Review: Flirting with Forever

Do you ever want to tell a book, "It's not you, it's me?" I don't know for sure if it was my fault or Flirting for Forever's but I didn't really enjoy my time spent with Cara Bastone's latest novel. I know it can happen from time to time but, man, do I ever get frustrated when a book lets me down.

Here's the synopsis:

Sometimes you get a second chance at a first impression
Mary Trace is bright, bubbly and back in the dating pool in her midthirties. All of her closest friends are in love, and she refuses to miss out on romance. So when a regular customer at her trendy Brooklyn boutique wants to set Mary up on a blind date with her son, she gives a hesitant yes. John Modesto-Whitford is gorgeous and well-groomed, so maybe dinner won’t be a total bust—until he drops a less-than-flattering comment about Mary’s age.
Desperate to be nothing like his snake of a politician father, public defender John Modesto-Whitford prides himself on his honesty and candor. But his social awkwardness and lack of filter just blew it with the most beautiful woman he’s ever dated.
Luckily, Mom’s machinations keep Mary and John running into each other all summer long, and soon they resort to fake dating to get her to back off. When their pretense turns to real friendship—and some surprisingly hot chemistry—can these two stubborn individuals see past their rocky start to a rock-solid future together?

I know I sound like a broken record but I have got to stop reading romance novels that are part of a series. I don't care if they're supposed to be standalones. Too many of them aren't done well enough to actually stand alone. With Flirting with Forever I felt like I was being bombarded with SO many characters and backstories that I didn't feel like I was actually getting to know the main couple. There was too much and it was the first thing to drive me bonkers with this story. I was too busy trying to figure out how Mary was connected to her friends Sebastian and Tyler who were clearly loved up and had been the focus of the previous two books. But even with that, I didn't get a real friendship from them. Oh, sure, they guys were there for her with their girlfriends when Mary had something bad happen (outside of the romance and  I don't want to give it away) and you could tell they cared and there was history but...I guess I was being told that they cared and had history instead of it being shown to me. Oh and that dog on the cover? Not their dog. He belongs to one of the previous couples. John, in fact, has a cat.

I didn't particularly care about Mary and John. They were nice enough people but I would have been happy to have been told, "Oh, they worked out their issues and now they're living Happily Ever After. The end." Though, John had to work just as hard to win me over as he did Mary. He was a total dick to her on their first date and repeatedly discusses with friends that he is, in fact, a dick. Except...he's not. He's an incredibly kind and giving person who may have a few issues with social niceties especially when faced with a woman he's immediately, overwhelmingly attracted to. His behaviour just really didn't make sense and as a hero he wasn't a standout. He was also super hung up on how Mary had lots of money (how did she have so much money?) and he didn't. It's hard to judge in that sort of situation but he was so focused on it and it bothered me. Poor John. He didn't have a shot with me.

I also have to take issue with the book description. The first thing is going to come across as ridiculous and possibly age-ist but here we have it: Mary's 37. Not quite what I'd call mid-thirties. I'm turning 34 this year and I would consider myself in my mid-thirties. 37 is late thirties. But, I guess that doesn't sell as well? Second issue: John and Mary don't actually fake date. It's a convoluted storyline where Mary says she'll date someone else that John's mom is trying to get her to date but she's only doing that so John and Mary end up going home together. But that, my friends, is not fake dating as we know and love the trope. Finally, it talks about their hot chemistry. Um. Nope. Their chemistry is not not hot but it's a super slow build and then they give into it but would we call a drunken make out session hot? Meh. Not so much. It might be a bit much to be so frustrated with a description but I was expecting a different kind of character and a different kind of story so, yeah, I was frustrated.

I think contemporary romances are, for some reason, not for me right now. Normally I adore romances in all forms but I'm having a really hard time getting into the sweet and fun stories. Maybe Flirting with Forever would be a winner for another reader but Cara Bastone's latest novel really disappointed me.

*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: Together by Christmas

I've lost track of the number of Karen Swan books I've read over the years and I know I haven't even read close to all of them! Her latest came out last year and was her traditional holiday offering. Together by Christmas is a story full of secrets and a touch of festive magic that will keep the reader intrigued until the end.

Here's the synopsis:

When Lee first came to Amsterdam, it was with a newborn baby and a secret. Five years later, her life is approaching normal: her career as a celebrity photographer is flourishing, her son Jasper is growing up, and they are enjoying the run-up to Christmas with their tight circle of close friends.
But all this changes one morning when Lee finds a book in the basket of her bicycle – and scrawled inside it, a desperate message. Who left it for her, and why? Lee feels compelled to help and tracks down the book’s author, Sam. With an instant, undeniable connection it seems they might have a shot at a real future together.
Until her past comes calling. As the snow falls and ice thickens on the city’s canals, the secret Lee has never told resurfaces. Suddenly everything she holds dear hangs in the balance. Christmas is a time for being together – but what if the truth means she ends up alone?
Escape to the snow-covered streets of Amsterdam in this deeply romantic read, featuring twists, turns and characters you'll fall in love with.

I knew, despite the title, that this book wouldn't be super Christmassy. Swan's books never really are. They tend to focus on the lead up to the December holiday but the big day itself is a bit of an afterthought. So, when I got overwhelmed with holiday books last year, I made the decision to read this one in early 2021 instead. I think it was actually nicer to read as Amsterdam slowly became covered in snow and ice as it was snowy outside my window here in Ontario in January. As it was, we didn't see much snow in my city until Christmas Day! Lee is an Englishwoman living in Amsterdam and she still hangs onto her Christmas roots even though the Dutch don't put as much emphasis on Christmas. (A fact that was mentioned a few too many times throughout the book. Once was enough.) Instead, they celebrate Pakjesavond and the children wait for a visit from Sinterklaas. I didn't know much about the holiday so it was really fun to learn about it and see it through a child's eyes as Jasper watched a parade, left and received nightly gifts, and waited for the present giving evening.

I would have loved this book if there hadn't been SO MUCH going on. The main plot - what happened to Lee when she was a war photographer in Syria and why her former partner had gone back - was the one I cared the most about (along with her budding romance with Sam...what can I say, I'm a sucker for a Happily Ever After). Unfortunately, it was bogged down by a lot of subplots: photographing top celebrities for a magazine, a photography exhibition featuring domestic assault victims to shed light on the issue, her former partner's pregnant wife, her friend having a crush on their other friend who is clueless and a bit of a womanizer, human trafficking happening too close to home (which I totally called and was just waiting for them to figure it out), Sam's book and marketing campaign, the Elfstedentocht (a long distance outdoor skating event in the Netherlands), looking after an elderly neighbour, and just all the hullaballoo surrounding the holidays. A LOT. It did kind of work together but it felt forced at times and I just found myself waiting for Lee's secrets to finally be revealed since it had been teased through the entire book and I was on edge because her past was...well, brutal.

Lee was an interesting character and one I really liked reading about. I could see how she would be hard to read for some people because she keeps herself very walled off (I don't blame her, given what I was sure she had seen and encountered in Syria). But you could also see what she was like with the people she allowed into her life. Jasper, of course, who was the cutest little guy, but also Mila, Liam, and Noah who were her found family. She was so smart and so talented - it was interesting to read as she worked in her studio on the magazine piece (though I do wonder how professional photographers would have felt at the portrayal).

One, sort of weird, thing that didn't work for me was how Lee called herself "mannish" twice when she was with smaller women. Lee is 5'10", which is, yes, tall but as a 6' tall woman (not living in Amsterdam where there are, apparently, tall people everywhere), I would never call myself "mannish" and it didn't seem to work with what I knew about Lee either. Sure, I feel super tall and large sometimes when I'm with teeny 5' women but I still feel like a woman. A personal quirk of mine, I know, but it stuck out to me. Just like all the winking characters did (do people really wink that much in real life? I think not.) and the fact that Mila wore a "flesh toned" dress. No, she wore a peach or light cream coloured dress that just happened to match her skin tone. 

Even with the issues I had with this story, I was completely riveted. I sat myself down to read on a Saturday afternoon and didn't move until it was done (full disclosure: I had read up to chapter 11 the night before). I was so worried for what Lee had gone through in the past and what Harry, her former partner, was going through in the present. Plus, she clearly had feelings for Sam but refused to allow herself to have a healthy, romantic relationship even though there was something special there. I'm still glad I read it.

Together by Christmas is a book to get into when you want to get completely lost in the story and ignore the outside world. I'd recommend reading Karen Swan's latest novel while it's still wintery (in some parts of the world, anyway). If nothing else, you'll get to do some armchair traveling to Amsterdam!

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the Canadian distributor, Publishers Group Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye

I've been reading Jacquelyn Middleton for a few years now and I love how sweet, real, and entertaining her novels are. Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye was released in November 2020 and I found myself saving it until I needed a contemporary romance mood booster. I finally read it early in 2021 and enjoyed being whisked away to London while learning more about a character readers had met in an earlier novel.

Here's the synopsis:

Leia Scott has sworn off love. Fresh from a messy, public divorce from her hockey player ex, the twenty-six-year-old fashion designer temporarily trades New York for London to heal and embrace her freedom. Her vow? To protect her heart, steer clear of relationships, and say yes to flings without strings. She throws herself into designing upcycled dresses and exploring London with her sister. But Leia’s carefully curated plan encounters a flirty complication with an irresistible British accent.

Wealthy, charming, and devastatingly attractive, Tarquin Balfour is tired of meaningless hookups and dates that go nowhere. For years, he has played the bon viveur with reckless abandon, throwing decadent parties, sleeping with a parade of women, and diving into extreme sports around the globe. But now the young property developer wants more. He craves love and commitment, to prove his kind heart matters more than the abundance of zeroes attached to his bank balance. Struggling with undiagnosed depression, Tarquin worries he’ll never find The One…until he meets his princess, a fashion designer named Leia.

Afraid of falling in love and fearful of being alone, Leia and Tarquin enter into an entanglement that threatens to hurt them both.

I didn't quite love this one as much as I wanted to. And, the most frustrating thing is, I don't know why. It could have been that the characters didn't become as three dimensional as I'd like. I got a good sense of them but it felt surface level, apart from their real and honest talks about their mental health. The story also overlaps with Middleton's previous novels and characters we've already met popped up. I liked that but it also sometimes felt like the story was being shoehorned into a world that had already been created. They fit into the world, of course, but I think I would have liked a story that was just Tarquin and Leia's. 

Back to the mental health aspect of the story. I so appreciate that Middleton is an Own Voices author when it comes to talking about anxiety and depression. Her characters have honest conversations (eventually) about their struggles and how what they're going through doesn't always "look" like depression. It's not preachy, it's not especially difficult to read. It's just there, matter of fact. Which I think is so important. We all know someone who has depression and/or anxiety and I'm sure we're all discovering that our mental health has taken a major hit over the past ten months. I am so glad authors like Middleton lay it all out there in a way that should help others understand and find a bit more compassion and empathy.

I really enjoyed the armchair travel Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye provided, especially because my sister is currently living in London, where most of the novel was set. She can't travel to most of the places in the novel right now because of a third lockdown, but it still made me feel closer to her, somehow. Middleton has family in the UK so she is very familiar with the locations she writes about. That helped make it feel even more real and also made me desperate to visit England again! I especially want to get back to Scotland to see more of the country including the Orkney Islands where Leia and Tarquin spend some time with his family. It sounds magical!

Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye is a great contemporary romance to read if you're looking to escape to another city (or, if you happen to live in London, escape to a city you can't explore right now) or if you want to enjoy a love story that's meant to be even if the characters fight against it. I'm looking forward to what Jacquelyn Middleton writes next.

*A copy of this novel was provided by the author 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: The Winter Sea

I first heard of  Susanna Kearsley several years ago after seeing her at an event and I think she may have been the first Canadian historical fiction author I took note of. So, it's ridiculously embarrassing to admit that it took me until 2021 to finally read one of her books. I've been told by friends for years that I would enjoy them. And, reader? They were right. Her novel The Winter Sea was first published in 2008. Simon & Schuster Canada has rereleased it this year for reasons I'm not entirely clear on BUT I am thrilled about because that meant I had the chance to read and review it. And oh my goodness, I adored it. "Could not put it down, thought about it when I wasn't reading, wanted to wrap myself up in the story and never leave" kind of adored it.

Here's the synopsis:

1707. The walls of Slains castle shelter Jacobite rebels, who are conspiring to sail the young, exiled James Stewart from France into Scotland to reclaim his crown—and a young woman caught up in their plot.

Present day. Writer Carrie McClelland is enchanted by an impromptu trip to Cruden Bay, Scotland, and decides to settle in the tiny village, hoping to find inspiration for her novel about the Jacobite uprising in the area’s evocative past—and in the haunting ruins of the castle.

She creates a heroine named after one of her own ancestors, Sophia Paterson, and quickly finds the words flowing, almost faster than she can write them down. But, discovering that her novel inexplicably contains more fact than she can remember researching, Carrie wonders if she could possibly be dealing with ancestral memory—in effect “recalling” what her ancestor lived.

The only way to discover the truth is to continue writing and to bring to light the whole of Sophia’s story. With each new chapter, Carrie uncovers the tale of an innocent entangled in a dangerous enterprise, the secret of forbidden love, and the final betrayal that cost James his throne—and may cost Sophia her heart.

I get really, really wary when books are compared to other books, especially when they're mega popular. The Winter Sea is said to be for fans of Outlander so I was curious to see if it would hold up to that comparison. And you know what? It totally does. It's very different, of course. It's present day vs early 1700s instead of 1940s and '60s and the mid-1700s. But the feel of it and the setting is for Outlander fans. Plus they both deal with Jacobite rebellions, which is interesting for the history nerds out there. Outlander is a tough series to describe. It's historical but it's also a love story with a dash of magic realism in the form of time travel. The Winter Sea could be described in almost the same way but the magic realism in Kearsley's novel is the fact that the heroine, Carrie, seems to have memories of her ancestors that she has no business knowing. It may sound like it's a combination that shouldn't work but it does. Oh, but it does.

I was head over heels in love with just about every character Kearsley wrote. Carrie, Graham, Sophia, and John, of course. (The first pair are the love birds in the present day story whereas the latter pair feature in 1707.) But also Jimmy, Graham's father, Dr. Weir, who helped Carrie with her novel, Jane, Carrie's agent, the Countess of Erroll, who seemed like one badass lady I would have loved to have a drink with, Kirsty, the maid at Slains, Colonel Graeme, John's uncle, and even Hugo, the giant mastiff at the castle. They all came alive in the story and I felt like I was wandering right alongside each of them throughout the story.

The history in the novel was, I felt, well researched and presented. Sometimes it got a bit convoluted but honestly, it's a very convoluted part of history. Who wanted which king on the throne? Which king was exiled? And which Stewart was he again? Who practiced which religion? Because that usually meant they were for one king or the other, but not always. And which Jacobite rebellion are we discussing again? The first? Second? Third? (The first, by the way. Outlander features the third.) But Kearsley does a really good job of giving the reader the background information they need without it being an info dump. Or, if it is, it's because the character's asked for it. I love, for example, how Carrie asked Graham, a history professor, for information on something. Kearsley used Stuart, Graham's brother, as the every reader and had him asking even more questions that the reader may not understand, especially if they're not from Scotland. For someone who has a lot of ancestors from Scotland (I'm a Stewart, after all) and is a fan of history, it was super interesting for me to read and learn.

Not only did I love the story and was completely hooked by it, but I liked how it was written, too. I was a bit worried at first because I wasn't sure how I felt about reading Carrie's novel as she was writing it. You see, you'd get Carrie's first person perspective as she came across Slains and started coming up with the idea for her novel. And then she would get to work and you'd be reading the story she was writing. It seems kind of odd but by the end of it I was completely invested in both storylines and gladly would have read the full novel Carrie wrote.

Historical fiction fans need to read Susanna Kearsley. I'm going to make an effort to get through some of her backlist this year, hopefully, because I loved The Winter Sea so much. I loved Kearsley's approach to history and the way she wove an amazing story full of lifelike characters. Trust me when I say The Winter Sea needs to be your next historical read. It's fantastic.

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

Review: The Push

The Push is the buzziest book in Canada right now and it's making a big splash in the US, too. Ashley Audrain's debut novel secured her a multi-million dollar deal and it's been everywhere since it was published earlier this month. I'll say this: it is a story that has stuck with me since I finished it. 

Here's the synopsis:

Blythe Connor is determined that she will be the warm, comforting mother to her new baby Violet that she herself never had.
But in the thick of motherhood’s exhausting early days, Blythe becomes convinced that something is wrong with her daughter–she doesn’t behave like most children do.
Or is it all in Blythe’s head? Her husband, Fox, says she’s imagining things. The more Fox dismisses her fears, the more Blythe begins to question her own sanity, and the more we begin to question what Blythe is telling us about her life as well.
Then their son Sam is born–and with him, Blythe has the blissful connection she’d always imagined with her child. Even Violet seems to love her little brother. But when life as they know it is changed in an instant, the devastating fall-out forces Blythe to face the truth.
The Push is a tour de force you will read in a sitting, an utterly immersive novel that will challenge everything you think you know about motherhood, about what we owe our children, and what it feels like when women are not believed.

When I first agreed to review The Push it was months and months before the release and I didn't know anything about it. But, I thought, sure, I'd give the thriller a try. It wasn't until closer to the publication date that I realized how much it was going to be about motherhood. I had to work on my headspace before starting it because I don't tend to read books about mothers. I don't have kids, I don't want kids, and don't really understand why people want to be mothers. I'm happy for those who are, of course, I'm not completely heartless! But when it's a domestic thriller (something I've realized isn't my thriller of choice) and so focused on motherhood? I worried I wouldn't really get it. I think that worry was warranted because while I would say this is a pretty good book...I don't think I liked it? But I didn't dislike it. It's very conflicting.

Audrain keeps the tension high through most of the book. Buuut...I got lost with the flashbacks to Blythe's mother's life and her own childhood. I don't know if it added a whole lot to the story. She didn't have good maternal role models. Say that once and move on. 

I think the way Audrain ended the novel was so perfect. It's not tied up in a bow but it totally fits the rest of the book. And the way she led up to that point? You start thinking one thing but by the end? Nope. Your thinking was totally wrong. At least, mine was!

I didn't love The Push, I think that much is clear. But I think Ashley Audrain has written a debut novel that will make people talk for a long, long time. The story is a twisted one with surprises that no one can see coming. It's not an easy read but it's one that will keep you turning the pages until the very end.

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

Review: Eventually Evie

Cat Lavoie has been a rom com go to for several years now. Her latest, Eventually Evie, was released earlier this year and was so much fun to read. She creates characters you can't help but root for and a story that will keep you entertained throughout. 

Here's the synopsis:

How are you supposed to get your life back on track when the Universe won’t stop messing with you?
After a series of personal and professional setbacks, interior designer Evie Glass has lost faith in herself and the world. The last thing she needs is her loud, boisterous family poking their noses in her business, so that’s why she avoids opening up about anything—especially her love life—during their weekly dinners. Thankfully, her bestie and next-door neighbor, Matilda, always has her back.
When Evie is asked to cat-sit Matilda’s beloved rescue, she’s not thrilled at the prospect. One well-meaning mistake later and a distraught Evie is rushing her furry charge to the ER where she meets and is instantly smitten with Fletcher West, a charming veterinarian who seems to return her interest. That is until they both realize they’ve met before—ten years ago when he was dating her temperamental cousin. Fletch’s break-up with Bee put him at the top of her family’s hit list and makes him the last person Evie should be dating.
In addition to navigating a secret romance with Fletch, Evie must also deal with a demanding new job, an eccentric client from her former life, and an ex who’s suddenly blowing up her phone. She convinces herself she’s got it all under control, but what is Evie going to do when things start falling apart and she learns she’s not the only one keeping secrets?
One thing’s for sure…
Eventually Evie’s got to take a chance—on love, on life, and on herself. 

It's typical of rom coms to have a moment (or more) when you find yourself yelling, "JUST SPEAK TO EACH OTHER" to the characters. In the case, it wasn't just the romantic couple who weren't communicating. It drove me bananas that Evie just wouldn't speak to her cousin. It's always easy to judge when you're not in the situation yourself but it was easy for me to see that something just didn't add up with Bee and Fletch's break up. That said. when I did learn the full story? It actually didn't really help things too much. Perhaps because I felt Fletch was acting like a total idiot. I was pretty bummed, actually, because I was liking him (though not loving him) as a hero. 

Evie is the type of heroine who doesn't usually get to be the heroine. She's usually the best friend who doesn't get to the be star of the show. In fact, she was the friend in one of Lavoie's earlier novels, Messing with Matilda. Her life is an absolute mess but you just know that she's such a great person and you desperately hope she'll figure out her Happily Ever After by the end of the novel. I admit, I think I was more into Evie figuring out her career goals than I was with a romantic HEA. Given it's a rom com, she does meet her goals and I definitely fist pumped as things came together at the end.

Cat Lavoie is a talented writer and the story flows really well. There are scenes that will make you laugh and there are others that will tug at your heartstrings. Eventually Evie is full of characters (human and feline) that will keep you entertained through the entire novel. It will leave you feeling all the warm and fuzzies and wanting another Lavoie novel to read.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the author via book tour company Xpresso Book Tours. Opinions are honest and my own.*