Review-Beach Read by Emily Henry

Publisher: Berkley

Published: May 19, 2020

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: E-ARC

Rating: 5 stars

Check out what reviewers are saying HERE!

Blurb:
A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They're polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.

Review:
This touched me a lot deeper than I thought it would. It has a yellow, cheery cover—one would expect complete happiness. But the message was thoughtful and had so much meaning behind it. Beach Read will make you laugh out loud, cause insane happiness, and might cause you to shed a tear or two. I know I couldn’t stop those measly little tears from falling from my face.

While this is all romance, it took a familiar plot and completely made it it’s own. I don’t know why I always have such a soft spot for the “emotionally unattached” hero that really feels more deeply then we give him credit for. Cliche? Maybe. But it totally worked for Gus! He was so damn dreamy!

Ever since we’re introduced to him in the book, the sparks fly off the pages. The tension anytime January and Gus were together was delicious,sexy, and everything in between. I felt it deep within my bones. The angst made butterflies appear in my stomach because all I wanted was for these two characters to just get it together already! The looks and subtle touches alone...*sigh*

What made this particular read so special was that it spoke directly to a bookworms heart. Henry wrote this story just for me. I felt that pain January felt. I felt her joy and I felt the moment she fell in love. If you’re looking for a book that has it all—romance, swoons, hard times, betrayals, and hope, don’t pass this one by! I wish I could read it again for the first time.

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are subjective but my own.

Buy the book:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

About the author:
Emily Henry writes stories about love and family for both teens and adults. She studied creative writing at Hope College and the now-defunct New York Center for Art & Media Studies. Find her on Instagram @EmilyHenryWrites.

Review-Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson

Publisher: Berkley

Published: May, 19, 2020

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: Print ARC

Rating: 4.5 stars

GOODREADS

Blurb:
When their foster-turned-adoptive mother suddenly dies, four brothers struggle to keep open the doors of her beloved Harlem knitting shop, while dealing with life and love in Harlem.

Jesse Strong is known for two things: his devotion to his adoptive mom, Mama Joy, and his reputation for breaking hearts in Harlem. When Mama Joy unexpectedly passes away, he and his brothers have different plans on what to do with Strong Knits, their neighborhood knitting store: Jesse wants to keep the store open; his brothers want to shut it down.

Jesse makes an impassioned plea to Kerry Fuller, his childhood friend who has had a crush on him her entire life, to help him figure out how to run the business. Kerry agrees to help him reinvent the store and show him the knitty-gritty of the business, but the more time they spend together, the more the chemistry builds. Kerry, knowing Jesse’s history, doesn’t believe this relationship will exist longer than one can knit one, purl one. But Jesse is determined to prove to her that he can be the man for her—after all, real men knit.

Review:
I’m in love with love. I read this during the month of love; February. So I’m happy I was able to read such a well-written and fun read about four hot brothers that knit during the most romantic month of the year! That being said, this book doesn’t come out until May but I promise it will be out before you know it! Read it then come back and discuss with me!

I’m so grateful to live in a time where I don’t ever have to be shamed for reading romance. And to those who look down on romance readers, all I have to say is that IT’S YOUR LOSS. Real Men Knit shows the importance of how love can really be all you need. Especially when you feel that love all the way down into your gut.

Jesse and Kerry are the female and male lead you love to root for. Sure, Jesse is a bit of a ladies man, but it didn’t take away from the sweet side that had Kerry falling in love with him. For good reason! Mama Joy is the lovely lady that raised (and adopted) four boys that couldn’t be more different. They’re brothers though and it comes as a shock when Mama Joy passes away.

Then comes the whole she-bang of what to do with her knitting shop. Jesse wants to keep it, while the brothers want to sell it. He’ll do anything to keep that from happening. So, that’s when his childhood friend comes into the picture with helping him save the shop.

Along the way, we meet so many wonderful characters that will no doubt have the potential to be in follow-up books. I'm here for it when it happens :)
 Jackson has written a romance for the ages and I for one am a new found fan!

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Buy the book:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

About the author:
A USA Today bestselling author, native New Yorker, Kwana Jackson aka K.M. Jackson author spent her formative years on the 'A' train where she had two dreams: 1) to be a fashion designer and 2) to be a writer. After spending over ten years designing women's sportswear for various fashion houses Kwana took the leap of faith and decided to pursue her other dream of being a writer.
A longtime advocate for equality and diversity in romance and #WeNeedDiverseRomace, Kwana is a mother of twins and currently lives in a suburb of New York with her husband. When not writing she can be found on Twitter @kwanawrites, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KmJacksonAuthor/ and on her website at www.kmjackson.com.

Review-Not That Kind of Guy by Andie J. Christopher

Publisher: Berkley 

Published: April 14, 2020

Genre: Contemporary romance

Source: E-ARC

Rating: 5 stars

GOODREADS

Blurb:

An office attraction becomes something more when they're off the clock in this delightful romantic comedy by the USA Today bestselling author of Not the Girl You Marry.

State attorney Bridget Nolan is successful in all aspects of her life—except romance. After breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, she's been slow to reenter the dating scene. To be honest, she has more important things to do like putting bad guys behind bars. But with her brother's wedding right around the corner, she suddenly needs a date and fast. Lucky for Bridget, the legal intern is almost done with his program.

Matt Kido is dumbstruck by Bridget—total love at first sight—but there's one problem. She's totally off-limits while she's his boss. But the moment he no longer reports to her, Matt decides to take a chance. An impulsive decision takes them to Las Vegas where, as the saying goes, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Unless you put a ring on it. 

Review:

Someone pinch me! This was sooo good and the only thing I didn't like about it was that it ended. Bridget is my spirit animal even though we have nothing in common. She's the type of woman I wished I could be but always came up short. If we're being honest, I still come up short, but whatever! She's an amazing badass.

"Bridget Nolan had lush auburn hair, piercing gray-blue eyes, cut-glass cheekbones, and a voice that was better than a hand job."

Matt Kido. So, where could I find one like him? He's just been through a bad breakup with a she-devil when he goes and changes up all his plans. The first day of his internship, he sees the fierce and beautiful, Bridget. The same woman whose sworn off all relationships. For good reason...men are shiiit, hah!

Love at first sight...it's a thing people! Especially when it comes to Matt; for he's never seen anything as beautiful than Bridget. Then as fate would have it, the two become work colleagues in the closest way possible-as boss and employee. Dun dun dun. 

The two obviously can't have a relationship because of ethics, blah blah blah. What happens when Matt's internship ends and he's no longer under her (at least not in the way he wants to be, yet.) though?

“The way I see it, we’re both consenting adults. I no longer work for you. And I think you’re attracted to me, too.”

Matty boy wastes no time, y'all! I like that. Herein starts the good stuff. I enjoyed watching Bridget fight hard (but not THAT hard) over her feelings for Matt. It was only a matter of time anyways. The two had the explosive chemistry we all love to read about so much. There was only one thing left to do in the end...

Overall, I was a giddy mess throughout the whole book. This is the type of romance that makes you swoon into Fabio like it's the 1980s. Yum!

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Buy the book:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Andie J. Christopher writes edgy, funny, sexy contemporary romance featuring heat, humor, and dirty talking heroes that make readers sweat. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Stanford Law School, she grew up in a family of voracious readers, and picked up her first romance novel at age twelve when she'd finished reading everything else in her grandmother's house. It was love at first read. It wasn't too long before she started writing her own stories -- her first heroine drank Campari and drove an Alfa Romeo up a winding road to a minor royal's estate in Spain. Andie lives in the Nation's Capital with her French Bulldog, Gus, a stockpile of Campari, and way too many books.

Review:Undercover Bromance (Bromance Book Club #2) by Lyssa Kay Adams

Publisher: Berkley

Published: March 10, 2020

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: Print ARC

Rating: 5 stars

GOODREADS

Blurb:
Braden Mack thinks reading romance novels makes him an expert in love, but he’ll soon discover that real life is better than fiction. 

Liv Papandreas has a dream job as a sous chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef.

Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub entrepreneur offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. He’ll need to call in reinforcements: the Bromance Book Club.

Inspired by the romantic suspense novel they’re reading, the book club assists Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart... even though she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned.

Review:
Romance is hella fun. When The Bromance Book Club came out last year, I knew I found myself a new author to love and stalk..er...I mean, follow. Not like the crazy chick from Misery. Nope, not crazy like that! Adams writes a wonderful story about how there's no damn place for toxic masculinity in romancelandia. None whatsoever. I fell in love with the way that the men had a secret bookclub dedicated to romance in order to love and understand their ladies better.

“We spend a lot of time talking about the unfairness of how our toxic masculine society forces us to be ashamed of embracing romance novels."

It was more than that though. Because while they read books together, what they've formed is a brotherhood that will always have their back. There's so much beauty in that. Undercover Bromance is the story of Mack; the founder of the bookclub. He's the type of fella who likes to flirt...a lot. Mainly because he has yet to find the perfect girl for him.

"He was tired of watching his friends live happily ever after while he fruitlessly searched for the future Mrs. Mack—someone he could spoil, grow old with, and cherish forever."

Enter Liz. The beautiful sous chef to a douchebag celebrity chef. Unfortunately, she gets fired when sticking up for a young girl being harassed by the chef. Enter Mack and the bros to help in any way they can. Revenge is a dish best served cold. 

"Mack found his favorite author and pulled The Protector, her newest book, off the shelf. A romantic suspense about a Secret Service agent and the president’s daughter. He loved a little danger with his romance, and he especially loved an enemies-to-lovers story."

You know what was super cool with the book? It was the book the bromance club is reading and gathering inspiration from in order to pull a fast one on the creepy ex-boss. The enemies-to-lovers storyline is a lovely bonus that was seriously the best! The banter between Liv and Mack is panty-melting-scorching-hot. In my opinion, the best kinds of romance to have around.

There are many things I adored about the book and I'm always so sad to see one end when I don't want it to. The Bromance Book Club series is so damn fun, sexy, and immensely entertaining. You don't want to miss out on these books!

"There was just something satisfying about two people discovering that what makes them fight is also the thing that makes them perfect for each other." 

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Buy the book:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

About the Author:
Lyssa Kay Adams is the pen name of an award-winning journalist who gave up the world of telling true stories to pen emotional romances. She’s also a diehard Detroit Tigers fan who will occasionally cheer for the Red Sox because her husband is from Boston.

Lyssa lives in Michigan with her family and an anxiety-ridden Maltese who steals food and buries it around the house and who will undoubtedly be a character in a future book.

Things Lyssa loves: Baseball pants, mashed potatoes, and that little clicking sound that scissors make on the cutting table at fabric stores.

Things she doesn’t love: Mean people, melting ice cream cones, and finding food in her underwear drawer.

Keep up with Lyssa on Twitter at @LyssaKayAdams. Please note: She mostly tweets about baseball pants and mashed potatoes.