidays has always meant cozy small-town traditions…but this year all that may change…

Carrie Reed has always been known as her hometown Good Girl, yet she still loves Magnolia, North Carolina—after all, this is where her newly discovered sisters, Avery and Meredith, live. But Christmas is on its way and with it, her first love. Dylan Scott is back in town and planning on changing everything she’s ever loved about Magnolia with his real estate development project…but not without a fight.

Returning to Magnolia was never in Dylan’s plans—it holds too many reminders that he would never be good enough, and memories of the girl he left behind. But when a tragedy leaves him guardian of a grieving teenager, Dylan returns, ready to remake the town into something only money can buy, small-town traditions be damned. But with Carrie determined to stop him, he finds himself wondering if redeeming his teenage reputation is worth losing out on his second chance at love.

In a surprise to no one who knows what romance novel tropes I like, I requested this book because of the second chance love story. If I'm being honest though, I'm starting to wonder why. Because usually there's major heartbreak and massive miscommunication and then lots of anger when they see each other again after 10+ years. So, I think I need to reevaluate things and take a closer look at which second chance stories I am actually drawn to. And maybe not get distracted by festive storylines!

Dylan was, quite frankly, an idiot. I can forgive running off when he was 18 (ish?) because no one really knows themselves at that age. He should have just talked to Carrie because he was stupid to think she was too good for him (not to say that she wasn't good...she was. And perhaps was too good for him. But that's for HER to decide.) and there was a lot of hurt and emotional issues that could have been avoided if he hadn't just taken off. He was holding onto too much anger about what her father did to him and the town and couldn't see that he was acting in quite a similar manner when he came storming back into town wanting to take over things and make them "better" without even taking the time to figure out what the town actually needed. Newsflash: it wasn't him and his fancy schmancy ideas. Ahem. Yeah, I didn't like Dylan at all and that did not help me like this story.

Carrie was a very good person. Too good. She had turned into a doormat because her father emotionally manipulated her. I feel like I was missing a few pieces since I hadn't read the first book where she and her half-sisters find out about each other after their father's death. He seemed like a real piece of work and I hated that she lost out on so much of her own life because he and his ego were too fragile to let her go and experience things on her own. And he discouraged her painting because she was better than him! What parent does that?? She did have a typical romance heroine journey and found a backbone and rekindled her love of painting, so I appreciated that. But it was hard to get over my anger with her father...and Dylan...and even her mother for leaving her with her dad. 

I did, surprisingly, love the fact that Dylan was now the guardian of his late cousin's teenager (obviously I was not a fan of people dying and the kid having his life turned upside down). I was more invested in Sam and his storyline than I was the romance between Dylan and Carrie. I liked seeing as he opened up to Carrie, and then Dylan, and started to learn that there were still people in the world who cared about him and were there for him. I said it was surprising that I liked this storyline because I'm not into single parent stories. I don't want kids and have a hard time connecting with romances where the hero or heroine has kids. But there was something about this one that got me right in the feels.

Ultimately, The Merriest Magnolia did not leave me feeling very...well...merry. Michelle Major's latest novel wasn't a bad one. It just wasn't for me. Might be worth a read if you're looking for a hit of small town Christmas and half-sisters becoming the best of friends but if you already have a TBR pile as tall as a Christmas tree, I'd maybe give this one a miss.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Forever with You

Barb Curtis' debut novel Forever with You delighted me beyond belief. It's the first in a new romance series set in a fictional small town and I had such a lovely time reading it. Romance lovers, take note!

Here's the synopsis:

Jay Wynter wants to be successful on his own merit. That's why he left Sapphire Springs and his family's winery to build a career from scratch. But now that he's successor to Wynter Estate, Jay must return to his small hometown to face everything, and everyone, he left behind-especially his high school sweetheart, who happens to be his stunning new business partner . . .

Leyna Milan knows family legacies come with strings attached, but she's determined to prove that she can run her family's restaurant. Of course, Leyna never expected that honoring her grandfather's wishes meant opening a second location on her ex's property-or having to ignore Jay's sexy grin and guard the heart he shattered years before. But as they work closely together, she begins to discover that maybe first loves deserve a second chance . . . 

Sapphire Springs isn't a real town and Curtis, a fellow Canadian, chose to set her novel in upstate New York. However, in her acknowledgements she mentioned she talked to winemaker Brian Schmidt at Vineland Estates Winery, which is in the Niagara region (in Canada) and where I live. It wasn't obvious at the start that it was in New York state so I went about my merry way and pictured the town as one of the few small villages surrounding Vineland Estates. Even after I learned where it was supposed to be set, my little brain refused to acknowledge it and I will just pretend this is a book set in Canada :)

This is very much a romance novel, which I'll get to more in a bit, but Curtis added a mystery into the mix. Jay was convinced something went wrong with Leyna's inheritance and there was something amiss. I won't go into many details because it should stay a surprise but...Curtis kind of lost me with that plot. It was overdramatic and kind of far fetched and just didn't quite seem to work with the rest of the story. It wasn't bad and it did add a little bit more tension but after I finished the book I was just kind of like...what the heck just happened?

One of the reasons I chose to read and review this book was the second chance element. That's my jam and I liked how Curtis wrote the relationship between Jay and Leyna. It was almost hard to believe that they could fall back into a relationship after 18 years apart, especially since they were teens when they dated the first time around, but I could see it. What got frustrating was Leyna's insistence that they not talk about why they split the first time around. Don't these people realize they should communicate? (No, they don't, because then where would the story be??) But I rolled with it and read on to see if (or, more accurately, how) the pair could sort things out.

I also wanted to read this one because it was set in a small town around a winery. Small town set stories are another of my favourites, given I grew up in a small town and really like the community aspect so many towns have. Plus, as I mentioned, I live in wine country in Ontario and, well, let's just say I take part in the local offerings quite often. It was really cool to have Jay explain about the winemaking process. It may read as too technical for some people but I really enjoyed learning about how certain grapes grow and what a winemaker needs to consider when growing and taking care of grapes. Some of it I already knew, you pick up a lot living around here and dating a journalist who often talks to folks at wineries, but some was new to me and I liked learning about it.

I really liked reading Forever with You and definitely recommend Barb Curtis' novel to other romance readers. It was fun and sweet and I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series.

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: All Roads Lead to You

Jennifer Probst's Stay series has been an absolute delight to read. Such a delight, in fact, that they're some of the hardest reviews to write because I just want to tell you they're lovely and you should read them. But I will do my best to tell you all exactly why you should read All Roads Lead to You.

Here's the synopsis:

Happily single, Harper Bishop trusts in only one passion—her rescue farm and healing her thoroughbred, Phoenix. Her dream is to lead him to the Triple Crown. But how unreachable is it without experience or help? A handsome new guest at her family’s B&B has what it takes to make it come true. And with his irresistible brogue, warm smile, and soothing touch, he’s a major distraction.
After a bitter betrayal, horse trainer Aidan O’Connor has fled Ireland for a vacation in New York’s Hudson Valley. When he sees the horse with the fighting spirit, he’s inspired with a new goal: to train Phoenix to win. He’s also facing an unexpected new challenge: his feelings for Harper
How can she dare to open her heart to a man who’ll be there only long enough to break it?
So Harper and Aidan agree: try to keep it professional, and focus only on Phoenix and the finish line. But along the way, they could also learn a few lessons in love, trust, and taking chances. And, as painful as it promises to be, saying goodbye.

As I said, this is a series (read my reviews of book one and two) but it's one of those ones where you could read them out of order if that's how they come across your reading plate. They're romances so you know from the get go that the main characters are going to get together so you shouldn't be spoiled too much when you read about a previous couple in subsequent books.

What I really liked about this series was just how freaking lovely they are. They're not annoyingly sweet and find just the right the balance of drama and romance. There's a focus on career and family, not just the romantic relationship. There's a cast of secondary characters who liven things up (including a hilarious Polish chicken named Hei Hei) and complement the main characters and their story.

A big part of the loveliness of this series is due to the books' location. They're set in Hudson Valley, somewhere I've never actually been but have read a good number of romances set there. I love the small town feel that also has some hustle and bustle because of tourists that visit every summer. Small town romances are some of my favourites so it really shouldn't be a surprise that I liked these ones so much because of that.

Harper was the sibling that was the hardest to get a read on through the other two books. She's not stand-offish, exactly, but she doesn't see the point of romance and a Happily Ever After like her siblings seem to. She's super focused on her work and her horses which, I think, is why Aidan got to her. He was a lot like her in that he was hyper-focused on his work and horses too. It was enjoyable to watch them learn to work together, instead of butting heads, which, as you may imagine, ratcheted up the sexual tension. 

I'm not a horse person (I only had the briefest of pony phases when I was a kid) but I really liked reading about the race circuit in this story. It wasn't something I had ever really thought about so in-depth before and it was an interesting backdrop for a romance novel. 

I think a lot of us can use some really sweet and fun romances these days and I highly recommend Jennifer Probst's Stay series. They're quick reads that will uplift and delight you. I'm sad All Roads Lead to You seems to the be the last because I've thoroughly enjoyed all the time I've spent with those characters and I'm sad that I won't have the occasion to visit them again.

*A copy of this novel was provided by the Canadian distributor, Thomas Allen & Son, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*