Genres: Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, Sweet Romance, Romantic Comedy, Inspirational Romance Blurb: I’m a huge fan of love and marriage and all that gushy stuff. Just for other people. Not me. Avery: I’m a simple woman. All I want is for my wedding planning business to thrive. That’s it. I don’t want some annoying photographer (Okay, I'll admit it. He's attractive. In a guy-you-want-to-hate kinda way) that tries with moderate success to get under my skin. I don’t need some adorable stray puppy that’s just dying to make me a dog mom. I don’t want any of it. All right? Tyler: I mean, am I attracted to Avery? Sure. If you're into the big brown eyes and full soft lips kinda thing. She may or may not have sneaked her way into my film roll more times than I can count this week. But as enticing as Avery is, she has a bite to go with it. Like a tiger, just waiting for you to come close and count its stripes so it can attack. But what if there's more to her than the human checklist vibe she gives off? And what if I'm drawn to that part? His hands reach out, grabbing the edge of the small table as if he hopes it'll steady him somehow. "Avery, I'm not the best guy when it comes to feelings and emotions. I'd much rather gloss over things than talk them through. But if there's one thing I trust, it's my camera. It's the pictures I take. Photos don't lie." First off, I should've had this review done AGES ago. But life happened lol. Anywayyyy... The whole series was so much fun!! It made me really realize how much I love wedding-themed romances. Tyler and Avery were perfect together! I loved how their relationship had a little bit of everything. And even though they didn’t like each other at first, they matched up so well! Even with their careers! Also, Elvis deserves a shoutout because he’s the force that really brought them closer...plus he was freaking adorable. 😍 Oh yeah, and I approve of the Hallmark aspects that Hope and Haley tried to implement because I would totally do the same thing being a Hallmark lover myself. 😂 WHICH IS PERFECTTTTT H I G H L I G H T S"Hey buddy, if you come over here, I'll let you play with this." I squeak the hot dog a few times just for good measure. Elvis bounds over and an incessant squeaking fills the air. “Now that's a dirty trick," Avery says, her lower lip jutting out. "Remind me next time to bring doggy treats when you're around." "Whatever, this is the only way I'm gonna get any attention." I flip the little guy on his back, rubbing his belly. "It's okay, bud," I say, leaning toward him, "I think she's pretty too." My eyes bounce over to Avery, noting the light pink hovering on those cheekbones of hers. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 "Shut up and close your eyes," I say, folding my arms. He listens to me this time, although he peeks one eye open after a second. What does he think I’m going to do, stab him with my keys? 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 "Oh look! A cozy little park bench." Haley cuts me off as she points out a metal bench that has more rust spots than my childhood bike in my parents’ garage. "You guys just hang out there. Together. Talking about, I don't know, whatever comes to mind. The weather, your careers, how many kids you want—" I give her a stronger than necessary push and yell, "Okay, hurry back!" As much as I don't want to hang out, I want to listen to Haley's terrible matchmaking services less. With a coy smile, she scampers off. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I throw my keys at the kitchen counter as I step inside, completely missing the ledge as they land with a thud on the ground. Whatever. I'll get them later. In contrast, I walk to the small desk pushed up against the wall and set my camera bag down like it's a newborn babe. Priorities. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Her grin makes the heart shape of her face even more apparent. What I wouldn't give to snap an image of her just then, relaxed and smiling. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I click over to the slightly odd message, scanning the words once more. All he’d said was that he wants to go through some photos with me over lunch. Simple and to the point. I normally never get involved with the photographer's work, but, maybe, he wants me to okay the photos before he sends them off to Whitney? Note: HE WANTS TO SHOW YOU ALL THE PICTURES HE TOOK OF YOUUUUU 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Maybe I should stop watching his jaw muscles clench up and down every time he chews like he’s Brad Pitt. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I've been focusing most of my attention on not moving a muscle since Avery still doesn't seem to realize how close we are sitting, and I rather enjoy her leg being pressed up against mine. How would it feel to cozy up next to her on a couch, legs entangled, a bowl of popcorn balanced between us, and a movie we are completely ignoring on... 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 "Natural light always makes the best pictures." Note: He’s not wrong... 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Who's he talking to? Who's making him smile like that? 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 She grabs her bag off my desk. I can't help thinking how nice it'd looked sitting there next to mine. Almost like they belonged together. Too bad the same can't be said for us. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 She tilts her head toward me, the pen tucked behind her ear pitching dangerously forward. "Didn't you wear that flannel print at our last meeting?" I match her posture, leaning in close. "You were checking me out, weren't you?" The blush from before comes back in full force and I decide then and there it should be a permanent feature on her face. The color highlights her olive skin tone perfectly. Plus, it boosts my ego. “Don't you wish." She turns away and begins speaking to Whitney, who has just gotten off the phone. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 A hint of something red catches my eye but Whitney starts talking again. Note: PERHAPS AVERY 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I roll my eyes and point down the hallway. "We need to get back to this darkroom tour you've promised me." “Are you ready to enter the dark side?" he asks in a voice I'm pretty sure is supposed to resemble Darth Vader. I pinch the bridge of my nose. "I'm regretting this decision." "Okay, okay," he says, the evil lord tone gone. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I shrug. "My dad’s a veterinarian. Growing up, I had no choice but to pick up some facts over the years." "Really?" Her eyes spark with hopefulness. "Do you think he'll be able to help us?" Us? Had I known all it would take was a puppy to get her on my team I would've planted a fake stray a week ago. Note: I actually chuckled out loud with this 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 His eyes squint at the corners and I suddenly forget what we are even talking about. What are the chances of him passing on that seafoam green color to his children? Twenty-five percent? Fifty? I'm pretty sure if it's anything over fifty I'm ready to sign some papers. Not to mention his unfair eyelash length that I would automatically assume were extensions if he were a female. The injustice of it all. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 "Avery, I solemnly apologize for stealing one of the delicious bars Lisa gave you." I take her hand in mine and squeeze her soft palm. "I hope you can forgive me for such a malicious move." She rolls her eyes, but her gaze definitely drifts to our hands. "You're ridiculous,” she says before pulling away. I try not to think of how good her hand felt in mine. "All right, enough joking. How long have you been here? Were you visiting Elvis without me?" It's a little silly, but I feel betrayed that she came to see our dog alone. As far as content goes: There was no language that I can remember. Some light innuendo. A few jokes about drugs. Avery struggled with being perfect and trying to always take care of everything. Her and Tyler both had some workaholic tendencies. None of this was triggering for me, but could possibly be for other readers. I don't think there was anything else. I would describe the book as a mild "PG-13 romance movie." And now, I'm going to let my list of IMPORTANT points do most of talking... 1: Ahhhh hallmark movies... 2: They haven’t met, but I already know I’m going to love their dynamics 2.5: Yep, I was rightttttt 3: I’ve been so distracted with reading that I forgot about my list lolll 4: Tyler is the best kind of pest 5: I’m not usually good with surprises either tbh 6: How are they so freaking cute together?! 7: The “pointless conversation” 8: Hayley is trying so hard and it’s so bad that I love it so much 9: Photography jokes 10: Her almost-fall 11: She does NOTTTT want healthy snacks 12: THE PUPPY! 13: I’m here for the baby (puppy)-talk 14: I need to know about this Olivia person... 15: Oh my gosh, ANOTHER blind date for the books lol 16: I know we just saw Tyler in the last chapter but I already missed him 17: Their text conversations are adorable 18: The cake-testing 19: Tyler’s convo with Elvis lol 20: Doggie sweaters 21: I love it when he takes pictures of her 22: NOW I KNOW WHY EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE DARK ROOM IN THEIR REVIEWS 23: I love dual meaning convos lol 24: Avery’s attachment to Elvis is precious...ahhhh and she talks with him toooooo 25: YOU TELL HER, TYLER 26: Awwww I was hoping that Elvis wouldn’t be stuck in the kennel 27: CHAPTER 22!!! 28: Stoppppp! Do NOT ruin this for me!! 29: I love and hate that time has passed 30: YES, YOU OVERREACTED 31: CHAPTER. 27. 32: I am living for this adorable confession 33: The epilogue is pure GOLD The book was funny, swoony, happy, and all kinds of sweet...something that’s always guaranteed with Summer. I also have a new appreciation for flannel and I’m even more convinced that blind dating wouldn’t be for me lol. Each book of this series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading them in order! If you're a fan of wedding-themed romances, all three books need to be on your TBR!! 🍰💐📝 ~I received an e-copy of this story from the author, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.~ About the Author:
Meet Summer. Your best-reading-buddy-that-you’ve-never-actually-met who's obsessed with writing romance books. She’s a stay home mom to 6 and has a slight need to escape the laundry and diaper chaos. Summer turned her ability to see the humor in anything into a lineup of books that get readers to laugh and smile at the embarrassing situations she puts characters in. Her superpower? Besides writing book dedications that purposely call out her husband, she is really good at giving people an escape from their everyday lives in the form of a story. Follow me on instagram: https://instagram.com/summers_pen Get book updates from my newsletter: https://www.summerdowell.com/join.html
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Genres: Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, Sweet Romance, Romantic Comedy, Inspirational Romance Blurb: When a family of former pro football players buy a small Texas town, they didn't intend to start a war with its residents ... or to fall in love. Ever since his career-ending injury, Pat has bounced from job to job, idea to idea, short-lived relationship to short-lived relationship. But when his father purchases the town of Sheet Cake, Pat suddenly sees his life with clear purpose: get his brothers on board with his dad's wild idea and win back the one woman who got away. Lindy was supposed to be traveling the world, not stuck in a small town, caring for her niece. But she would do anything to keep custody of Jo--even if that looks like a marriage of convenience with the man who already broke her heart once. Now if she can only keep herself from falling back in love with her husband... “I’m sorry,” Pat says. “I know I said it, but I can keep saying it until you believe it—I’m so sorry I hurt you.” And another quote because I just COULD NOT choose... “I don’t need a grand gesture,” he repeats, shaking his head for emphasis. “I just need you.” I need to start this review by saying that I am THRILLED about Emma (Kirsten) deciding to write a series for Harper's brothers! All of our begging and demanding worked lol!! And just so you know, the book was MORE than worth the wait. Seriously. I loved it so much...I don’t think I can describe how much I loved it!! 😭😍 it really WAS beautiful The story was filled with a whirlwind of emotions and I really enjoyed the balance of both humor AND heart. Pat was crazy in the best way lol, always ready to help someone or make them laugh. And even though Lindy was tough/closed-off at times, it was obvious that she had so much love to give...even after being hurt. The strong family themes were amazing and it was great to read about so many familiar side characters, as well as all the new ones!! H I G H L I G H T SStep one: Get my hot bod back. Step two: Show off aforementioned hot bod by strategic losing of shirt. Repeat as necessary. Step three: Show her I’ve changed. Step four: Do whatever it takes to restore the sparkle in her eyes. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “I don’t even know if he's there,” I tell them. “He’s always there,” Jo says, and she’s right. Pat is ALWAYS THERE. He’s unavoidable. Most days, he feels inevitable. And dang it if I don’t feel the slightest hop and skip in my heart thinking about going home right now to see him. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 This is not the time to count Pat’s abs. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Winnie sets down her fork and leans across the table with a piercing look in her eyes. “I’m only going to say this once. Probably. You are allowed to enjoy this, you know. You are allowed to have happiness. To want things. To have things you want.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 As Val and Winnie park behind me, Pat picks Jo up, swinging her around until she squeals with delight. I hope he shakes the milkshake loose and she pukes all over him. Note: I actually laughed out loud at this part lol 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Ooh! I want to know what stupid thing you think he’s going to do,” Thayden says. “As his lawyer, it’s better I know up front.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 When Pat grabs my hand, I’m not quick enough to move away. Or maybe I don’t want to. His hand, warm and strong and instantly reminding me of a thousand and one good memories, envelops mine. He links our fingers, and I can’t help the sigh that escapes me. We are holding hands. We. Are. Holding. Hands. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “You can’t keep showing up here, interrupting my life, buying my town, making trouble.” “Trouble? Me?” He puts a hand to his chest, mocking offense. “Yes. You—the one in the cell. I’d call this trouble.” Pat grabs the bars in his strong hands. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “James?” Harper calls again. He grunts a response, which translates to, Caveman mad at family. Me go brood in cave. Maybe forgive later. Then, he’s gone. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I can feel Pat’s gaze searing into me. The heat of it is like the blast of hot air that hits you when you leave an air-conditioned building in summer. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Do animals have souls?” One second, I’m asleep. The next, a voice is right in my ear, and I’m screaming and rolling out of bed. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 My gaze lands immediately on Pat. Are there even other guys in there with him? As far as I’m concerned, it’s always only Pat. Regrettably so. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 When I imagined my wedding day—and yes, despite what people might think, some guys picture their wedding day—I wasn’t wearing an ankle monitor under my suit. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 For now, I’m going to skip right over what Ashlee said about reunification. I cannot imagine a world in which my sister, who abandoned her month-old daughter and did not so much as call once in five years, would get to be reunified with Jo. Over my dead body. I may not be her biological mother, but I am all mama bear when it comes to Jo. Note: AGREED! 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 More wild boars, please! Or a traffic cycle that’s too short—that one caused a thirty-minute debate at our last meeting. I’m even happy to talk about whether or not the Daylight Donuts Shop is slowly poisoning the town. Eula Martin swears up and down they’ve been using cleaning spray on the inside of the glass case while the donuts are still inside. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “I don’t want to be your napkin buddy. I’ve got enough of those already.” Pat just stares, blinking in confusion, because what even is a napkin buddy? And what does it mean if I have a lot of them? Fantastic. Now I’m the napkin hussy of Sheet Cake. I just loved this part too much... 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 If I ran a school, everyone would wear pajamas all the time. Pajamas would be the required uniform. Pajama school: where everyone is comfortable learning. Great tagline, right? 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 My heart constricts again as I scan the row. They’re all here, even the grumpy James, who’s standing next to an equally grumpy-looking Winnie. Dale was supposed to come and cancelled due to a last-minute accounting emergency. From the looks of it, Winnie is taking out her disappointment out on James. Note: I ship ittttt 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 If this guy messes up my boots, this will go a whole lot less peacefully. Harper and the guys always give me a hard time about it, but I am a man who likes my clothes and shoes. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “What can I do? I need specifics. What do they look for?” This is how I operate. Give me a task, and I’ll get it done. Note: Oof, I relate to that so much 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Actually, now that you mention it … how about a kiss for luck?” Pat taps his cheek, clean-shaven for the game. It’s a good look on him, and I can’t help but wonder how his skin would feel under my fingertips. Or my lips. As far as content goes: There was no on-page sex, but it was talked about (especially since the main characters dated in the past and share a marriage of convenience), and there were some suggestive material/innuendos (nothing too crazy). Characters did drink. Pat's mother died when he was young. Lindy's father left when she was also young and her mother struggled with dementia. Lindy was raising her niece (Jo) because her sister (Rachel) dealt with a drinking/drug addiction, and she left Jo behind. However, Rachel wanted Jo back...which resulted in custody issues. None of this was triggering for me, but could possibly be for other readers. I would describe the book as a "PG-13 romance movie." And now, I'm going to let my list of IMPORTANT points do most of talking... 1: I’ve barely started this book and I’m already so invested lol 2: I’ve missed Tank and the boys 3: I love how close their family is, seriously 4: Pat is so intense! 5: “No way is a town named after a cake” 6: I haven’t seen her and Jo actually interact yet, but I know that their relationship needs to be COMPLETELY protected 7: PTO Mafia 8: Oh snapppp, he went looking for her! 9: His crush on her is adorable lol 10: He WHAT?! 11: Jo has a super cute sense of humor, oh my gosh 12: She’s hereeeeeee!! 13: The tension is already tooooo much 14: I love Mari 15: The Neighborly app is GOLD 16: Jo and Lindy have my heart 17: Oh my gosh, Jo is just precious all the way around 18: I ship Lindy and Pat so freaking much 19: I’m glad the truth came out sooner than later tbh 20: YOU BOTH ARE SINGLE AS HECKKKKK 21: “I wanted it to be you.” 22: James always manages to snag my attention... 23: Small. Town. Drama. 24: THAYDENNNNNN 25: People can judge Pat all they want, but I’m here for the fajita proposal 26: Wowww, Bessie 27: It’s so intense how much Lindy wants him even know she feels like she shouldn’t 28: I can’t wait to read Winnie and Val’s books 29: He’s got ideasssss 30: I love “darlin’” gahhhh it’s so swoony lol 31: YESSSSS, Judge Judie!! 32: THE FIRST BUT NOT FIRST KISS HAS HAPPENED 33: Winnie and James 34: Their “slow dance” 35: The rules, take two 36: I’m more than okay with the rule-bending 37: THANK GOD HE TRIED TO FIX THAT TOLIET 38: I was wondering how flaming squirrels were going to happen lol 39: Jo is too much lol. MATING RITUAL?! 40: The swing 41: I love how sensitive he is 42: I just want to keep reading lollll 43: That football game though... 44: HA! He showed up anyway and we love him for it 45: Glitter. ALL THE GLITTER. 46: Oof that rainstorm 47: I know the book isn’t over yet but I’m so happy right now lol. 48: Exposed brick wall 49: Okay, James was raining on my parade (I still love him) but now everything is feeling cozy and happy again... 50: Oh nooooo. WHAT IS HAPPENING? THIS IS SUPPOSED BE A GOOD THING! 51: Okay, but I wasn’t actually expecting him to show up like that lol 52: “I don’t need a grand gesture.” 53: Gahhhhh, I had a feeling Pat was the one along (IYKYK) 54: “The talk” 55: That ending 56: The epilogue is starting out EXACTLY how I wanted 57: Grand gesturessss 58: Yeah, I definitely need James and Winnie’s book Phew. What a mouthful! (Have I convinced you yet?? 😏) READ THIS BOOK! That way we both can wait impatiently for the rest of the series because we fell in love with the wonderful shenanigans of Sheet Cake, Texas. 😍💗 ~I received an e-copy of this story from the author, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.~ About the Author:
Emma St. Clair is a USA Today Bestselling Author who loves sassy heroines, witty banter, and love stories with heart and humor. She lives in Katy, Texas with her hubby, five children, and Great Dane. Her favorite place to write is tapping on her phone while on the elliptical machine. No Emmas have been hurt in the writing of these novels. (Yet.) Follow me on insta: https://instagram.com/kikimojo Join the Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/emmastclair/ Genres: YA Romance, Contemporary Romance, YA Fiction, YA Contemporary, Clean Romance, Sweet Romance Blurb: I’ve admired my crush from afar for years, and now I’m finally going to grab his attention. Online, I’m a popular plant YouTuber who keeps her identity hidden. In real life, I’m a nerdy senior who’s known as the most awkward girl at East Beach High. My secret weapon? Wesley Stirling. East Beach High’s resident charmer and playboy. He’s going to be my dating coach. Turns out he needs tutoring in math and suggests a simple arrangement. I’ll teach him pre-calc and he’ll teach me how to flirt… and kiss. But when our dating lessons begin feeling like the real thing, I start wondering what Wesley’s true intentions are. Solving simultaneous equations is easy. Solving matters of the heart? Not so much. “Hey, Wes?” I returned my gaze to my cell phone. Violet gave me a soft smile. “Thanks for calling me tonight.” I stared at the beautiful girl on the screen, wishing she truly was here with me now. “I missed you, Vi,” I murmured. Violet’s lips parted as if she meant to say something, but no words came out. Oh mannnnn. This was too freaking sweet! The book was filled with lots of happiness, sunshine, and some deeper themes that really added to the overall experience. I loved it so much. 💗😍 i really did. H I G H L I G H T SI wasn’t staying home to study; I was staying home because I wanted to talk to Violet. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “And I love chorizo and Nutella sandwiches,” Olivia added. Note: I’m intrigued... 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Oh shoot. Ophelia was right—I liked Violet. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Even though I’d never learned to play any instruments—unless you counted squeaking on the recorder in third grade, which my parents’ eardrums were still recovering from—I viewed myself as an honorary band member, as I helped with their social media. Years of being a YouTuber had honed my skills. Now I could Instagram with the best of them. Note: I remember those squeaking recorder days lollll 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 A small seedling of hope sprouted within my broken heart, but I refused to let it grow. “It doesn’t matter. Wes will tire of me too. I mean, I’m not like the other girls.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Don’t go out with Chase,” Wes murmured. “You deserve someone much better. Someone who appreciates everything about you.” Ugh! I let out a frustrated sigh. “Yeah, well, that’s never going to happen.” Since the guy standing in front of me would never see me as anything more than his nerdy friend. Note: This is perfectionnnnnn 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I sighed. No way would Chase ever fall for someone like me. Note: GOOD! YOU BELONG WITH WES. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Ash smirked. “Besides, I already knew you liked her. It was obvious when you missed her at lunch. You were like a toddler who’d had their favorite toy taken away.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Yup. I was a certified emotional weirdo. But I was a plant-loving weirdo. And that made me the best person to teach this class. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “N-no,” I blurted out. “I mean, yes. I’m ready for our bio exam. Well. Maybe. I… I didn’t get a chance to study too much. Our neighbor’s cat wouldn’t stop meowing last night. I think she must be in heat.” Chase took a step back, his eyes darting past me as if searching for a way to escape this conversation. Note: Whattttt the-- 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Everything snapped into place. How had I not realized before? Violet liked Chase, and she struggled to talk to him. But that didn’t make sense. Violet was gorgeous and hilarious. She must have realized that any guy would be thrilled to have someone like her interested in them. Present company excluded, of course, as I wasn’t into relationships. Note: NO ONE BELIEVES YOU 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 He could tell I was getting stressed out, and I hated seeing how much that worried him. Beneath his cool exterior, Micah was a sensitive guy. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “So,” I began, making one short syllable last almost an eternity, “let me guess what you want me to do to win Chase over. You want me to take off my glasses, put on more makeup, get a new haircut, and start wearing dresses so I become drop-dead gorgeous, right? Well, if that’s the case, I gotta point out the obvious. One, I already wear skirts, and two, I don’t need glasses, and three, I hate wearing a ton of makeup. So, unfortunately, this is what you have to work with.” I motioned to my face. Having expected a chuckle, I was surprised when Wes quietly studied the road instead. “Why do you keep doing that, Vi?” My smile fell. “D-doing what?” “Putting yourself down.” His tone was uncharacteristically sober. That wasn’t where I’d expected this conversation to go. I grabbed my floral skirt, twisting and bunching the voluminous material in my hands. “Out of habit, I guess.” Note: WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HIT THE SAME WHEN A FICTIONAL GUY IS LIKE: “Why do you do that?” IN SUCH A CALM YET SERIOUS WAY?! 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Sounds great.” Wesley stood and took my hand in his. Hand… holding… what? Coherent thoughts escaped me. Stunned, I gazed down at our joined hands. Wesley Stirling was holding my hand. My hand! 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 As I walked with my two best friends, reveling in the gorgeous day, the door to the nearby orchestra building opened, and I froze in my tracks. Do you ever watch those cheesy romance movies? You know the ones I mean. A hot guy appears, and suddenly everything moves in slow motion, then he’s magically shirtless, riding a unicorn, and out of nowhere, a hose sprays him with water? Yeah, well, that’s what happens every time I see him. Chase Patrick Bond. Note: Dang it...I forgot her “crush” wasn’t Wes 😭🤦♀️ Some points that NEED to be shared... 1: The bromance is BACK, baby! 2: Violet and Wes are adorableeeee 3: “How long have you liked him?” convo 4: Wes quoting Shakespeare 5: A fellow Kdrama lover!! 6: “Do I make you swoon?” (I’M SWOONING) 7: The high-five 8: I have thoughts about this Jay guy... 9: She’s awkward but HE gets awkward because of HERRRRRRR 10: We’re here for the caring brotherssss! 11: Wes and his notebook? I just can’t even 12: “Come help me with my hot glue gun” 13: When I tell you that I love Wes... 14: THEY ARE PERFECT FOR EACH OTHER 15: Chase needs to vanish lol 16: Chapter 12. I highlighted PARAGRAPHS 17: “Yeah. I do.” 18: THE “NOT DATE” DATE 19: Danggggg it, Wes. Now I’m mad at you 20: Okay, his concern for her is too precious. I can’t stay mad now 21: Noooooo, everything is wrongggg 22: SHUT UP. GO FOR IT, WES 23: (I got distracted with reading, so I neglected my notes list. Sorry not sorry) 24: “Chase doesn’t know you at all.” 25: Oh my goshhh, I knew this was going to happen and it’s still killing me! 26: Now I’m saddddd 27: Ugh, this is the WORST 28: I love the girls’ friendship 29: Little boxes... 30: Ohhh HE DID NOT. Wes is the best As far as content goes: Any language or suggestive content was very mild. Side character had cancer. Divorced/absent parents. Bullying (aftermath of past experiences), anxiety, fear, and stress were some elements that were present in the book. None of this was triggering for me, but could be for other readers. The tutor deal was perfect. The mixed messages drove me crazy in the best way. Wes and Violet were beyond perfect for each other. I loved how the story was about taking changes and overcoming the past. They both had their struggles and I really enjoyed seeing their growth. 🙌😊 I can't wait for Olivia and Micah's story! It's a fake relationship romance, so I'm sure that I'll love it!!! 💕 About the Author:
Ginger loves the color yellow, baked goods, and all things Halloween. When she’s not busy playing with kids, she enjoys reading, listening to sappy pop music, and dreaming up love stories featuring brave heroines, a touch of magic, and hopeful endings. Ginger lives with her husband and two Pokemon-loving boys in sunny California. She has yet to see a soot sprite, but always keeps her eyes open just in case! To find out more about Ginger and her books, or to sign up for her newsletter, visit https://linktr.ee/GingerLiWrites Genres: Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, Sweet Romance, Romantic Comedy, Inspirational Romance, Holiday Romance Blurb: 'Tis the season to… fall for your childhood best friend? Marley Beekman has two true loves: peanut brittle and her dog, Meatloaf. Her dating life doesn’t exist, her older sister keeps giving her anti aging creams, and after opening her own bakery, she’s drowning in cookie dough and debt. It’ll take a Christmas miracle for her to get through the holidays without a minor breakdown (or two). Ryan Kennedy is home for Christmas after three years in New York. He’s acquired a glittering career, a designer wardrobe, and a set of rock hard abs, but something is missing -- and he’s pretty sure it’s the girl back home he never got over. Before he left, he was in love with her, but he could never tell her how he felt. Ryan and Marley reunite, and one man/dog collision, a flour fight, and a hilarious misunderstanding with Ryan’s boss later, sparks are flying. But as the two rekindle old friendship and discover new feelings, they begin to wonder… is this just a Christmas Crush, or do they have the ingredients for true love on their hands? “I’m so happy you’re home,” I said. Ryan didn’t answer. He simply wrapped his arms around me. And together, we swayed to the music, letting the melody fall over us. I buried my face in his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of clean laundry and pine. “Me too,” he murmured into my hair. Fun fact: I didn't finish any Christmas books in December. I had quite a few on my TBR, but the month was so busy that I wasn't able to read as much as I wanted to. However, I did start this Christmas novella last month and I was determined to have it read and review by January 25th! (Since I love Christmas so much, I think I'd love to review a Christmas book every other month on the 25th throughout the year.) Anywayyyyyy, Ryan and Marley were adorable together! I really enjoyed seeing the friends-to-more trope mixed with the second chance trope, and the book delivered some definite cozy holiday feels. 🎄💖 now i want to listen to "mistletoe" 👀 H I G H L I G H T S“Because I missed you.” It was barely above a whisper, but I heard each word loud and clear. My heart caught in my throat. “I… I missed you too, Mar.” Her eyes moved over my face, like she was searching for an answer she couldn’t find. “Why did you leave?” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Inside Beekman’s Bakery, however, the festive scene left a lot to be desired. For one, the entire bakery floor was covered in a generous layer of flour, courtesy of my own clumsiness. Note: Clumsy girls unite! 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Thank you. Honestly. For all of your help this Christmas.” She pulled back a little, tilted her head up to meet my gaze. “We’re a good team, aren’t we?” “The best,” she agreed. “I don’t know what I’ll do without you.” I took a deep breath. There was no time like the present. “Mar, there’s been something I’ve been meaning to tell you…” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Perfect!” Katherine pulled back on her leather gloves. “She’ll be home on the 21st, we will have a welcome-home party for her that night. My place, of course.” “Of course.” Note: Such an older sister thing to say lollll 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 It was truly magical. Hand in hand, we wandered around the perimeter of the lake, through endless strands of flashing Christmas lights and beautifully decorated pine trees. Our way was lit by lines of softly flickering lanterns. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “I’m here,” Ryan said. “If that helps?” “It does.” And that was true. It did. No matter what, Ryan was still my best friend. And that wouldn’t change. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “Ciao,” I muttered sarcastically as I locked the door behind her retreating form. Apparently, we were both French and Italian now. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “And Mary wrapped the baby in s-s-swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” The microphone squeaked, and feedback echoed around the church. Unabashed, the little girl who’d been speaking grinned proudly, adjusted her tinsel “halo,” and then waved at her mother in the audience Note: Realistic as heck lol 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 We’d spent more than a few evenings parked somewhere away from it all, sometimes up by the lake, and simply talked the night away. Sometimes we’d just sit in silence. That’s how you knew you loved someone–you didn’t have to say anything at all. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I squeezed Marley’s arm. “I missed you, Mar. Sorry I didn’t come back sooner.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I cruised down the highway, thankful it wasn’t snowing. As I drove, I fiddled with the radio in an attempt to find a station that wasn’t playing Christmas music. Somewhere around the far suburbs of Denver I admitted defeat and let Mariah Carey keep me company. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 It was just Ryan and I, alone under a sea of shimmering stars. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Clothing—boxy flannel PJs with a toothpaste stain on the front. Note: Those darn toothpaste stains As far as content goes: Any suggestive material/innuendos were pretty minor, so no worries there. Oh! Marley struggled with feeling like she's not good enough compared to her sisters (this wasn't triggering for me, but could be for other readers). I truly can't think of anything that would really need to be listed as a warning. 🤔 Time for my list of thoughts! 1: I forgot to start my list of notes lol...OOPS! 2: It’s totally cliche but I honestly LOVE when people are mistaken for a couple in books 3: How unromantically romantic of him lol (roses, IYKYK) 4: Are they confessing feelings?! 5: OH MY GOSH, GO AWAY! THEY NEED TO TALK 6: She’s right! What happens after Christmas??? 7: The dramaaaaa 8: They’re so sweet together 9: Interrupted AGAIN?? Whyyyyy? 10: Oh my gosh, how did I not realize the ending was happening already? As usual, it's easier for me to spoil things when I'm reviewing a novella; so, I'll just finish my recap by saying this was a cute, breezy Christmas romance! I think Hallmark movie-lovers will especially enjoy it!!🎄📖 About the Author:
Emily Lowry is true romantic. She’s a huge fan of happily ever afters, witty, fun characters and fast-paced sweet romances. Emily writes from her home in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and in her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dog, baking cakes and paddleboarding. Genres: Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, Sweet Romance, Romantic Comedy, Inspirational Romance, Closed Door RomCom Blurb: She’s bad at reading signals. He’s sent all the wrong ones. Jenny... Of course Noah would come back, and right when my life is a mess. I swear we had the best carpool friendship. Until he asked me out, then changed his mind, and then asked me out again, only to ghost me. I hate him so much. Almost as much as I love him and miss him—the old him before he became the worst ever. My crush on him may have been obvious and embarrassing, but now that he’s in carpool again, I’m making sure the only thing getting crushed around here are his hopes for making things right. Noah.. I’m the worst. I chose my job and my assignment over the best person I’ll ever know. I have so many secrets I might as well be an international spy. Except there’s nothing glamorous about me. Especially my career. I’m working in phone support just to be in Jenny’s carpool again. It’s not a great plan, but at least it’s taking me in the right direction—towards a future with Jenny. This time, I’m not going to screw everything up. Hopefully. I was his unfinished business. That's what his eyes were saying. But I wasn't buying that. I took my hand back. He didn't have the right to hold my hand whenever he wanted to, even as a gesture of friendship. I hate that it took me so long to post this review...BUT IT'S FINALLY HERE. Andddd I loved the book, lol. It was such a great mix of friends-to-more, hate-to-love, AND second chance! Both Jenny and Noah had a lot to work through, separately and with each other, but the end result was totally worth the challenges and slowwwww-burn chemistry. I really enjoyed watching them mend their friendship/relationship, even when Jenny tried to keep Noah at a distance. toothless=jenny. hiccup=noah. H I G H L I G H T S“All I want is…” He sighed. “For you to hear me out when I do tell you what I need to tell you. And I’d like us to still be friends.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Noah waited as if he had all the time in the world. Instead of watching me eat, he made origami shapes out of my printer paper and lined them up along my desk. A dragon, a lotus flower, a giraffe, a jumping frog. He could create just about anything. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Everyone made me nervous. I had about four people in my life I felt truly comfortable with, who got me and saw the real me—the sassy, sarcastic me who wasn’t afraid to hold back. Note: This is too relatable 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Jenny was my goal. Her happiness was my goal. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Dork. Handsome, exasperating dork. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “I mean that the lost cause was hoping you could ever love me the way I love you.” Oh mannnnnnn 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “A nightclub.” Phelps said. “An underwater nightclub.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Sadie had promised me she’d make this work. And Denver had promised me he’d make this work. AND I LOVE THEM. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Twenty-six was too old for a crush anyway. Note: Wrongoooo 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 “So, the truth is, you’d rather take someone else’s dog on a road trip than me?” She swallowed. “The dog seemed like a safe bet.” “And I’m not.” “No.” She bit her lip. “I know you want to be.” “I do.” 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Noah’s cool and calm demeanor had been infuriating. I had told him to drop dead. Didn’t that merit at least a little bit of irritation? Instead, he’d barely glanced in my direction, too busy talking to people with Sadie and looking like he was having the best time ever. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I shined my flashlight in. Nope. Still there. Clarissa was now sitting on my bed, staring out with that same glassy-eyed look. Note: This would freak the crap out of me 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 We could only be friends and nothing more. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 When I turned to look back, Jenny was gone. Note: JENNY, WHAT THE HECK? 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Someday, I hoped Kim would see the Sadie I did. The one who was hurting in her own way and covered it up by pretending she just didn’t like apologies. I freaking love Sadie 😭 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I was almost to the front of the line when Noah found me. He curled several bills around my fingers and closed them, letting his hand linger against mine. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 I’d written out a speech, torn it up, and then panicked and burned it for good measure. Which of course led to me turning on every fan in the apartment so Clark wouldn’t smell smoke and ask questions when he got home from work. 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Or my cousin who liked to exchange Jane Austen memes. Note: An amazing cousin, tbh 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Sadie was sooo wrong. Kissing Noah last night hadn’t gotten him out of my system. If anything, it had given my crush superpowers. Like Noah was now running through every vein in my body, so that my heart was more his than mine. As far as content goes: No language. Suggestive material/innuendos. Noah had a secret that he wasn't supposed to share with anyone, especially Jenny. Past sexual harassment was mentioned in Jenny's workplace. A "cooking meth" comment was made. Noah assumed that Jenny is sleeping with someone. I honestly can't think of anything else. I would describe the book as a mild "PG-13 romance movie." Time to share some IMPORTANT points! 1: I already love them so much! 2: Ooooh, Denver is backkkkkk 3: Well, I like the dynamic between her and Denver 4: And I actually like it when guys call girls “hon” lol 5: Clark is another side character I approveeee of! 6: So many great side characters lol. I love Dan and Sadie tooooo 7: The café 8: I like Denver way too much... 9: “You could’ve called me”/“I didn’t want to” 10: Noah messed up buttttt he’s pretty freaking sweet 11: Sadie and Denver can get married now, thank youuuuuu 12: “We...love you” 13: Noah frantically looking for the packing tape lollll 14: Awwww Sadie brought tacossss 15: I love Noah’s brothers 16: That LOOK 17: (I got distracted with reading and forgot my notes list) 18: This Justin guy needs to backkkkk off lol 19: (Got distracted again smh 😂) 20: Oh, Denver... All in all, the book was super cute! It had lots of great banter, really good side characters, a different twist on things, and some amazingggg kisses lol. OH! And that certain near-death experience was just AHHHHHHH!! 😱 I am BEYOND excited for Sadie and Denver's book!!!! Like, I can't even expressed how freaking excited I am. 🙌 ~I received an e-copy of this story from the author, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.~ About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling Author Rachel John loves to read anything with romance or humor, and thinks the best books should combine the two. She's found that writing is the best way to burn dinner. When not writing, she's reading, drawing, driving kids to various locations, or attempting to revive her exercise habit. Come visit Rachel on her Facebook page or Instagram. She'd love to hear from you! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/racheljohnauthor Instagram: instagram.com/racheljohnwrites/ |