Julie's Review: Magical Meet Cute

Author: Jean Meltzer
Series: None
Publication Date:  August 27, 2024
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley and book tour
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: A great story about making your wishes come true
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Summary: Faye Kaplan used to be engaged. She also used to have a successful legal practice. But she much prefers her new life as a potter in Woodstock, New York. The only thing missing is the perfect guy. Not that she needs one. She’s definitely happy alone. That is, until she finds her town papered with anti-Semitic flyers after yet another failed singles event at the synagogue. Desperate for comfort, Faye drunkenly turns to the only thing guaranteed to soothe her—pottery. A golem protector is just what her town needs…and adding all the little details to make him her ideal man can’t hurt, right? When a seriously hot stranger mysteriously turns up the next day, Greg seems too good to be true—if you ignore the fact that Faye hit him with her bike. And that he subsequently lost his memory… But otherwise, the man checks Every. Single. Box. Causing Faye to wonder if Greg’s sudden and spicy appearance might be anything but a coincidence. ~amazon.com

Review: I can always count on Ms. Meltzer to write a fun romance and this added a bit more social commentary than her last books, but I'm here for it. I think its great when it's woven into the story and is part of the plot. Faye is a wonderful heroine who is trying to live life on her own terms after being dumped by her fiancé before their wedding. She carves out a life creating pottery in Woodstock and is happy until antisemitic flyers find their way into her town. This fires her up and one night she decides to take some protection into her own hands and creates a golem. Then, it seems like the universe gives her the real life version.  

I love how I could be laughing out loud one moment and then really pondering what makes people so hateful based on someone's religion, race, gender. Faye definitely needs to work on somethings in her past that are still holding her back from being truly happy. The cast of characters in the book are fantastic and show how communities can really rally when needed. 

Review Quickies

I haven't been the best lately at writing reviews of all the books I've read/listened to still, so I decided to do another quick review. I swear at some point I really will get better about doing full reviews. For now, here are some thoughts on recent books. 

I have read every single book that Abby has written and let me tell you, her books really don't disappoint. I loved the aspect of the "magic" of being the one before the "one". For this to happen to both Emma and Justin and then for them to find each other, has to mean something right? Abby always has serious subjects woven into her stories and Just for the Summer isn't without those and other hurdles. 

First of all, how many names does Catherine McKenzie write under? I had no clue this was her until other bloggers starting saying it. I mean maybe author picture could have given me an idea?!! I love all these romance novels that are fun but have serious issues or backgrounds that characters have to deal with before they can be in that relationship or at least work on it before proceeding. I loved the premise of this book and how it's a little bit messy between Chloe and "Jack". Plus her best friend is great! 

This writing duo's last few books have been fantastic and The Paradise Problem was a knock out punch. I loved this book and the characters so much! Anna is a great heroine who adapts to the awkward situation she's put into and is gracious. Liam is a mess but a very hot, sexy mess. His family is so very toxic as in they could be a case study for toxic families. I'm not sure how Anna survived it. Well I do and they were very spicy scenes. 😉 I love the faking dating trope but this might be my favorite fake marriage trope novel. 

Julie's Review: Take Two, Birdie Maxwell

Author: Allison Winn Scotch
Series: None
Publication Date: March 5, 2024
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 367
Obtained: Purchased
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Communication is key
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Summary: Birdie Robinson thought she’d gotten everything she wanted out of life: fame, adoration, and an A-list Hollywood career. But after an on-set feud goes viral, she leaves L.A. for the one place where no one would think to find her: her hometown. She’s startled to stumble upon a love letter from a former boyfriend asking for a second chance. And there’s just one issue: the letter was unsigned and she’s not sure which ex sent it. Still, a public reunion with an ex-boyfriend could turn the wave of public opinion back in her favor. Life imitating art. What could go wrong? Elliot O’Brien, star reporter, knows that life isn’t an actual rom-com. Case in point, he’s spent two decades repressing his long-simmering feelings for his twin sister’s best friend, Birdie. But with his journalism career cratering and Birdie back in their hometown at the same time he is, he realizes that chronicling her search for her long-ago ex may be his opportunity to right some wrongs. As they hit the road in an ancient RV, Birdie and Elliot retrace her romantic history for clues to who wrote the letter and come face to face with their own romantic missteps, all while grappling with whether happy endings are found only on the big screen—or whether their own happier ever after could be closer than they both ever imagined. ~amazon.com

Review: If you've been reading this blog for any period of time, you know I've been a big Allison fan for a long time. Her latest, Take Two, Birdie Maxwell is wonderful. Not only is it heartfelt, humorous but it's about self-discovery and being honest with those around you. How misunderstands left cleared up end up festering for years. Birdie is at the height of her career as the darling of film, when she lays into a beloved director and it's caught on film. Except instead of the public backing her up, it goes against her even though she is in the right. So, Birdie goes home with her tail between her legs only to find things are exactly great there either. As she goes through boxes of her stuff from her room, she runs across a letter that she's never seen and it turns out to be someone declaring their undying love for her. Birdie figures what better way to get back into the good graces of the public than to find who wrote her the letter. 

This is where Elliot enters the story. As a journalist, Birdie feels he is the right person to join her on this journey because he'll make her look good but also she just wants some company. One has to ask though, is this the best decision given their history? 

I loved how the POVs were from both Birdie and Elliot; it was important to get their perspectives on their connected history. One of the best things I think for Birdie was that things weren't exactly how she always remembered them; that the other person might have experienced things a little differently than her. Unfortunately, all of this is front and center and it doesn't make Birdie look good all the time. 

I did love seeing how Birdie was able to reflect on her past and have some revelations about her behavior. I absolutely loved the ending and what led to the big reveal. There are a lot of laugh out loud parts in the book as well. 

Ms. Scotch will continue to be an auto-buy author for me and I look forward to reading what she writes next. 

Julie's Review: In a Not So Perfect World

Author: Neely Tubati Alexander
Series: None
Publication Date:  March 19, 2024
Publisher: Harper Perennial 
Pages: 328
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Find someone who pushes you
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Summary: Sloane Cooper is up for her dream job as a designer for a top video game company. During the interview, though, she somehow promises the all-male panel that she’ll remain single and fully dedicated to the work. It’s actually fine—after her last boyfriend cheated on her, she vowed to focus on her career anyway. Enter Charlie, aka Hot Neighbor Guy, a near-stranger who shocks her with the offer of an all-inclusive trip to a Turks and Caicos resort. The catch? Charlie originally planned the trip with his ex, and asks Sloane to pose as his new girlfriend to make his old flame come running back. Against her better judgment, Sloane says yes; she can use the time away to develop a game design that will dazzle the Catapult team and get her a job offer. Despite sparks flying in paradise, the trip can’t lead to more. As their connection deepens, Sloane is reminded that she can’t fall for Charlie and get knocked off her professional path. Besides, he’s trying to win back his true love. Can Sloane figure out a way to move past heartbreak, land the job of her dreams, and avoid catching feelings? The zombie apocalypse would be easier to solve—at least she’s prepared for that. ~amazon.com

Review: It is rare that I get time to myself but I had that after dropping my daughter back at college after Spring Break and in that time I finished this absolutely delightful book. Love Buzz was a favorite in 2023 and In a Not So Perfect World is in no way a Sophomore slump by Ms. Alexander. The characters in this book are just delightful but not without their share of foibles. Sloane has always loved playing video games and is now poised to get her big break at the biggest gaming company. Coming off a pretty bad break up, she doesn't even flinch when the 3 men ask her to basically devote herself to the company and stay single. Yes, it's all kind of illegal but I get the feeling this isn't uncommon in these types of companies. Enter, Charlie, the hot neighbor guy she kissed at the bar the other day and his offer for a paid vacation after his horrible break up. 

Sloane thinks that she can use the vacation to work on her game demo for her final interview without interruptions but her best friend, Tess knows that she's going with the biggest distraction there could be, Charlie. While he is a distraction, he's also encouraging to Sloane and understands how much this interview and job mean to her. He even plays her games.

Of course it's not without misunderstandings and wrong turns and silence. Both Charlie and Sloane have baggage and Sloane has some control issues she needs to deal with as well. I did love the ending to this book and hope that they both get their happily ever after. 

Julie's Review: The Spanish Love Deception

Author: Elena Armas
Series: None
Publication Date:  February 8, 2022
Publisher: Atria
Pages: 448
Obtained: purchased
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Slow, spicy burn
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Summary: Catalina Martín desperately needs a date to her sister’s wedding. Especially since her little white lie about her American boyfriend has spiralled out of control. Now everyone she knows—including her ex and his fiancée—will be there and eager to meet him. She only has four weeks to find someone willing to cross the Atlantic and aid in her deception. New York to Spain is no short flight and her raucous family won’t be easy to fool. Enter Aaron Blackford—her tall, handsome, condescending colleague—who surprisingly offers to step in. She’d rather refuse; never has there been a more aggravating, blood-boiling, and insufferable man. But Catalina is desperate, and as the wedding draws nearer, Aaron looks like her best option. And she begins to realize he might not be as terrible in the real world as he is at the office. ~amazon.com 

Review: Well Ms. Armas wastes no time diving right into the storyline with the first line of the book and it pretty much had me swooning from then on. I mean I'm sorry but Lina is pretty blind that she can't see how Aaron is totally into her from the beginning. I guess that is the purpose of an enemies to lovers book though. Although I wasn't convinced that it was a two sided hate at all. I mean a guy who hates you doesn't offer to bail you out, right? 

The heat that radiates from the two of them really comes off the page but it's also very sweet. I loved Lina and her loud, boisterous family. They cracked me up, especially her sister. Lina is full of assumptions about Aaron because of their initial meeting and something she heard while passing outside a door. Of course, there's a very different meaning around what he said.

What I loved about this is that it is the epitome of a slow burn, I mean you have to read 3/4 of the book to get to the spicy, but the build up is so worth it. There's a good plot too about confronting your past to move on and learning to forgive yourself. 

Julie’s Review: A Winter in New York

Author: Josie Silver
Series: None
Publication Date:  October 3, 2023
Publisher: Dell
Pages: 328
Obtained: pubisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: A moving love story about all kinds of love
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Summary: When Iris decides to move to New York to restart her life, she realizes she underestimated how big the Big Apple really is—all the nostalgic movies set in New York she’d watched with her mom while eating their special secret-recipe gelato didn’t quite do it justice.  But Bobby, Iris’s best friend, isn’t about to let her hide away. He drags her to a famous autumn street fair in Little Italy, and as they walk through the food stalls, a little family-run gelateria catches her eye—could it be the same shop that’s in an old photo of her mother’s? Curious, Iris returns the next day and meets the handsome Gio, who tells her that the shop is in danger of closing. His uncle, sole keeper of their family’s gelato recipe, is recovering from a stroke and can no longer remember it, so they can’t make more. When Iris samples the last remaining batch, she realizes that their gelato and her gelato are one and the same. But how can she tell them she knows their secret recipe when she’s not sure why Gio’s uncle gave it to her mother in the first place? Iris offers her services as a chef to help them re-create the flavor and finds herself falling for Gio and his family. But when Gio’s uncle finally wakes up, all of the secrets Iris has been keeping threaten to ruin the new life—and new love—she’s been building all winter long. ~amazon.com

Review:  What would you do if you had a secret family recipe but it wasn’t for your family? Would you immediately give it back, even if brought you comfort? This is the quandary of Iris as she happens upon the gelatria that is in her mom’s scrapbook. 

I absolutely adored Iris and her found family of Shen, Bobby and Robin in New York. Even the stray cat Smirnoff provided a comfort to her when she needed it. It's not happenstance that brings her to New York but a way to stay connected to her deceased mother. It was always just them since Iris' father was absent and she feels a bit untethered since her death. She also fled London to get out of a horrible relationship. 

Gio has also gone through hardships of his own and is pretty closed off emotionally except for his daughter. HIs family is also loud and loving,  constantly pushing him in ways he doesn't want. It doesn't help that his Papa suffered a stroke and can't remember their family recipe for their famous vanilla gelato. This is where Iris comes in and their lives intersect. Neither of them planned on falling in love and it really complicates things when a family member of Gio's returns. 

When Iris tries to run this time, there are people who love her and try to stop her. She needs to face her past to have a future, any future. 

Yes, this is a romance novel but it’s also about family, found family and letting go of the past. I loved Iris and her struggle to do what is right for her and also this new found family in the Belotti’s. This is another great novel by Josie Silver who is now an auto buy for me. 

Julie's Review: Love Interest

Author: Clare Gilmore
Series: None
Publication Date:  October 10, 2023
Publisher: Griffin
Pages: 352
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: A fun read with depth about healing
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Summary: Casey Maitland has always preferred the reliability of numbers. Now a twenty-four-year-old finance expert working in Manhattan, she wonders if the open project manager position at her company―magazine powerhouse LC Publications―is a sign from the universe to pursue a career with a little more sparkle. That is, until she’s passed over for the job in favor of the board chairman’s son. Alex Harrison is handsome, Harvard-educated, and enigmatic. Everybody loves him―except for Casey. But when the two are thrown on the same project, what they discover about their company might change everything―including the dreams each of them is chasing and their mutual love interest. ~amazon.com 

Review: I've been really loving romance books lately. I mean I've always read them but the books being published now are so different than the ones I grew up reading. For me they are more rooted in things that could actually happen in real life to anyone and Love Interest fits that. Given that we spend a great amount of time at work, romance has to happen there on a regular basis. I'm not sure I would classify this as an enemies to lovers trope but more like an opposites attract. Casey just doesn't like Alex because 1) He got the job she wanted; 2) She thinks he got it because of his last name. Of course, things aren't always what they seem which is what Casey finds out pretty quickly. Plus, there's a pretty clever meet cute for them right off the bat. 

While Casey didn't get the job, she is assigned at the financial analyst to the project which puts her and Alex in very close proximty to each other. It becomes evident very quickly why Alex got the job with his vision and excitement. Alex is the opposite of Casey in every way but not the point where they don't find common ground. Casey is pretty quick to let her guard down with him especially after spending some time with him for the company YouTube series. 

I was afraid that it was going to follow the usual trope of a misunderstanding that leads to a big fight to tear them apart but Ms. Gilmore did not go that direction and I appreciated it. This book left me with a big smile on my face and a feel good feeling. There are some serious messages in the book but nothing that felt preachy to me. 

I highly recommend this one for all you romance readers out there. 

Julie's Review: Kissing Kosher

Author: Jean Meltzer
Series: None
Publication Date:  August 29, 2023
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Obtained: publisher
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: I will read anything Jean Meltzer writes
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Summary: Avital Cohen isn’t wearing underpants—woefully, for unsexy reasons. Chronic pelvic pain has forced her to sideline her photography dreams and her love life. It’s all she can do to manage her family’s kosher bakery, Best Babka in Brooklyn, without collapsing. She needs hired help. And distractingly handsome Ethan Lippmann seems the perfect fit. Except Ethan isn’t there to work—he’s undercover, at the behest of his ironfisted grandfather. Though Lippmann’s is a household name when it comes to mass-produced kosher baked goods, they don’t have the charm of Avital’s bakery. Or her grandfather’s world-famous pumpkin spice babka recipe. As they bake side by side, Ethan soon finds himself more interested in Avital than in stealing family secrets, especially as he helps her find the chronic pain relief—and pleasure—she’s been missing. But perfecting the recipe for romance calls for leaving out the lies…even if coming clean means risking everything. ~amazon.com 

Review: I'm so happy that a friend turned me on to Jean Meltzer's books a couple years ago because each one of them has been an utter delight to read. I will say that now I'm hooked, I need her next book ASAP but no pressure. 

Secrets are never good and will end up coming back to bite you in the arse in the most unexpected time and from the least expected person. Unfortuntely this is what happens to Ethan but luckily at this point Avital already knew. It does have consequences for them both though. 

Avital and Ethan are both dealing with pain even if they are different types of pain. Avital's is the type of physical pain that stiffles any semblance of a real life and Ethan's is the type of pain that can destroy a person's emotional/mental capacities. Somehow they find each other and begin to heal. Throughout the book you see how both are struggling with their different afflictions but how they bring out the best in each other. How Ethan really does want to find relief for Avital as they go on their medicinal weed adventure(s). How that adventure ends up changing their lives. 

The cast of characters that work at Best Babka are a hoot and provide some much needed levity for the novel. I also absolutely adored Ethan's brother Randy, who was a bit more than just a "drug" addict. 

I also loved the focus on the Jewish teaching and traditions. I loved Rabbi Jason's speech on intimacy and love; it was one of the best passages of the novel. 

If you haven't read Jean Meltzer, then go buy her three books because I promise you, you won't be disappointed. 

Julie's Review: Someone Just Like You

Author: Meredith Schorr
Series: None
Publication Date:  July 25, 2023
Publisher: Forever
Pages: 328
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: Absolutely loved the banter
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Summary: New Yorker Molly Blum knows everything about her lifelong nemesis, Jude Stark. With their families so close, they should have been best friends. Instead, she thinks he’s a too-charming slacker, and he thinks she’s allergic to fun. After years of one-upping each other’s pranks (chocolate-dipped cat treats are not as delicious as they appear), one high school joke went too far, and they stopped speaking completely. But now that they’re supposed to help plan a massive party for their parents—together—there’s no better time to resume their war. And it is on. Only somewhere between all the sniping and harmless hijinks, a reluctant friendship develops, along with an unexpected spark of sexual tension. It might have to do with the fact that she’s been dating Jude-lookalikes and he’s been dating Molly doppelgangers. Or the fact that neither of them is nearly as horrible as they thought. All Molly and Jude know is that they’ve mastered the art of hating each other. Falling in love, on the other hand, is a whole new battlefield. ~amazon.com

Review: I love a good enemies to friends to lovers but what I loved most about Meredith Schorr's Someone Just Like You was the banter between Molly and Jude. I mean the one liners they would say to each other were classic not mention the one upmanship of the pranks they would play on each other since having to team up for their parents co-anniversary party. Jude infuriates Molly which of course only makes Jude enjoy it all the more. 

As Molly and Jude begin to spend more time together they try to put their childish ways behind them but it's hard when it's what you've done your whole life. Except Jude is the one to listen to Molly when she tells him about this unique opportunity for a job she's excited about. He's even serious and tells her she should pursue it since she seems passionate about it. 

There are many things about Jude that we see through Molly's eyes that begin to change over the course of the book. Honestly, I thought Jude was annoying when I first started the story but he grew on me..  

I loved how they both dated replications of each other but didn't see it. I found that pretty hilarious that their siblings all saw it and called it out. Family is a key piece to this story and one that I enjoyed having a look into since for Molly it really did shape her outlook and who she is today. 

If you are looking for a heartfelt novel about family, love and friendship (plus DOGS!), look no further than this gem. 

Julie's Review: Charm City Rocks

Author: Matthew Norman
Series: None
Publication Date:  June 6, 2023
Publisher: Dell Books
Pages: 368
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction; Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: Mr. Norman does it again
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Summary: Billy Perkins is happy. And why wouldn’t he be? He loves his job as an independent music teacher and his apartment in Baltimore above a record shop called Charm City Rocks. Most of all, he loves his brainy teenage son, Caleb. Margot Hammer, on the other hand, is far from happy. The former drummer of the once-famous band Burnt Flowers, she’s now a rock-and-roll recluse living alone in New York City. When a new music documentary puts Margot back in the spotlight, she realizes how much she misses her old band and the music that gave her life meaning.  Billy has always had a crush on Margot. But she’s a legitimate rock star—or, at least, she was—so he never thought he’d meet her. Until Caleb, worried that his easygoing dad might actually be lonely, cooks up a scheme to get Margot to perform at Charm City Rocks. It’s the longest of long shots, but Margot’s label has made it clear that any publicity is an opportunity she can’t afford to miss. When their paths collide, Billy realizes that he maybe wasn’t as happy as he thought—and Margot learns that sometimes the sweetest music is a duet. ~amazon.com 

Review: Matthew Norman is a can't miss author for me. His sense of humor is right up my alley and he always has clever insights on life. I have loved each on of his books and Charm City Rocks is no different. This one is a love letter to his home city of Baltimore and 90s girl bands. 

Billy Perkins loves his life. He likes teaching students music, loves living above a record store and really loves spending time with his son, Caleb. He doesn't even mind sharing the kid with his ex, Robyn. It works well for the 3 of them, 4 if you count the co-dad, Aaron. Things are going to change though even if none of them are completely aware. The biggest change will be set off by Caleb himself and lead Billy to meet his teenage crush, Margot Hammer. 

Unlike Billy, Margot doesn't love her life. Her daughter, Poppy, definitely doesn't think she's happy. In fact it's been a long time since she's been happy because she lost what made her the happiest...her music. Since her epic meltdown on the MTV Awards she's shielded herself from the world in her loft in NYC. Being thrown into a situation she doesn't know how to handle in a city she's not familiar with she goes into a bar and the rest it history. 

Except it's not always easy and being a famous rock star that is back from the oblivion has some drawbacks. Like thrusting Billy into the limelight and making Margot deal with issues she thought she buried. 

I just adored this book. It's about 2nd chances at life and love but it's also about family. It's really just a feel good book that I suggest you read. 

Julie's Review: The True Love Experiment

Author: Christina Lauren
Series: None
Publication Date:  May 16, 2023
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 413
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Steamy, sexy and a wonderful romance
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Summary: Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached. Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie? Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter. But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too. ~amazon.com

Review: While we get to know Fizzy in The Soulmate Equation as Jess' best friend, she truly shines in The True Love Experiment. Also, you don't have to read the aforementioned to read this one. Fizzy is a romance writer of a lot of notoriety but she's hit a wall; in her writing and her dating scene. She's stuck and it's driving her nuts. Enter Connor Prince III, he's also stuck but very differently; he's got to stop producing documentaries and save the company that employs him by doing a dating show. He's not sure how he's going to do it or even what he's going to do it about, until he and Fizzy cross paths.  The rest they say is history but of course it's not going to be an easy road. 

I love how Fizzy tests Connor's limits immediately by giving him her list of expectations and ideas for the show. I'm not sure she was expecting him to like them and to agree to him. I think that's what initially attracts her to him; he doesn't back down from her. I loved the banter but as they spend more time together a full connection occurs for both of them which could have disastrous effects for both of them. 

If you are not into spice and steam, then this book is not for you because it is how Fizzy and Connor connect but it's not the only way. I also loved the twist at the end which was well done. You will fall for Fizzy & Connor just like I did. 

Julie's Review: Love Buzz

Author: Neely Tubati-Alexander
Series: None
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 304
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Stunning debut
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Summary: A wretched maid of honor. A hangover from hell. Raucous Mardi Gras crowds. There isn’t much Serena Khan is enjoying about this four-day New Orleans destination bachelorette party for her semi-estranged cousin, the bride-to-be. UNTIL sparks fly with a handsome stranger, who—like her—is also from Seattle, at the ladies’ last stop of the evening, a Bourbon Street bar. After their conversation is cut short, Serena is overwhelmed by the desire to find the charming man with the brooding eyebrows, but her list of clues is pretty short:

His name is Julian

He lives on Chamber Hill

He works at a tech company

He loves Lil Wayne and Nirvana

The need to find him is, for Serena, both irresistible and totally irrational. In a few short weeks, her college alumni magazine is featuring her in a “Life at Thirty” feature, cementing her as a success story. She will have officially achieved the safe, stable life her late mother insisted upon. Julian is not part of the plan. As she combs Seattle for her New Orleans flame, stripping away the perfectly curated life that would have made her mother proud, Serena must decide if the pursuit of real passion is worth it, and fast, before she destroys the life she always thought she wanted. In a sharply funny, thoughtful, and romantic debut combining the wistfulness of Rebecca Serle with the witty sizzle of Emily Henry, Neely Tubati-Alexander prompts us all to ask if the life we’re living is a life worth loving. ~amazon.com

Review:  Love Buzz captured me from the opening lines and didn't let me go. If I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it or thinking about reading it. That says something to me about a debut novel, that it pulls you in so easily. What could have been a novel about only the "meet cute", it was so much more than that. Serena is on a trip that she didn't even want to take for a bachelorette who she hasn't been close to in 8 years but yet she's in New Orleans bored out of her mind. That is until a mysterious stranger approaches her at the bar and sets her life in a tail-spin. 

Serena has always played it safe. It is how she honors her mother and the hard work her mother had to do for her to go to college and make a better life for herself. She has a plan and that plan does not take into account meeting a handsome stranger and having feelings you've never had before. She is methodical and strategic definitely not whimsical and dreamy. 

I really can't tell you much more or I'll give away the whole story. Ms. Tubati-Alexander does a fantastic job of describing someone who is really having a total change of heart regarding her life. What it's like to question every choice you've made and who it is you are trying to make happy with those choice? It's also about letting go of the past and realizing that your view isn't the only one, especially when dealing with grief. 

I will tell you this, I'm buying a copy of this book and will pre-order anything Ms. Tubati-Alexander writes in the future. She knows how to tell a beautiful story. 

Julie's Review: The Rewind

Author: Allison Winn Scotch
Series: None
Publication Date:  November 1, 2022
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 366
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Not the classic romance
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Summary: When college sweethearts Frankie and Ezra broke up before graduation, they vowed to never speak to each other again. Ten years later, on the eve of the new millennium, they find themselves back on their snowy, picturesque New England campus together for the first time for the wedding of mutual friends. Frankie’s on the rise as a music manager for the hottest bands of the late ’90s, and Ezra’s ready to propose to his girlfriend after the wedding. Everything is going to plan—they just have to avoid the chasm of emotions brought up when they inevitably come face to face. But when they wake up in bed next to each other the following morning with Ezra’s grandmother’s diamond on Frankie’s finger, they have zero memory of how they got there—or about any of the events that transpired the night before. Now Frankie and Ezra have to put aside old grievances in order to figure out what happened, what didn’t happen...and to ask themselves the most troubling question of all: what if they both got it wrong the first time around? ~amazon.com

Review: If you are looking for a deeply complex story about discovering yourself, confronting the past and planning the future you will definitely want to pick up The Rewind. If you are looking for a classic fairy tale romance where the former lovers see each other and immediately fall back in love, then move on from The Rewind.

You get a bit of the background of Frankie and Ezra's college love story in the beginning of the novel through both of their eyes but it really starts to reveal itself as the novel goes on. Whenever anyone says there are two sides to the story, I believe in cases of relationships there are 3: his, hers and the truth. Our own memories skew how we view things that happened to us and how we want to color the past. It isn't until you are confronted with someone else's view that you might question yours. 

Frankie is a closed book, even with those closest to her there are parts of her she holds back. Ezra is more of an open book but there are still parts of him that he holds onto as well. This begs the question throughout the book, do we need to keep somethings to ourselves to protect ourselves or because we are scared? Do we need to share everything about ourselves with those we are closest too or do we save some of ourselves for ourself?

As the 24 hours unfolds, Ezra and Frankie both find out some truths about themselves in the past and today, some truths about their relationship and their current relationships with others. Neither one of them is the villain in their story but each of them play their part in the dissemination of it. It isn't until they connect again, albeit with both of them hating the other, that they realize some things. That's called growing up and being an adult. 

I will admit that this book is not what I thought it would be but it ended up being great. Now that I've been done with it for a few days, I can see how a more realistic love story is at times better than the fantasy. 

Julie's Review: The Ex Hex

Author: Erin Sterling
Series: Ex Hex #1
Publication Date:  September 28, 2021
Publisher: Avon Publishing
Pages: 320
Obtained: purchased by Book of the Month
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Fall witchy fun
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Summary: Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two. That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all. Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.

Review: This one sat on my shelf for a whole year; what a mistake that was because this was a delight. Usually I love to read Alice Hoffman this time of year but alas she has no new book out right now. I have never read Rachel Hawkins/Erin Sterling but I've already added The Kiss Curse to my add-ons for November through BOTM. 

What happens when two young witches put a curse on a young man due to a broken heart? Well 9 years later, it reeks havoc on their hometown of Graves Glen. Rhys is picked to be the one Penhallow to go home and charge their ancestorial lines. Of course, it's a small town and there is no way Vivi and Rhys won't see each other. Of course as much as Vivi has tried to get Rhys out of her system, it all comes rushing back to her. It's the same for Rhys when he sees her but he's had an easier time with letting it all go because his life was so far away from that pertinent summer. 

As Vivi and Rhys spend more and more time together to undo this curse, their attraction to each other heats up. Of course they are both 9 years older and know that their physical attraction can't be the only thing that will keep them together. 

The Ex Hex is a fun read with lots of heart, laughs and romps around town. I loved Aunt Elaine & Gwyn but not as much as I enjoyed Sir Purrcival. 😁I'm excited to read the next one in this series and hope we get a few more. 

Julie's Review: Bad Girl Reputation

Author: Elle Kennedy
Series: Avalon Bay #2
Publication Date:  October 4, 2022
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 320
Obtained: Get Red PR
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Saucy & Electric
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Summary: When former bad girl Genevieve West returns home for her mother’s funeral, she’s prepared to keep her distance from her ex-boyfriend, Evan Hartley. Their history is rife with turbulence. And passion. A heck of a lot of passion...which she’s trying desperately to forget. But it’s impossible not to run into Evan in the small coastal town where they once ran wild. And the moment she sees her gorgeous ex again, it’s clear to Gen that Evan is still as unruly, sexy, and irresistible as ever. This time around, however, she’s resolved to walk a new path. No more partying. No more foolish mistakes. Her plan is to temporarily remain in town to help her father run his business, but the second he finds somebody else, she’s out of there. Evan has other ideas. He knows they can be good together, but he just has to convince Genevieve of that, even if it means turning over a new leaf himself. But can a bad reputation ever truly be shed? Do second chances really work? Genevieve and Evan are about to find out. ~amazon.com

Review: Genevieve, Gen, left her hometown of Avalon Bay quickly before she could be talked out of it by her on again and off again, Evan. Evan and Gen are dynamite together but if it explodes look out. I mean what do you do as a teenager living in a small town but party and cause some havoc. Unfortunately, when you get past a certain age that behavior doesn't really get you anywhere. So when she comes back for her mother's funeral, she plans to get in and out but of course that's not how it's going to go for her. Within minutes of seeing her ex-boyfriend, Evan, they are back to their old familiar push and pull. See for Evan, they are still together since she pretty much just disappeared. Evan being a bit romantic and a bit obsessed can't just let her go. 

Gen wants to do her best to move on but they have always had a magnetic pull and that can be hard to break. She really wants to change and become someone different but how does she do that without losing who she is at her core? Can she still be carefree without the havoc? How does this affect her relationship with all of those around her? Can you start over in the place where you've always been? She's not so sure she can if Evan is in her life. Evan, on the other hand, is determined to show her they can and that he's not the same person either. 

I loved the growth that both Gen and Evan had throughout the book. Knowing that they still have a connection but it's matured helps them both focus on different goals. 

Plus if you are looking for saucy and heat they have that in spades. Ms. Kennedy knows how to write a sex scene. I liked all of the 2nd characters and how Gen finally opened up about what caused her to flee from Avalon Bay the year prior. 

While this is the 2nd in a series, the first book focuses on different characters, so you don't need to read it before this one. Bad Girl Reputation is an addictive, quick read that you won't want to put down. 

Julie's Review: Mr. Perfect on Paper

Author: Jean Meltzer
Series: None
Publication Date:  August 9, 2022
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 416
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: For me it wasn't about the romantic love for Dara but the love for her Bubbe
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Summary: As the creator and CEO of the popular Jewish dating app J-Mate, matchmaker Dara Rabinowitz knows the formula for lasting love—at least, for everyone else. When it comes to her own love life, she’s been idling indefinitely. Until her beloved bubbe shares Dara’s checklist for “The Perfect Jewish Husband” on national television and charming news anchor Chris Steadfast proposes they turn Dara’s search into must-see TV.  As a non-Jewish single dad, Chris doesn’t check any of Dara’s boxes. But her hunt for Mr. Perfect is the ratings boost his show desperately needs. If only Chris could ignore his own pesky attraction to Dara—a task much easier said than done when Dara starts questioning if “perfect on paper” can compete with how hard she’s falling for Chris…~amazon.com

Review: Just because you are good at something professionally doesn't necessarily means it translates well personally. This is the case for Dara Rabinowitz who runs a successful dating app but hasn't had much luck in the love area herself. To be fair, it's not like she's really tried. I mean she's super busy running a successful company, taking care of her Bubbe Miriam and managing her anxiety. Dara is a type-A personality and that means she's very organized, particular and kind of likes being in control. Also, because of her generalized anxiety disorder, these things are really important for her mental health. It takes a lot for her to even prepare and do media for her company. So when her Bubbe Miriam joins her for a live interview on a local tv show and things go sideways, Dara is not at all prepared for the spiral it will send her life in. 

It's pretty obvious how the romantic love part of this books ends but for me it was more about her love and relationship with Bubbe than whom she would end up with in the end. It was so evident that Dara and Miriam had a pretty special relationship and some of that is because of their connection with being matchmakers. I loved how Miriam slyly pushed Dara out of her comfort zone to pursue happiness and love. 

Ms. Meltzer does a fantastic job of highlighting the difficulty of managing and living with a mental health issue. How it causes stress and anxiety in seemingly normal, every day tasks or situations. Years of therapy and medication have helped Dara manage it but she'll never be rid of it. I think that's an important statement. 

I also really enjoyed learning about the Jewish holidays and how many there truly are other than Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur that I was familiar with for a variety of reasons. 

If you are looking for a strong female protagonist and a novel about family, traditions and love, then look no further than Mr. Perfect on Paper. 

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Julie's Review: Bet on It

Author: Jodie Slaughter
Series: None
Publication Date:  July 12, 2022
Publisher: St. Martin's 
Pages: 315
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3.75/5
Bottom Line: Romance more on the serious side
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Summary: The first time Aja Owens encounters the man of her dreams, she’s having a panic attack in the frozen foods section of the Piggly Wiggly. The second time, he’s being introduced to her as her favorite bingo buddy’s semi-estranged grandson. From there, all it takes is one game for her to realize that he’s definitely going to be a problem. And if there’s anything she already has a surplus of, it’s problems. In Walker Abbott’s mind, there are only two worthwhile things in Greenbelt, South Carolina. The peach cobbler at his old favorite diner and his ailing grandmother. Dragging himself back after more than a decade away, he’s counting down the days until Gram heals and he can get back to his real life. Far away from the trauma inside of those city limits. Just when he thinks his plan is solid, enter Aja to shake everything up. A hastily made bingo-based sex pact is supposed to keep this…thing between them from getting out of hand. Especially when submitting to their feelings means disrupting their carefully balanced lives. But emotions are just like bingo callers—they refuse to be ignored. 

Review: In my opinion and hopefully others, there are not enough books out there with characters who struggle with their mental health but are working on it. Show the struggle and the rewards of taking care of yourself. This is definitely highlighted in Jodie Slaughter's novel Bet on It and not just the main character either. Aja Owens suffers from debilitating anxiety that has come to take over her life at the wrong times, like in the frozen aisle at the Piggly Wiggly. Then it happens that the kind stranger is the grandson of her Bingo partner and that's where the story of Aja and Walker truly begins. 

I will say that at times Walker got on my nerves because at first it seemed like he was more attracted to Aja for her physicality than her her brain or heart. This changed over the course of the story as he was attracted to more than her appearance. Aja is a gem of a character. She's working on herself in ways that all of us can learn from. She puts herself in situations that make her uncomfortable to start to be comfortable. 

As their friendship progresses, they both start to tear down their walls with each other, even if they are still up with others. I appreciated that she also made other ties to Greenbelt besides Ms. May and Walker. 

Bet on It shows how human interaction can help when you are at your lowest and be just what you need.

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Julie's Review: American Royalty

Author: Tracey Livesay
Series: None
Publication Date:  June 28, 2022
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 381
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Steamy interracial romance
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Summary: Sexy, driven rapper Danielle “Duchess” Nelson is on the verge of signing a deal that’ll make her one of the richest women in hip hop. More importantly, it’ll grant her control over her life, something she’s craved for years. But an incident with a rising pop star has gone viral, unfairly putting her deal in jeopardy. Concerned about her image, she’s instructed to work on generating some positive publicity… or else. A brilliant professor and reclusive royal, Prince Jameson prefers life out of the spotlight, only leaving his ivory tower to attend weddings or funerals. But with the Queen’s children involved in one scandal after another, and Parliament questioning the viability of the monarchy, the Queen is desperate. In a quest for good press, she puts Jameson in charge of a tribute concert in her late husband’s honor. Out of his depth, and resentful of being called to service, he takes the advice of a student. After all, what’s more appropriate for a royal concert than a performer named “Duchess”? Too late, Jameson discovers the American rapper is popular, sexy, raunchy and not what the Queen wanted, although he’s having an entirely different reaction. Dani knows this is the good exposure she needs to cement her deal and it doesn't hurt that the royal running things is fine as hell. Thrown together, they give in to the explosive attraction flaring between them. But as the glare of the limelight intensifies and outside forces try to interfere, will the Prince and Duchess be a fairy tale romance for the ages or a disaster of palatial proportions? ~amazon.com

Review: I am happy to report that while some people will try to twist this into a different version of Harry/Meghan, it is not that at all. Which, given that I'm not interested in the royal family, I was thrilled. American Royalty is steamy as well. 

Dani, aka Duchess, is a thriving rap artist that is continuing to gain fame when she's invited to be part of a benefit concert honoring the late Prince John. It's coming at a good time for her as she's embattled in an ongoing "feud" with a pop star and needs good PR to get her cosmetic company to the threshold it needs to be. Except Dani wasn't expecting Prince Jameson.

I loved Dani and her self-confidence. I also loved that rapping was just a path to launch her skin care line for Black and Brown women. That's her true passion and what she really wants to do. I like how she didn't want to give up who she was or what she wanted to do just because she fell for a Prince. She didn't just want to be tied to him; she wasn't a gold digger. She had gotten this far on her own and could continue. 

Prince Jameson wasn't expecting Dani when he randomly said that he wanted Duchess to perform without realizing how she performed. He's not the most open person but neither is Dani and instead of shutting each other out, they end up being able to open up to each other. Sure, it starts off physically for them but slowly grows into something much stronger. Neither of them is prepared for it and the firestorm it is going to create. Is their relationship worth it? That's up to them to decide. 

I loved the fact that this was more than just a royal/commoner romance novel. It highlighted the complexities of an interracial relationship. I also can't wait to read what Ms. Livesay writes next. 

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