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book review

Book Review: The Fiction Between Us by Julie Olivia

by Jill July 15, 2023

written by Jill

Quinn plays Queen Bee (the character/mascot) at Honeywood theme park. When her best friend’s twin brother, Landon, and high school bully, gets hired to work at Honeywood, she’s less than pleased.

During one of their shows, Landon falls on stage and the park guests fall for him – and want him to be the next Ranger Randy, Queen Bee’s love interest.

For the sake of the public, this leads to the pair fake dating as their characters. But is it all for show?

Book Review:
The Fiction Between Us

author

Series: Yes (2/4)

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 1/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

I love books set in small towns, and generally want to move to them – but add in a theme park? Sign me up!

Landon is definitely my top book boyfriend at Honeywood. I love how he describes his feelings for Quinn, how he challenges her yet adores her for who she is. Their dynamic and banter is perfect!

The addition of the infamous Honey Pleasure in this book works so well with both characters. Who doesn’t love a blunt older woman?

This is book 2 (of 4) in the Honeywood series. I definitely recommend reading them in order, but they can all be read as standalones.

Read if you enjoy:
⭐️ Best friend’s brother
⭐️ Miscommunication from the past
⭐️ Found family
⭐️ Fake Dating
⭐️ Romcom/awesome banter
⭐️ Grumpy/Sunshine (her/him)
⭐️ Small town
⭐️ Theme park
⭐️ Dual POV/first person

Tw: mental health (depression), bullying (in high school)

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
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July 15, 2023 0 comments

Julie Olivia - All Downhill with You - Romance book review

Book Review: All Downhill With You by Julie Olivia

by Jill July 15, 2023

written by Jill

The story takes place in a small town, and at Honeywood theme park, where Lorelai works. Emory is a rollercoaster designer/engineer brought in to figure out where one of his went wrong (and left Lorelai injured).

The last person Lorelei Arden should be falling for is the son of the CEO of the company she’s suing.
The last person Emory Dawson should be kissing is the woman who’s life was ruined by a mistake made by his company, and potentially himself.

But their chemistry is undeniable, and they ultimately bring out the best in each other. They help one another realize what they’re truly meant to do & who they’re meant to be.

Book Review:
All Downhill With You

Julie Olivia

Series: Yes (1/4)

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 1/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

All Downhill with You is an enemies to lovers, forbidden romance (they work together!), with a grumpy hero (Emory) and sunshine heroine (Lorelai).

I love the whole friend group in this series! There’s really a “found family” element there, with them feeling like siblings more than friends.

This is book 1 (of 4) in the Honeywood series. I read them out of order since I had an arc of Our Ride to Forever. I LOVED that book so much I went back to the start of the series. While they can be read as standalone novels, you’ll want to know all their stories!

Read if you enjoy:
⭐️ Enemies to lovers
⭐️ Theme park
⭐️ Grumpy Sunshine
⭐️ Friends like family
⭐️ Forbidden romance
⭐️ Small town
⭐️ Dual POV/first person
⭐️ Short chapters (I love this in a book!)

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
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July 15, 2023 1 comment

The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren - Romance Book Review

Book Reviews Christina Lauren

Book Review: The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren

by Jill July 14, 2023

written by Jill

Ami is determined to break the Torres family wedding curse. Her own disaster of a reception ended with all the guests getting food poisoning, and she left her cheating husband soon after. But even though she’s still processing her own divorce, Ami won’t let her twin sister Olive’s day be anything but perfect. Olive may think she wants a private ceremony in Maui, where she and her fiancé Ethan first fell in love, but Ami knows better and secretly flies the whole Torres family out to surprise the couple. Now she and her meticulously organized binder have less than two weeks to get everything together for the big day, thousands of miles from home.

Enter Brody, Ethan’s best man, who happens to be living in Maui and insists on helping with the preparations. His playfully elaborate schemes and happy-go-lucky attitude are the last thing Ami needs. When sparks start to fly, could it derail all her carefully laid plans?

(source: Goodreads)

Book Review: The Honeymoon Crashers

Christina Lauren

Series: Yes (following the Unhoneymooners)

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 2/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

What a super entertaining, immersive audiobook!
Listening in one sitting, definitely was picturing the whole story in my mind and I loved it.

The Unhoneymooners was one of the first books I picked up at the start of 2022, which was when my spark for reading was reignited.
I’ve read Christina Lauren’s entire backlist, and am always excited and ready for more!

I loved getting more of Olive & Ethan, and their vows were the absolute sweetest thing.
I’m so glad Ami got her happily ever after, following the disaster with her ex in the previous book. Brody was such a perfect contract to Ami – she’s a super serious, list-making woman who needs control, and he’s a complete golden retriever who pulls her into having fun.

As for the audio – this was such a fun listen! Jessie Marie Garcia & Harry Shum Jr. totally knocked it out of the park 😍 the other narrators & all the sound effects added so much of the experience.

What you’ll find in the Honeymoon Crashers:
🏝️ Hawaiian wedding
🏝️ Opposites attract
🏝️ Vacation fling
🏝️ Insta-love
🏝️ Audio original (only audio!)
– multiple voices for characters
– background noises
🏝️ Dual POV/first person

Thank you so much to LeoPR for an advanced copy! All opinions are my own.

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
AMAZON

July 14, 2023 0 comments

Book Reviews Madison Wright

Book Review: Just Friends by Madison Wright

by Jill July 13, 2023

written by Jill

Hazel & Alex meet through their respective siblings (who are dating, then married), and instantly hit it off. Hazel, however, has a boyfriend. Their undeniable connection then leaves them with one relationship – best friends.

After Hazel’s boyfriend cheats on her, and she packs up and moves to Nashville (where her brother Cam, his wife Ellie, and her BEST FRIEND Alex live). After another year passes, Hazel decides she’s ready to date again, and asks Alex to team up with her and for them to set each other up on blind dates.

Book Review: Just Friends

Madison Wright

Series: Yes (3rd in series but can be read as a standalone novel)

Rating: ☆☆☆☆⋆ 4.5/5

Spice: 1/5 (some kissing)

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

This was such a super cute best friends to lovers story! 🥰

I’m a sucker for a hidden crush, especially when it’s the hero pining over the heroine for years 🥰
He TOTALLY falls first here, and it’s so adorable. I love the texting banter between Hazel & Alex, his conversation with her best friend Lucy about “how to get the girl,” and how their relationship continues to grow to Hazel finally seeing Alex as more than a friend.

This was so close to being a 5-star read for me, but I felt it was just a bit too long. It kinda dragged on with them not getting together, and I really just wanted to smack some sense into Hazel 😂

“You and me and ice cream.”

What you’ll find in Just Friends:
⭐️ Best friends to lovers
⭐️ He falls first
⭐️ Texting
⭐️ Sunshine & sunshine
⭐️ Only one bed
⭐️ No third act breakup
⭐️ Slooooow burn
⭐️ Dual POV/first person

Thank you so very much to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op and author Madison Wright for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
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July 13, 2023 0 comments

Book Reviews Ella Maise

Book Review: Charlie, Love and Cliches by Ella Maise

by Jill July 13, 2023

written by Jill

Charlie & William first meet at a diner – they show up at the same time every day for a week, talking for hours. They never exchange last names. Until one day, William doesn’t show up.

Six years later, he does. At Charlie’s workplace. As her new colleague and team leader. While they try to stay apart & remain professional, that seems to be nearly impossible for both of them.

Book Review: Charlie, Love and Cliches

Ella Maise

Series: No

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 1/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

I knew this book was going to be a fav from chapter 1 🥰
Charlie & William have perfect, undeniable chemistry that jumps right off the page!

“You know in your heart we’ve been waiting to find each other again.”

There were so many unlikely run-ins for these two, but that just made it more special & fun.
There was also a lot more to the story than a romance – Charlie is such a beautiful character, with so many vulnerabilities. William is so supportive of helping her grow, in both her career and with her family.

The only thing missing for me was an epilogue – I just needed more!

Read if you enjoy:
⭐️ Second chance
⭐️ Workplace
⭐️ Banter
⭐️ Romcom
⭐️ Right person, wrong time
⭐️ Slow burn
⭐️ Dual POV/first person

A huge THANK YOU to Valentine PR & author Ella Maise for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
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July 13, 2023 0 comments

Book Reviews Julie Soto

Book Review: Forget Me Not by Julie Soto

by Jill July 9, 2023

written by Jill

Ama Torres loves being a wedding planner. But with a mother who has been married more times than you can count on your fingers, Ama has decided that marriage is not the route for her. But weddings? Weddings are amazing. As a small business owner, she knows how to match her clients with the perfect vendor to give them the wedding of their dreams. Well, almost perfect…

Elliot hates being a florist, most of the time. When his father left him the flower shop, he considered it a burden, but he’s stuck with it. Just like how he’s stuck with the way he proposed to Ama, his main collaborator and girlfriend (or was she?) two years ago. But flowers have grown on him, just like Ama did. And flowers can’t run off and never speak to him again, like Ama did.

When Ama is hired to plan a celebrity wedding that will bring her business national exposure, there’s a catch: Elliot is already contracted to design the flowers. Things are not helped by the two brides, who see the obvious chemistry between Ama and Elliot and are determined to set them up, not knowing their complicated history. Add in a meddling ex-boss, and a reality TV film crew documenting every step of the wedding prep, and Ama and Elliot’s hearts are not only in jeopardy again, but this time, their livelihoods are too.

Book Review: Forget Me Not

Julie Soto

Series: No

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 2/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

This dual timeline, second chance romance was unforgettable!
I was immediately drawn to is because – HELLO LOOK at this COVER 😍 and it did NOT disappoint 💜

In this book we have the love story of Ama and Elliot. Ama is a happy, sweet wedding planner, running her own business and landing a celebrity wedding that will bring her a ton of exposure. Elliot, her ex, is a grumpy florist that the couple HAS TO have design their flowers.

We get the present day chapters in Ama’s POV, showing what it’s like to be near Elliot again. Elliot’s POV tells us what happens in the past, how they first fell for one another and what broke them apart.

This book was different and refreshing – I loved how each POV was a different timeline.

What you’ll find in Forget Me Not:
💐 Second chance
💐 Dual timeline
💐 Grumpy sunshine
💐 Wedding planner & Florist
💐 Forced proximity
💐 Opposites attract
💐 Tattooed hero
💐 Dual POV/first person

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever publishing for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own!

Pub Date: July 11, 2023

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
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July 9, 2023 0 comments

Book Reviews Katherine Center

Book Review: Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

by Jill July 8, 2023

written by Jill

Sadie Montgomery never saw what was coming . . . Literally! One minute she’s celebrating the biggest achievement of her life—placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition—the next, she’s lying in a hospital bed diagnosed with a “probably temporary” condition known as face blindness. She can see, but every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features. Imagine trying to read a book upside down and in another language. This is Sadie’s new reality with every face she sees.

But, as she struggles to cope, hang on to her artistic dream, work through major family issues, and take care of her beloved dog, Peanut, she falls into—love? Lust? A temporary obsession to distract from the real problems in her life?—with not one man but two very different ones. The timing couldn’t be worse.

If only her life were a little more in focus, Sadie might be able to find her way. But perceiving anything clearly right now seems impossible. Even though there are things we can only find when we aren’t looking. And there are people who show up when we least expect them. And there are always, always other ways of seeing.

Book Review: Hello Stranger

Katherine Center

Series: No

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 0/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

I can’t believe this was my first Katherine Center read! I loved it so much 😍

Sadie is a portrait artist, who is about to get her “big break,” when she gets into an accident that leaves her with a *hopefully* temporary condition, face blindness (causing faces to be blurry).

Joe is Sadie’s neighbour, who becomes her friend, and a pleasant distraction. She doesn’t explain her condition to him, but he helps her out nonetheless.

A lot of this book sends the message that things aren’t always as they seem. People aren’t always who we think they are, based on first impressions or external factors.

This definitely had some predictable moments, but that’s part of the fun of it. Definitely read/listen to the author’s note, she explains a lot there.

I tandem read this book – audio and ebook – and really enjoyed the narration! Patti Murin did a wonderful job at capturing Sadie, and all the side characters.

What you’ll find in Hello Stranger:
🌼 Artist heroine
🌼 Cinnamon roll hero
🌼 He falls first
🌼 Romcom
🌼 Friends to lovers
🌼 Forced proximity
🌼 Slow burn
🌼 Miscommunication
🌼 Single POV/first person

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy to review. All opinions are my own.

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
AMAZON

July 8, 2023 0 comments

Book Reviews Kate Bromley

Book Review: Ciao for Now

by Jill July 7, 2023

written by Jill

Violetta Luciano is a fashion design student, off to Italy for a prestigious competitive internship with 2 of her peers. After a clumsy run-in with a stranger at a coffee shop, she heads to her home away from home. Little does Violet know, that stranger she met in the cafe is her professor’s grumpy son, Matteo, who is now her temporary roommate!

As time passes they get to know each other, and can’t quite stay away – even if they should. Both Violet and Matt are dealing with issues from their pasts. Violet is stuck on her ex, and how she gave up on her dreams for love. Is she doing the same with Matt, and getting distracted from what she really wants?

Book Review: Ciao for Now

Kate Bromley

Series: No

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 1/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

“I catch a hint of something in his eyes that I know I could become addicted to if I let myself.”

Let me just say – the teaching how to take measurements scene – wow 🥵🔥 I could feel the heat through the pages.
The banter between Violet & Matt, as well as Marco (a friend/fellow design student), was amazing.

The side characters brought a lot to the story as well – Holly (fellow intern), Mira (co-worker), Louisa (fabric shop owner), and her professor – all helped Violet figure out herself and her path.

Read if you enjoy:
⭐️ Enemies to lovers
⭐️ Forced proximity
⭐️ Fashion student
⭐️ Writer
⭐️ Internship in Italy
⭐️ Forbidden romance
⭐️ Witty banter
⭐️ Single POV/first person

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
AMAZON

July 7, 2023 0 comments

Book Reviews Lynn Painter

Review: The Love Wager by Lynn Painter

by Jill July 4, 2023

written by Jill

After breaking up with his girlfriend, who he almost proposed to, Jack has a one night stand with Hallie, the adorable bartender.

After finding each other again on a dating app, they decide to be friends & support each other in their quests to find “the one.”

As they quickly become best friends, and also still have undeniable sexual chemistry, feelings get confusing.
Is it worth risking their amazing friendship for the potential of so much more?

Book Review: The Love Wager

Lynn Painter

Series: Yes (Mr. Wrong Number #2)

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 1/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

If Lynn Painter writes it, I know I’m in for a great read, that has me smiling through the whole thing! This book was no exception. It was funny, heartwarming, and just so so good.

Ohhh Jack & Hallie – adding them to one of my fav couples ever!

Lynn is seriously the QUEEN of banter – I don’t know anyone who writes witty, hilarious banter like she does!
I’m obsessed with texting in books, and there was so much in this one.

Read if you enjoy:
⭐️ (failed) One night stand
⭐️ Texting
⭐️ Banter
⭐️ Best friends to lovers
⭐️ Fake dating
⭐️ Only one bed
⭐️ Dual POV/3rd person

*The Love Wager is the sequel to Mr. Wrong Number, though it can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend Mr. Wrong Number though, it’s fantastic!

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
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July 4, 2023 0 comments

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