Monthly Archives: July 2023

Jul14

Wildfire by Hannah Grace

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Wildfire by Hannah Grace

Grace, Hannah. Wildfire. Atria, 2023. 418 pp. ISBN 9781668026274. $18.99

****

Quiet Russ never seems to get the hot girls, and he can’t believe his luck when he scores with Aurora at a college party. Their chemistry (and the sex) is scorching hot, but she reads his post-coital awkwardness as lack of interest and bails to avoid any post-sex drama. When it turns out they are working as counselors at the same summer camp, the simmering interest is still there, but there is a no-dating rule. While spirited Rory isn’t necessarily one for following the rules, they can’t risk losing their jobs, and she has a history with this place as a former camper. They agree to be friends, and love blossoms slowly and beautifully.

Miscommunication drives the plot, but provides opportunity for growth. The point of view swings from Russ to Aurora and back in clear distinct voices. Wildfire blends longing, camp high-jinks, and characters who care about and take care of one another. The camp puppers that grow into doggos are a clever visual cue on the passage of time. Recurring characters from Icebreaker universe (Henry is my favorite) return, building on the college town and hockey world that Grace has created.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #Wildfire from #NetGalley.

Jul14

The Prince and the Apocalypse by Kara McDowell

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The Prince and the Apocalypse by Kara McDowell

McDowell, Kara. The Prince and the Apocalypse. St. Martin’s Press, 2023. ISBN 9781250873064 $12.

*****

I could not put this down.

Vibrant cover, vibrant characters, and heart-pounding adventure. Wren is on the trip of a lifetime when she becomes ill with food poisoning, rendering years of planning down the drain. When she is finally well enough to travel, it’s just in time to return to the States… but at the airport, she misses her flight and learns that a meteor is on a collision course for Earth, and there are not going to be survivors. Desperate to get home, she pairs up unexpectedly with a member of the royal family who she treated like a normal human being, so he now owes her a favor. Prince Theo promises he can get Wren a flight home if she can help his travel incognito. Their adventures take them across Europe, forced proximity does it’s thing, and they fall in love.

The writing is vivid, witty, and real with tinges of regret and grief, while the action is non-stop fun, harrowing, and sometimes funny. I have a feeling the author didn’t take herself too seriously with the banter and cheesiness, but she also addresses issues of mental health and family dynamics.

Did I mention I could not put this down. There had better be a sequel!

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #ThePrinceAndTheApocalypse from #NetGalley

Jul14

Better Hate Than Never by Chloe Liese

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Better Hate Than Never by Chloe Liese

Liese, Chloe. Better Hate than Never. Berkley, 2023. 400 pp. ISBN 9780593441527 $17.00.

****

In this retelling of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, photographer Kate is broke and back at home after years of adventure. She falls right back into old patterns of dealing with the orphaned boy next door her parents helped to raise: ethical investor Christopher. Six years her senior, his first interaction with her was when infant Kate had a diaper pooplosion on his lap, and things have gone downhill ever since.

I did not have as much love for this as for Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right, in part because I don’t know Taming of the Shrew as well as Much Ado About Nothing, and I think I had more forgiveness for Beatrice and Benedick because they were manipulated, as opposed to holding a grudge and being purposefully antagonistic. I really loved the nods and asides to 10 Things I Hate About You (which is my primary frame of reference for TotS). The writing is excellent and clever, the story features neurodivergent characters, and the family and sisterly relationships are strong.

I received an advance reader’s review copy of #BetterHateThanNever from #NetGalley.

Jul14

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

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Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

Danan, Rosie. Do Your Worst. Berkley, 2023. 336pp. ISBN 9780593437148 $17.00

****1/2

This is the paranormal, historical, set-in-Scotland, hate-sex-having romance novel you didn’t know you needed. Curse-breaker Riley butts heads with academic archaeologist Clark Scotland over, well, EVERYTHING. Their first meeting at a pub is all chemistry and sweetness, but when Riley overhears Clark dissing her profession the next morning when she shows up on location to start her job, she discovers the hottie from last night is the one insulting her, and the dude the the historical association sent to do some due diligence excavation.

While I do occasionally branch out and read witchy/occult romance, curse-breaking is a new profession for me to see featured in romance (give a listen to the Somewhere In Between episode of Book Riot’s When in Romance podcast for a great discussion of occupations they’d like to see in romance novels –oy vey, so many bakeries and bookshops!). Do Your Worst features amazing, researched, and believable details about curse-breaking, and I loved the concept of the curse having a life of it’s own. Riley totally employs the scientific method in her work. In addition to the romance, family relationships are complicated and resolutions attempted, demonstrating true, realistic character growth.

Things to love about Rosie Danan’s superb writing: feisty, unapologetic heroines; broadly-defined sex; pop culture references; boundary-setting; love for Philadelphia, PA; snarky humor and great banter; addressing vulnerabilities; all the gory details; a 10-page description of the MMC jerking off while thinking about the FMC…

I don’t want to give too much away, so will leave you with this: if you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 2 Episode 19 “I Only Have Eyes for You” was in fact directly referenced) or Outlander (book or show) for their particular winning blend of occult, history, methodical and detailed science, and herbalism/magic, this is a great novel for you to pick up. It hard a bit of slow start for me, and I ended up devouring it over two days.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #DoYourWorst from #NetGalley.

Jul14

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver

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A Winter in New York by Josie Silver

Silver, Josie. A Winter in New York. Random House, 2023. 304 pp. ISBN 9780593722862 $18.00

****

There was something reminiscent of Adriana Trigiani in novel: Vivien, the British daughter of musician sensation Iris Raven, attends the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy and has just eaten her weight in zeppole when the photo she snaps of Bellotti’s Gelateria sparks a memory for her. Vivien came to New York almost a year ago to escape a bad relationship, find a new job, and connect to her roots. She’s still grieving the death of her wonderful, complex, secretive, perpetually single mother. A chef by trade, Viv scores a job at a noodle joint, renting the apartment above. Once she realizes her mother knew the Belottis, she can’t stop herself from popping by and is quickly pulled into the dynamics of widowed manager Gio and his family/staff. Only two people in the family are allowed to have the famed gelato recipe at one time; one is Gio’s father, in the hospital and recovering from a stroke that has left him unable to recall the perfect proportions of cream, milk sugar and vanilla for the recipe. The other is Gio’s uncle, a peer of Vivien’s, who is still roaming Europe and out of touch.

Miscommunication and dishonesty fuel the plot. Vivien could have confided that Gio’s dad gave the recipe to Iris when he was the love of her love and her touring with his brother’s band tour them apart, but Iris chooses not to disclose it, and in fact spends hours in the kitchen trying to recreate a recipe she actually knows by heart. The other lie is that her abusive ex who haunts her is not dead, but alive and threatening. Because it’s Josie Silver is an amazing writer, Iris’s longing, pain, discomfort, and remorse are tangible and believable, and she builds a complex character who makes less than ideal choices but agonizes over them.

The interpersonal relationships really make this a wonderful novel, from Viv’s befriending of Gio’s teenage daughter, to her friendship with her relationship with Bobby Han, proprietor of Very Tasty Noodle house where she works — her landlord and his partner are charming and quirky addition to the story, and a foil for Iris to relay plot points and unpack her emotional baggage with. I loved that the story focuses on romance later in life–Gio is mature, steady, and careful, but sweet kisses and a dirty mouth, and he and Viv sneak around like teenagers in love.

There are some flashbacks in the narrative, to previous meetings of Viv and Gio (who, spoiler alert, like each other) and to Iris’s life and career trajectory and Viv’s childhood. The Brooklyn location, passing of the season, close knit family ties, and restaurant backdrop serve to set the story firmly in a rich, tasty ethnic family box, hence the sense of familiarity with Adriana Trigiani. I really love the cartooned cover art, with it’s New York City skyline in snow-globe in the same arc as the gelato cones the characters are holding.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #AWinterInNewYork from #NetGalley.

Jul9

Reign. (American Royals IV: by Katharine McGee

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Reign. (American Royals IV: by Katharine McGee

McGee, Katharine. American Royals IV: Reign. Random House, 2023. 432 pp. ISBN 9780593429747 $19.99

****

The final book in this amazing speculative fiction series that is like Gossip Girls meets The Royal We meets Hamilton for young adult readers. It opens with Queen Beatrice in a coma, Prince Jefferson named regent, and sister Samantha MIA and stripped of her title. As in previous volumes, social climber Daphne continues to angle for the prince’s hand while Nina lusts after him from afar; Bea has some fond memories of bodyguard while she’s engaged to Teddy ; and Sam is still with Marshall.

For those not familiar with the series, American Royals cleverly speculates about America having a regency instead of democracy, with George Washington named the King of America in the late 1700s; political issues and court intrigue combine to the plot play out with wealth, connection and interpersonal relationships. As in other books, this capstone features high drama, swoon-worthy romance, haute couture, and did I mention the drama? McGee finishes strong and does wrap everything up in a satisfying and sometimes unpredictable ending, and absolutely still left room for some characters to continue to grow, but I’m sad to say goodbye to this ensemble.

Sidenote: I really love the flat, bright, clean, modern cover art in red, white, and blue–it creates a cohesive look to the series.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #AmericanRoyalsIVReign from #NetGalley.

Review of the other books in the series:
American Royals
Majesty
Rivals

Jul6

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon

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Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Solomon, Rachel Lynn. Business or Pleasure. Berkley, 2023. 384 pp. ISBN 9780593548530 $17.00

*****

I am loving ghost-writer books right now (it’s sort of my dream job) and Business or Pleasure was no exception. Having just finished ghost-writing a book for an Instagram sensation famous for making bank by reminding people to drink water, Chandler Cohen is drowning her misery over the “author” not recognizing her or her name at the book signing (after month of correspondence, no less) when she has a meet cute with a sweet, quick-witted guy at the bar; dinner leads to an impromptu tour of Seattle, and the evening ends with the worst sex of her life, in spite of their amazing chemistry.

The next day she’s focusing her attention on her next ghostwriting gig… and it turns out to be for the bad-in-bed dude who gave her a fake name but is in fact, Finn Walsh C-list television actor whose series she’s never even watched. Their connection supersedes their embarrassment, and Chandler agrees to take the job, which involves trailing Finn for a few months while he attends cons and does a press circuit for an upcoming reunion of The Nocturnals, on which he played the nerdy hot scientist boyfriend of a werewolf. Eventually, Chandler admits their one-time thing was less than stellar, and Finn asks for her help: In return for her cleaning up his words, Chandler agrees to help Finn with his bedside manner, but after you contract to train someone to be your perfect lover, how do you wrench yourself away when the terms or timeline ends?

The travel scenes highlight US destinations and becomes a metaphor for their burgeoning relationship: as much as Chandler is getting to know Finn through seeing him interact with fans and co-stars, his childhood best friend and his rabbi mother, their intimacy grows as she shares things with him about past relationships, her love of cozy mysteries and own author aspirations, and her aging parents. Finn suffers from OCD, and Chandler from GAD, and normalizing of mental health is a strong theme throughout the book–trigger warning, Finn experiences some bullying over this and his peers don’t stand up for him.

I love a slow burn as much as the next person but sex upfront and at the beginning is trend I’m starting to appreciate. The chemistry between Finn and Chandler is wonderful, and the scenes detailed. I love that Solomon writes awkward, realistic sex, sex-positivity, and exquisitely rendered detail with heartfelt emotion. Judaism is both a routine and special part of all of her novels, and I love stories where being Jewish is neither history nor misery, but a natural part of her character’s backgrounds, alongside plenty of nerdy pop-culture references, a fair amount of trauma, and relatable relationship struggles. For all of these reasons, and because Rachel Lynn Solomon writes with attention to detail and palpable emotions and has the elusive amazing plot/setting/character trifecta, her new releases are a must-own for me.

Fans of Olivia Dade’s Spoiler Alert series will appreciate the deep fandom around Finn’s television show, the con experience, and the narrative interspersed with articles about The Nocturnals and excerpts from various scripts from Finn’s past projects; fans of Talia Hibbert’s The Brown Sisters series will catch all the feels for a sexy, sweet leading man who is vulnerable, accountable, eager to please, and living his best life with therapy, medication, and a wellness practice; and fans of Rosie Danan will appreciate finding another author who makes sex ed hot, lubed up, and positive.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #BusinessOrPleasure from #NetGalley

Jul5

Lovelight series by B.K. Borison

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Lovelight series by B.K. Borison

*** 1/2

Borison, B.K. Lovelight Farms. (Lovelight #1). Berkley, 2023. 336 pp. ISBN 978-0593641118 $17.00

Borison, B.K. In the Weeds. (Lovelight #2). Berkley, 2023. 336 pp. ISBN 978-0593641132 $17.00

Borison, B.K. Mixed Signals. (Lovelight #3). Berkley, 2023. 336 pp. ISBN 978-0593641156 $17.00

The Lovelight series focuses on three friends who’ve committed to creating an agro-tourism business together in idyllic Inglewood. Owner Stella is the visionary, Layla runs the cafe, and Beckett is the farmer. In the first book, Stella is trying to boost the business’s signal and save her Christmas tree farm and enters a contest from a Instagram influencer who focuses on small businesses–winning guarantees her success. Everything has to be perfect for Evelyn St. James’s visit, and sex sells, so Stella accidentally lists her best friend and crush Luka as her business partner and lover, and then has to fake-date her way through Evelyn’s visit. To complicate matters, someone seems to be sabotaging them at every turn.

In In the Weeds, Beckett reveals that he and Evelyn had a fling at a conference, and she is the one who slipped out in the morning and ghosted him. He is shocked to discover that his unforgettable two-night stand is Internet famous. Beckett, who is a quiet, sensitive cinnamon roll type, suffers from a sensory disorder, and Evelyn is starting to yearn for a simpler life; are they more compatible than it seems?

In Mixed Signals, unlucky in love Layla slowly let’s her guard down with regular customer Caleb, who offers her a month of no-strings dating to help her get her groove back. Only thing is, it’s not just her baked goods he is in love with. Layla is in the midst of entering a baking competition, and that adds to the level of stress.

These are solidly written, quick reads full of delicious little details of food, decor, and nature. Each has miscommunication, competition, a third act breakup and grand gesture resolution. The sex is sweet and hot and descriptive. I accidentally read them in the wrong order (2, then 3, then 1), which made it all the more compelling to figure out what was going on. The marketing feels a little discordant: the lovely cover art is all by the same artist and in a fall harvest palette of pumpkin and gold and sage and peach and orange; I’m not sure why these holiday-themed stories are getting released over the summer, but if you’re a Hallmark movie or Christmas in July person, these will be very satisfying reads.

I received free advance reader’s review copies of #LovelightFarms, #InTheWeeds, and #MixedSignals from #NetGalley.

Jul5

The Last Word by Katy Birchall

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The Last Word by Katy Birchall

Birchall, Katy. The Last Word. St. Martin’s Press, 2023. 384 pp. ISBN 9781250882752 $17.00.

** 1/2

Celebrity editor Harper is angling for a promotion when a man is hired over her to become the features editor; Ryan turns out to be the ex from her internship (spoiler alert: it ended badly). Their forced proximity is both frustrating and a reminder of everything she liked about him, and their falling back into a relationship is inevitable.

Birchall excels at banter but sometimes the grudge got to be a bit much for me. Both Ryan and Harper are talented and ambitious, Harper is hilarious and a bit of a hot mess, but also ran hot and cold, and was sometimes a little mean to Ryan, who comes across more genuine and very earnest. The pacing was a bit slow, and the sex, when they finally got over themselves and got it on, was behind closed doors.

The novel deals realistically (sadly) with sexism, and how hard it can be for an ambitious woman to get ahead, even when they are hitting it out of the park. The enemies to lovers trope can be hit or miss for me, and I found this to be a good but not great read.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #TheLastWord from #NetGalley.

Jul5

Give Me A Sign by Anna Sortino

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Give Me A Sign by Anna Sortino

Sortino, Anna. Give Me A Sign. Penguin Putnam, 2023. ISBN 9780593533796 $18.99

*** 1/2

My summer camp novel frame of reference is more, There’s A Bat in Bunk Five by Paula Danziger–this reminded me of that in all the best ways: new friendships, factions, and some good old fashioned teenage hijinks. Lilah has some hearing loss, as does her younger brother, and reads lips. She will be a counselor all summer at a camp for the deaf and blind, while brother will be spending two weeks of overnight. Lilah’s parents have put a lot of emphasis on implants and mainstreaming, but part of Lilah’s decision in coming to camp was to become more fluent in ASL. She’s frustrated by a tone-deaf hearing person who might be misrepresenting on her popular sign language YouTube channel, frustrated by mixed messages from other counselors, and stressed trying to fit in.

This was a little bit of a slog for me somewhere in the middle, possibly because I always want more romance, and the character growth was more important. Overall, it was a solid read and excellent insight into something I am not so familiar with. The ableist comments made towards Lilah and her friends, and an unsavory situation at a store, really made an impact to the narrative about what it’s like to move through the world as a deaf person. Author Sortino does a fantastic job not slipping into too much telling (it is a bit inevitable) or getting preachy. Many YA novels are about finding your place in the world, and Lilah does experience significant character growth and forms a more solid identity.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #GiveMeASign by #NetGalley.