Review: Talulah’s Back in Town (Brenda Novak)

Talulah’s Back in Town
Series: Coyote Canyon, #1
Author: Brenda Novak

Publication Date: August 22, 2023
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis: 

Sometimes the past we leave behind leads us right where we belong.

Talulah Barclay doesn’t like complications. Unfortunately, they seem to love her. Fourteen years after leaving her fiancé at the altar, Talulah returns to her hometown of Coyote Canyon, Montana, to settle her great-aunt’s estate. As she’d feared, her “runaway bride” reputation is waiting right where she left it, and her ex’s best friend, Brant, isn’t about to let her slip by unnoticed.

Brant has always been a loyal friend, but Talulah’s decision to run isn’t the only thing he hasn’t forgotten. He remembers more about Talulah than he cares to admit. Vividly. And it’s increasingly difficult to ignore her now, especially when they find themselves in close quarters. Talulah has no plans to stay in town after she fixes up her aunt’s Victorian farmhouse, even if the unbridled sparks with Brant give her a good reason to linger. Besides, bailing on relationships is kind of her thing. But a lot has changed since Talulah last turned tail—maybe her heart has changed, too?


It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Brenda Novak. She used to write some of my favorite romance novels and then kind of broke off into women’s fiction. I don’t have a problem with women’s fiction, I just enjoyed her romance novels more. Which leads me to Talulah’s Back in Town. It’s the first book in Novak’s new contemporary romance series Coyote Canyon. I was excited to find out if I would love it as much as I have loved some of her book series, like Whiskey Creek. Spoiler: I did!

Talulah’s Back in Town was a fun read. The runaway bride aspect of the story could have been cliche, but it made this romance unique. Talulah didn’t just ditch one groom at the alter but three. Over the years, she’s come to terms with her commitment issues. She has emotionally grown while she’s been away. Talulah knew her faults and wanted to be true to herself as well as others. I don’t often see female characters like hers who struggle with commitment in romance novels very often, so it was a nice change. I loved how she met her match in Brant.

The last person Talulah expects to bond with when she returns to Coyote Creek is her ex-fiancé’s best friend Brant. They have never gotten along in the past, but time changes things. Now, there’s an attraction and connection that wasn’t there before. I loved how Brant listened to Talulah and made his own mind up about her. He knew what he wanted and wasn’t scared to fight for it. He also didn’t suffer fools.

Brant and Talulah end up in this forbidden, hidden friends with benefits type situation. They’re trying to hide it from her ex and his best friend, Charlie. Charlie adds an interesting piece to the story because he’s still not over Talulah and her ditching him at the altar. To make things even more tense, Charlie’s sister was one of Talulah’s best friends. She’s also unhappy with Talulah’s return. It makes things messy for Brant and Talulah’s growing relationship. That’s not the end of things that stand in their way either. Talulah’s also has a business partner who is pushing for more with her. It all made for an interesting and entertaining story.  I enjoyed how Brant and Talulah worked through everything that came their way. They did an excellent job communicating with each other – something I don’t find often in books.

I loved this book and the only thing I might have wished was different was that it had been in first person instead of third. That’s just a personal preference, though. I’m really excited to continue reading more books in this series.

Review: The Seven Year Slip (Ashley Poston)

The Seven Year Slip
Author: Ashley Poston

Publication Date: June 27, 2023
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Romance, Magical Realism, Time Travel
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

An overworked book publicist with a perfectly planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary roommate…only to discover he lives seven years in the past, in this witty and wise new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics.

Sometimes, the worst day of your life happens, and you have to figure out how to live after it.

So Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: work hard, find someone decent to love, and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is silly and obviously metaphorical, but her aunt always told her that you needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that plan has gone off without a hitch. Mostly. The love part is hard because she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone—she isn’t sure her heart can take it.

And then she finds a strange man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again.

Except, he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future.

Her aunt always said the apartment was a pinch in time, a place where moments blended together like watercolors. And Clementine knows that if she lets her heart fall, she’ll be doomed.

After all, love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.


Time travel books are not my thing. I usually actively avoid them. There are a few exceptions for favorite authors and that is how I ended up reading The Seven Year Slip. I adored The Dead Romantics and had to read Poston’s next book. To be honest, I didn’t love this book as much as that one, but I still got caught up in the writing and enjoyed it.

The Seven Year Slip took me a bit to get into. I was expecting more of a romance than women’s fiction. I should have remembered that is not how Poston writes her adult novels. They are women’s fiction with a side of romance. Therefore, it takes longer for the main character, Clementine, to meet Iwan. The beginning is more a setup of Clementine’s life and where she is in at the moment. It took me a bit to get into this one because Iwan wasn’t involved for a bit. I wasn’t truly invested in the story until Iwan entered the picture. Then, things started to fly for me.

Clementine is a woman grieving the loss of her aunt and the time they have now lost together. She’s moved into her late aunt’s apartment and it’s stirring up all sorts of memories and things. I liked Clementine’s journey of self-discovery in this one. It’s subtle, but also has a big impact. There’s something to learn from her growth and her relationship (in both times) with Iwan.

This is Clementine’s story, so we only get to know Iwan through her eyes and interactions with him. I liked his character and the differences between the past Iwan and the present one. I loved Clementine’s moments with Iwan and how I could feel their attraction. It was fun to experience them getting to know each other through food and stories. I know the romance was the side piece to this story about grief and growth, but I really wish I would have gotten more time with them together. Because their times were split between past and present, I had a harder time believing the big L-word when it came up.

I know I said I don’t love time travel, but it worked for me in this book. I enjoyed Clementine visiting Iwan in the past more than I expected. Part of that was where Poston put those moments in the story and the other part was the magical apartment. Those two things combined with how fun Clementine and Iwan were together made it more than bearable for me. They made it fun.

Overall, reading The Seven Year Slip was fun. Once I was invested, I was addicted. I loved the characters, and the way food and books played a part in the story. I also thought the author did a nice job in writing a book dealing with grief and moving on. It was interesting to read Poston’s author’s note at the end about how she used her own grief when writing this book.

Review: Emma of 83rd Street (Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding)

Emma of 83rd Street
Authors: Audrey Bellezza, Emily Harding

Publication Date: May 23, 2023
Publisher: Gallery Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction, Retellings
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

In this witty and romantic debut novel, Jane Austen’s Emma meets the misadventures of Manhattan’s modern dating scene as two lifelong friends discover that, in the search for love, you sometimes don’t have to look any further than your own backyard.

Beautiful, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse has lived twenty-three years in her tight-knit Upper East Side neighborhood with very little to distress or vex her…that is, until her budding matchmaking hobby results in her sister’s marriage—and subsequent move downtown. Now, with her sister gone and all her friends traveling abroad, Emma must start her final year of grad school grappling with an entirely new emotion: boredom. So when she meets Nadine, a wide-eyed Ohio transplant with a heart of gold and drugstore blonde highlights to match, Emma not only sees a potential new friend but a new project. If only her overbearing neighbor George Knightley would get out of her way.

Handsome, smart, and successful, the only thing that frustrates Knightley more than a corked whiskey is his childhood friend, Emma. Whether it’s her shopping sprees between classes or her revolving door of ill-conceived hobbies, he is only too happy to lecture her on all the finer points of adulthood she’s so hell-bent on ignoring. But despite his gripes—and much to his own chagrin—Knightley can’t help but notice that the girl next door is a woman now…one who he suddenly can’t get out of his head.

As Emma’s best laid plans collide with everyone from hipster baristas to meddling family members to flaky playboy millionaires, these two friends slowly realize their need to always be right has been usurped by a new need entirely, and it’s not long before they discover that even the most familiar stories still have some surprises.


I had high expectations for Emma of 83rd Street. I first heard about it when author Lauren Layne raved about it. That piqued my curiosity and then when I read great reviews by several friends, I knew I had to read it. Sadly, it wasn’t really a book for me, so probably take this review with a grain of salt if you are interested reading this book.

I struggled with the third person writing. It felt too classic and wordy for me. This might be a plus for someone wanting a classic Emma experience. I could tell the writing was good, impressive for a debut. I just wasn’t into it. I kept thinking maybe I should have listened to this book instead of reading it. Maybe that would have helped me out.

Emma was not my cup of tea. She was not relatable to me at all. She came across as immature, surface level, and not very nice. Her character didn’t have those loveable qualities hidden under her immaturity like Cher did in Clueless. It made it harm to blame Knightley for the way he talked down to her. Emma did have a moment of redemption toward the end, but I had spent so long disliking her that it didn’t anything but make me feel sorry for her. I guess when it comes down to it, I just didn’t connect with her character.

Knightley, on the other hand, I loved. He probably should have come off as a jerk with the way he talked to Emma, but I felt like he was giving her the truth many times. He also loved her despite those things. I’m glad the authors gave us POV.

I expected this book to be a slow burn and it was. I was surprised, since I didn’t love Emma, at how much I enjoyed the relationship buildup. It was easy to see how Emma and Knightley were realigning their childhood ideas of each other and falling for the adult versions.

Overall, this Emma of 83rd Street was a fairly light, easy read. Despite not falling in love with it myself, I have a feeling it will hit a high note with many readers. People love their Emma retellings and I’m sure they will find this to be a fun one.

Review: The Wedding Ringer (Kerry Rea)

The Wedding Ringer
Author: Kerry Rea

Publication Date: November 9, 2021
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

A woman who wants nothing to do with love or friendship finds both in the unlikeliest ways in this hilarious and heartwarming debut by Kerry Rea.

Once upon a time, Willa Callister was a successful blogger with a good credit score, actual hobbies, and legs that she shaved more than once a month. But after finding her fiancé in bed with her best friend, she now spends her days performing at children’s birthday parties in a ball gown that makes her look like a walking bottle of Pepto Bismol. Willa dreams of starting fresh, where no one knows who she used to be, but first she needs to save up enough money to make it happen.

Maisie Mitchell needs something too: another bridesmaid for her wedding. After a chance encounter at a coffee shop, Maisie offers to pay Willa to be in her bridal party. Willa wants nothing to do with weddings–or Maisie–but the money will give her the freedom to start the new life she so badly desires.

Willa’s bridesmaid duties thrust her into Maisie’s high-energy world and into the path of hotshot doctor Liam Rafferty. But as Willa and Maisie form a real friendship, and Liam’s annoyingly irresistible smile makes her reconsider her mantra that all men are trash, Willa’s exit strategy becomes way more complicated. And when a secret from Maisie’s past threatens to derail the wedding, Willa must consider whether friendship–and romance–are worth sticking around for.


I adored The Wedding Ringer. It was a romance with a side of women’s fiction. Or maybe it’s opposite. Whatever it was, it was perfect. Willa was a woman who was decimated by love and friendship all at once. She was wallowing in self-pity in an embarrassing way. I could feel her loss and sense of grief. I, along with her sister and everyone else around her, was waiting for Willa to find her way back to herself. Meeting and becoming Maisie’s secret, paid bridesmaid gave her something to focus on and a future to look forward to. I loved how that one meeting started a chain of events that changed everything for Willa and gave her hope and friendship again. That made me happy because Willa had a great sense of humor and was truly a friend I would want on by my side.

Meeting Maisie also put Liam in her path. Liam was a great guy. He was very sweet to Willa, which put her in a precarious situation when she was keeping something big from him. I loved how Liam made Willa believe in love again. Her reactions to her attraction to him was cute. I loved how their relationship built, even in the moments when things got a little hairy.

One of the things that made this book so fantastic were the side characters. Willa’s sister, her wife, and their brood were there supporting Willa along her journey. I loved the little bits of insight they tried to give her. Same with the elderly lady next door. She was a lot of fun. Then there was the people Willa met through Maisie. Her other bridesmaids made me laugh. Maisie’s fiancé seemed like a great guy, and I loved how his mother was involved. Heck, I’ll even throw in Max and Sarah. I loved hating them.

There’s a lot I haven’t touched on yet. Maisie’s got a secret. I was only a little surprised by it, but I enjoyed how it influenced Willa and the story. I briefly mentioned the paid bridesmaid thing above. That part of the story was really fun. I’ve only read a couple of books with a paid bridesmaid and this one stands out from those by the nature of the rest of the story. I’m sure there’s more to talk about, but I think I’ll just leave those things for you to find out yourself.

I have to thank Ari for recommending The Wedding Ringer in my slumpy time of need. It was a fabulous book with a great plot, entertaining characters, and a sweet romance to root for. I cannot believe it is Rea’s debut! I am so excited to read her second book next.

Review: The Dead Romantics (Ashley Poston)

The Dead Romantics
Author: Ashley Poston

Narrator: Eileen Stevens
Publication Date: June 28, 2022

Publisher: Penguin Audio
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis: 

A disillusioned millennial ghostwriter who, quite literally, has some ghosts of her own, has to find her way back home in this sparkling adult debut from national bestselling author Ashley Poston.

Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead.

When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father.

For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it.

Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is.

Romance is most certainly dead . . . but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories.


The hype is real, people. That’s what got me to read this book. I felt like everyone was reading and loving The Dead Romantics. I read so many positive reviews that I thought why not? I’m so happy I gave this book a chance. It was fantastic. It is definitely one of my favorite books I’ve read in 2022. What was so great about it? Well, let me break it down for you.

THE WRITING
I ended up listening to this book and it was a fabulous experience. Both the writing and the narration were top notch. I don’t think you can go wrong reading or listening to it.

THE SETTING
There’s a little bit of New York here, but it’s mostly Florence’s childhood small town that shines. Her family runs a funeral home business. There’s lots of quirky places to visit like an inn and even a couple graveyard moments.

THE ROMANCE
I don’t know that I would necessarily categorize The Dead Romantics as a romance novel. It is and isn’t one. There is a romance to the story. It’s very slow burn and sweet. I loved the way it was woven into the story in a unique way. That being said, the romance was not the biggest thing going on in the story. The story was more about Florence coming to peace with her father’s death, mending family relationships, moving on from a previous breakup, and opening herself up to love again. This book was really about Florence and one small piece was the romantic relationship. All of that makes me lean towards categorizing this book as a Women’s Fiction read. But like I said, the love story in this one was great. Romance readers would get just enough romance to be satisfied, I think.

THE PLOT
I LOVED the plot! It was so unique! First, there is the whole author/book drama that was fun. Then, there was the death of her father. While that was sad, I loved the way it made Florence face a lot of things and people. Then, there were the ghosts. I am not someone who normally like to read about ghosts, but the way they were used in this story was perfection. They brought such life to the story!

THE CHARACTERS
Florence was a complicated gal with a lot of baggage. She had a lot of regrets that she needed to move past. Her grief over her father’s death was one of them. There is A LOT of grief in this book. Florence has returned to the small town of her childhood with its rumors and ghosts. Ghosts literally because she can see and communicate with them. It’s not just grief for her father weighing her down, but many other parts of her life. I loved Florence’s evolution and growth throughout the story. I loved how she interacted with her sibling and mother, and how she repaired some damages in those relationships. It was also interesting how she came to terms with the townspeople from her past.

I also need to mention Benji, her new editor. I ADORED his character. There were some great surprises when it came to him. I wouldn’t want his POV in this book, but what I would love is for this book to be told from his POV as a companion novel. I really want to know what he was going through.

And finally, I need to mention the ex. I hated the ex. He was horrible. BUT the fact that his slimy character existed was perfect for the story!

I DON’T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY…
This book was such a joy to listen to. I was so into it that I didn’t want to stop listening. It was fabulous. I wouldn’t want to change a thing about it. What could have been a really depressing story was one that somehow managed to always remain hopeful. I adored the characters, their relationships, and the love they were all built on. What a beautiful story!

Review: The Bodyguard (Katherine Center)

The Bodyguard
Author: Katherine Center

Publication Date: July 19, 2022
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, Women’s Fiction
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

She’s got his back.
Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent (aka “bodyguard”), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker.

He’s got her heart.
Jack Stapleton’s a household name—captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, famous for, among other things, rising out of the waves in all manner of clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity. But a few years back, in the wake of a family tragedy, he dropped from the public eye and went off the grid.

They’ve got a secret.
When Jack’s mom gets sick, he comes home to the family’s Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah—against her will and her better judgment—finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover. Even though her ex, like a jerk, says no one will believe it.

What could possibly go wrong???
Hannah hardly believes it, herself. But the more time she spends with Jack, the more real it all starts to seem. And there lies the heartbreak. Because it’s easy for Hannah to protect Jack. But protecting her own, long-neglected heart? That’s the hardest thing she’s ever done.


I’ve read three books by Katherine Center prior to reading The Bodyguard and all three of those were highly emotional women’s fiction/romance reads. I had in my head that this was going to be the same type of read until I read some reviews for it. Those reviews mentioned this was a romantic comedy. That surprised me but gave me the push to read it sooner than later. I’m so glad I did!

The Bodyguard was a pleasure to read. It started out a little sad with the state of Hannah’s life, but quickly morphed into a story filled with many laugh out loud moments. Hannah was awkward in the best way. She might not have had the best self-confidence, but she was a good person. It was cool that Hannah got to be the kick butt bodyguard in this book, while Jack was the one being protected. I loved how she made Jack laugh and all the things that happened when they spent time together.  The way they met to their roommate status to friendship to maybe more was so much fun. I loved how they interacted and reacted to each other. I especially enjoyed their moments on Jack’s parent’s farm. Honestly, there wasn’t anything I didn’t love about this book. It warmed me heart in the best way. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a romance that’s going to leave a smile on your face.

Mini Reviews: Authors I’m Just Getting To (Part 2)

I did a Top Ten Tuesday post a while ago titled Authors I Haven’t Read but Want To. That post inspired me to request a bunch of those authors’ audiobooks from my local library and borrow a couple from KU. I posted mini reviews for the first half of them and now I’m back with the rest.

Out of the Blue
Series: A Perfect Fit, #4
Author: Cara Bastone
Narrators: Alison Bliss

Publication Date: February 1, 2022
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction

Rating: DNF @ 25%

My thoughts:

I’m sad to be quitting this book. I actually liked how Adam saw Presley and her curves at the beginning. I also thought it was kind of cute how they met at his gym. I didn’t mind that Presley wanted to lose weight to counteract her prediabetes. I could even look past how she felt about herself because that was easy to relate to.

Where this book lost me was a very specific scene about 25% in where Adam, as Presley’s personal trainer, went through her pantry and fridge to get rid of all the “bad” foods. He threw out food that was opened and then put stuff that wasn’t aside to donate. He told her not to eat sweets and to watch her carbs. This messaging bugs me for a couple of reasons. One, there are no “bad” foods. It’s about moderation. He’s a personal trainer. Did I miss his dietetics or nutrition degree? Maybe he has one and that’s pointed out later. I’m sure he’s looked in the science of losing weight, etc. but I would have rather he taught her about healthy choices and how she could work the foods she loved in while also losing weight. Throwing 2/3 of her cupboards out and then showing her how to make a protein shake felt yucky. It just disappointed me, and I didn’t think I wanted to listen to what the message was going to be about Presley and her weight.

Boyfriend Material
Series: Boyfriend Material, #1
Author: Alexis Hall
Narrators: Joe Jameson

Publication Date: July 7, 2020
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ+

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

Why did I wait so long to read this??? It was ADORABLE. I loved this fake boyfriend turned real romance. Luc was a mess, but Oliver was delightful with his buttoned-up ways. They were so cute together! There were some great side characters, too. Alex KILLED me. Oh, and the James Royce Royces made me smile every time I heard their names. I had such a great time listening to this book. I’m excited for the sequel.

The Rebel and the Rake
Series: League of Scoundrels, #2
Author: Emily Sullivan
Publication Date: December 28, 2021
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Historical Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

I’m not much of a historical romance reader, but in the sea of illustrated covers in the past couple of years this cover stood out. I loved it, read a great review by a few trusted bloggers, and decided to give it a go. I’m glad I did. I found the writing to be excellent. It felt light and whatever the opposite of stuffy is. I was intrigued by the characters and the plot. I loved how I felt Sylvia and Rafe’s attraction and connection. His pursuit of Sylvia was very swoon worthy. This was a really fun historical romance read. I would read another of Sullivan’s books in a heartbeat.

What Are the Odds?
Author: R.M. Virtues
Publication Date: May 14, 2021
Publisher: Strange Hungers Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotica

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

I wanted to try Virtues’ writing because a couple of my book friends have been loving on his books. I picked What Are the Odds? because it is part of the KU program. This is a friends to lovers story with the slightly taboo twist of Cai being Elena’s sister’s ex-husband. Her sister was responsible for the demise of the marriage and is easy to dislike, so it worked. I liked both of the characters and they were sweet and passionate together. This book is not for fans of closed-door romances. The doors are wide open with this one.

Review: Set on You (Amy Lea)

Set on You
Author: Amy Lea

Publication Date: May 10, 2022
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, Women’s Fiction
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

A gym nemesis pushes a fitness influencer to the max in Amy Lea’s steamy debut romantic comedy.

Curvy fitness influencer Crystal Chen built her career shattering gym stereotypes and mostly ignoring the trolls. After her recent breakup, she has little stamina left for men, instead finding solace in the gym – her place of power and positivity.

Enter firefighter Scott Ritchie, the smug new gym patron who routinely steals her favorite squat rack. Sparks fly as these ultra-competitive foes battle for gym domination. But after a series of escalating jabs, the last thing they expect is to run into each other at their grandparents’ engagement party.

In the lead up to their grandparents’ wedding, Crystal discovers there’s a soft heart under Scott’s muscled exterior. Bonding over family, fitness, and cheesy pick-up lines, she just might have found her soulmate. But when a photo of them goes viral, savage internet trolls put their budding relationship to the ultimate test of strength. 


I’m impressed Set on You is Amy Lea’s debut novel. It’s a book I took a chance on because I’m a sucker for rom-coms, the enemies to lovers trope, and I’ve spent a lot of time in gyms over the years. I’m not really into the whole fitness influencer (or influencers of any type) thing because it usually feels fake to me, but I was curious to see how that would work in a rom-com. Even when I was annoyed with that aspect, it worked well. Really well.

Crystal and Scott meet when Scott “steals” Crystal’s prized piece of equipment at the gym. It’s hate at first site. They begin to play this game of annoying the crap out of each other at the gym each day. I absolutely loved these hijinks! This part of the story felt so fun and fresh. This could have gone on for 75% of the story and I wouldn’t have been mad. I loved how much it frustrated Crystal and how it ended up leading to an explosive chemistry between her and Scott. After all that animosity, their friendship/relationship turned super sweet and adorable. There were ups and downs, but I thought everything was written very well by Lea.

Another thing I loved were all of the supporting characters. Crystal has some great, supportive friends in her sister, Tara, and fellow curvy influencer, Mel. Scott has some fun fireman friends. Crystal and Scott’s grandparents were so freaking adorable and funny. There’s also a sweet moment between Crystal and her dad. Oh, and I can’t forget Scott’s dog. I want him.

I need to go back to the fitness influencer part of the story now. There are Instagram posts written by Crystal included. At first, they kind of annoyed me. Like I said before, I’m not a fan because sometimes these things sound preachy and I don’t necessarily find them inspiring. They bugged me because I just wanted to be back with Crystal and Scott and their antics. For most of the story, the comments on those posts were the most interesting thing for me. It wasn’t until a specific moment toward the end that I had my aha moment with this aspect of the book. When that happened, I had BIG feels about the direction the author chose to take. It was a direction I approved of, but it also brought up some personal stuff for me surrounding weight, the culture of weight/weight-loss, and specific memories. I’m still trying to work out those thoughts and feelings in my head.

Set on You is one of those books where my review could go on and on dissecting everything about it. It’s such a well written story full of romance, funny situations, and deeply emotional moments. It’s one of those illustrated cover rom-coms that is actually a rom-com like advertised, but also serves up a small helping of women’s fiction. It’s kind of a crossover of the two genres with a heavy emphasis on the rom-com. The only thing I could have wanted from it that I didn’t get was Scott’s POV. There were times where I would have loved to have known what was going on in his head. Don’t get me wrong, the story was still perfect without that. I’m excited that this is Lea’s debut novel because I have a feeling things are only going to get better from here with her writing and it’s already stellar.

Review: The Shop on Royal Street (Karen White)

The Shop on Royal Street
Series: Royal Street, #1
Author: Karen White
Publication Date: March 29, 2022
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Women’s Fiction
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

The first in a new spinoff series of Karen White’s New York Times bestselling Tradd Street novels.

After a difficult hiccup on her road to adulthood, Nola Trenholm is looking to begin anew in New Orleans, and what better way to start her future than with her first house? But the historic fixer-upper she buys comes with even more work than she anticipated when the house’s previous occupants don’t seem to be ready to depart. Although she can’t communicate with ghosts like her stepmother, luckily Nola knows someone in New Orleans who can–even if he’s the last person on earth she wants anything to do with, ever again. Because Beau Ryan comes with his own dark past, a past that involves the disappearance of his sister and parents during Hurricane Katrina, and the unsolved murder of a woman who once lived in the old Creole Cottage Nola is determined to make her own whether or not the resident restless spirits agree…


New series, old feel. That’s how I would describe The Shop on Royal Street to Karen White’s Tradd Street readers. It’s got historic homes, ghosts, mystery, devious characters, and a struggling main character. The last Tradd Street series book did a great job setting up this new series by introducing us to Nola Trenholm and Beau Ryan and their volatile relationship.

In this book, Nola has purchased herself a haunted historic house in New Orleans. In order to get it into shape, she has to hire Beau to help out. It’s the last thing she wants to do, but necessary if she ever wants to be able to live in it. The ghosts make the rehab interesting, and Nola feels the need to help them by solving the mystery around them — a mystery that involves Beau’s family.

I had so much fun reading this book. I was really into the mystery and finding out what had happened alongside Nola. I loved getting to know Nola better after seeing her grow up in Tradd Street. Nola’s problems were very different from Melanie’s, but she had taken on some of Melanie’s more interesting quirks to deal with life. That could have been weird, but it felt natural, and I loved how she recognized it herself. It was also great to get Nola’s POV when it came to her family, especially Melanie. It just added some extra fun seeing everything through her adult eyes.

Nola wasn’t alone in this story. She had several friends to help her along the way. There was Beau, of course. His part in this story was perfect. I loved Nola’s reactions to him. I kind of wished I had his POV at times because he was such an interesting guy. There was also Jolene. She was Nola’s friend and roommate. I loved her spunk and Southern hospitality. I am looking forward to seeing how things work out for Jolene throughout this series and her friend Jaxson as well. Oh, and I can’t forget Thibeau and Jorge. Those two made me smile. I hope they bigger parts in the future.

I only had one issue with this book. I almost didn’t give it a full 5 stars because of how quickly one of Nola’s problems was resolved. I thought it would take more to get through it. Maybe it will and that’s part of the second book since it will be something she deals with her entire life? I guess I’ll find out in the next book. There were several of unresolved threads that I’m excited to read about in that next book. I’m hoping it comes sooner than later because the cliffhanger left me needing more information!

I have to give Karen White a round of applause for making the Royal Street series start off in the best way. It could have felt redundant and a copy of the Tradd Street series, but it came off feelings fresh and new.

CW: alcoholism

Mini Reviews: Blind Pass (Hunter), Running Wild (Perry), and Friends with Benefactors (Aster & Pavlov)

I have three 5-star reviews for you all today!

Blind Pass
Series: Carolina Comets, #2
Author: Teagan Hunter

Publication Date: January 27, 2022
Genre: Contemporary, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

I loved Blind Pass. LOVED IT. It had me smiling the entire time I was reading it. Ryan and Rhodes were ADORABLE. Ryan’s best friend was the girlfriend of Rhodes’s teammate.  They were acquaintances who never should have woken up married to each other in Vegas but to save face they stay married. Of course, that fake marriage turns into something real. This entire romance was totally swoon worthy. Teagan Hunter is KILLING it with this series. I can’t wait for more!

Running Wild
Series: Wild, #3
Author: K.A. Tucker

Publication Date: January 25, 2022
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

I had heard that Running Wild was more women’s fiction than contemporary romance and that was a correct assessment. This book was mostly about Marie’s struggles with her life not being where she thought it would be romantically at thirty-seven. I was surprised by how much that interested me considering her past with Jonah and Calla. There was also a bunch of stuff regarding her work as a veterinarian and volunteering for the Iditarod that I enjoyed reading about. I was surprised by how emotional Marie’s story had me. The romance of the story was kind of an extra added bonus to everything else. Tyler and Marie’s slow, slow burn really intrigued me and made me happy in the end.

Friends with Benefactors
Series: The G.D. Taylors, #5
Authors: Willow Aster, Laura Pavlov

Publication Date: February 3, 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

I have been waiting the entire series to get to know Penelope and Beckam better. These two have been best friends since kindergarten, so I knew their relationship would be explosive — especially since they had a falling out in the last book. It was everything I could hope for. It made me smile, laugh, and swoon. I’m so happy to finally have gotten their best friends to more romance, but at the same time I’m so sad this series is now complete. At least I got a nice big epilogue at the end. I am really, really, really hoping Aster and Pavlov continue to write romantic comedies together. This entire series was one big gem.