Review: Here For The Cake by Jennifer Millikin

About the Book

A spicy, sassy, and swoony fake dating romantic comedy from Amazon Charts bestselling author Jennifer Millikin.

A week on an island sounds like the stuff of beach dreams, but for Paisley Royce, it's a nightmare. Her little sister is marrying her ex-college sweetheart, and Paisley is serving as maid of honor. To add insult to injury, nobody will let Paisley forget she’s single.

Bachelorette weekend changes everything when she runs into her old college frenemy, Klein Madigan.

Klein is still intelligent and funny, and somehow time has only made him more attractive.

Paisley is Klein’s ‘one that got away’, not that he’d ever admit it to her. A colossal misstep (and one terrible kiss) in college sealed their fate.

Or so they thought.

Klein’s an aspiring author allergic to social media. Paisley owns a digital marketing agency.

A brilliant plan is hatched: A trip across the country for a week of faking out her family in exchange for her firm marketing his work.

One hastily scrawled and signed contract on a bar napkin later, Paisley and Klein embark on a journey of tension, only one bed, and fake dating shenanigans.

Paisley’s goal is to survive the week.

Klein’s plan is to enjoy the sun, sand, and wedding cake.

Review

This was a refreshing fake dating story, just in time for hot weather. I adored this story and the characters. For the entire time I was reading I had such a huge smile on my face. 

The story centers around Paisley. She has been asked to be her younger sister’s maid of honor. The problem is that her sister’s soon-to-be husband is Paisley’s ex-boyfriend. The situation with her sister and ex-boyfriend is not something ideal for her. However, Paisley is considered a “people pleaser” and of course agrees to the entire thing. One night she runs into Klein, someone she kissed years ago in college. He’s a writer who is struggling with having an online persona. They strike a deal. She’ll help him market his book if he agrees to be her fake boyfriend. Their story is intoxicating filled with humor, chemistry, and sweet moments. 

As mentioned previously, Paisley is a people pleaser. Her family is constantly walking over her. They don’t know the real her because she’s scared of them blaming her. She has a thriving business and is charming. I loved how as the book progressed, she began to stand up for herself. It was a natural progression that wasn’t jarring. Klein was the perfect love interest to her. After their kiss in college, there was some bad blood between him in Paisley, something he understood. To him, she was the one who got away. Klein was lovely. My favorite thing about him is that the author just didn’t say he was a writer. His passion was something obvious in his words and how he saw and interacted with the world. 

Final Thoughts 

Here For the Cake was such a great fake dating story that stands out from the rest. Paisley and Klein are incredible, as well as their story. I seriously have zero complaints about this story. I felt everything played out wonderfully. 

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Review: The Match by Winter Renshaw

About the Book

All I wanted was a baby. No daddy? No problem. That’s what anonymous donors are for …But when the fertility clinic accidentally sends me a letter addressed to a man whose ID matches my paperwork, I discover my child’s father is none other than world-renowned tennis champion Fabian Catalano—famous for his gorgeous face, chiseled abs, and broody, wildcard reputation. Only everything changes when the clinic calls us in for damage control—and Fabian drops the bombshell of the century. Turns out the intense Adonis wants to get to know his daughter. So I invite him to stay with us—temporarily. Ground rules and all. And our arrangement is simple … until it isn’t. Between 2 AM confessionals and stolen kisses, my sweet little simple life has taken a very complicated left turn. But oh, baby … what happens next—is a game changer.

Review

The Match was a solid read. In summary, this is a secret baby trope with a twist. It’s an enjoyable read with some low points. The circumstances of their meeting aren’t ideal for Rossi and Fabian. They must find a way to make it work. Fabian was a bit unlikable in the beginning, but towards the end, he got a little bit better. He’s still had his moments of being a jerk.  

Initially, I was afraid that he would only want to be involved because he was attracted to Rossi and not because he wanted to know Lucia. As few as the moments were between him and Lucia, I think he did grow to love his daughter. 

That brings us to another point. At times Lucia felt like a prop. The author didn’t lean into that aspect; instead, she felt too focused on writing this romance between Rossi and Fabian. I understand this is a romance novel; however, the story would have packed a bigger punch if the author had brought Lucia more to the front. 

Another low is the last thirty percent of the book. So much unneeded drama was tossed in. The whole situation with Fabian’s ex could have been omitted, and the author could have expanded more upon the twist with Fabian’s family. I found that to be the most interesting aspect of the latter half of the book. 

Final Thoughts 

The Match is entertaining and short enough to finish. Rossi is a much better character than Fabian. Fabian is unlikeable in the beginning and does redeem himself in the middle. Mostly at the end too. I didn’t like how he expected Rossi to uproot her life in Illinois for him because she could work at home. 

Also, the story doesn’t dwell on building Fabian’s relationship with Lucia. Tiny moments are sprinkled in that allow readers to see he’s grown to like his daughter; however, it feels like additional strides need to be taken. The end of this book is littered with unnecessary plot points; though it does have an interesting twist that I didn’t see coming.  

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Review: The Finders Keepers Library by Annie Rains

The Finders Keeper Library is a heartwarming book that takes us on a journey through the heart of a small town where love, hope and second chances share its name. Welcome to Bloom, NC.

Savannah Collins finds her life at a crossroads. After being dumped by the man whom she thought she would be with, she found herself trying to pick up the pieces. Single, unemployed and practically homeless, seeking comfort, she decides to go to the one place filled with love that would renew her heart and soul. With a car full of plants and her new rescue kitty Fig, she heads out to Bloom, NC to spend the summer with her Aunt Eleanor. A former librarian, full of comfort, life and wisdom to await her with loving arms to soothe her broken spirit.

The book unfolds around the charm of the Finders Keepers Library. A beautiful gem, tucked away in her beautiful garden full of roses, serves more than just stories on a page. This beautiful place, where anyone can read a book or leave one, has been the heart of the community for some time. This little haven connects and heals the souls for the many facing life’s challenges as well as bringing joy, warmth and comfort for those seeking a quench to their literary thirst. When a storm passes through and the damage threatens an upcoming wedding, the community shows up by coming together to show what determination and love can do for someone they love.

While they come together to repair, in the process, Savannah forms an unexpected bond with her neighbor Evan Sanders. Now as these two go way back, all they ever was were friends. As they reminisce going though the books, their mutual friendship places them on a journey leading to comfort and strength in the company of each other. While her time here was only intended for a short visit, life has a way of bringing you to the right place at the right time to throw a wrench in your intended plans.

Through the amazing characters in the book, their story weaves together love, family and the power of community. As Savannah deals with the uncertainties of her life, she discovers that homes is a feeling of belonging, acceptance and love. Her journey with Evan was slow but deliberate. Integrated with their journey was his relationship with his daughter. The evolution of their relationship dealing with loss, self discovery and healing was a delicate, beautiful balance. My favorite was Eleanor. She represented and brought something to the book that left a warm impression. Not to mention her second chance of love in life, is always beautiful to see but her wisdom and unconditional love was soothing. Her books as a conduit to heal and soothe and what that beautiful little library brought to the book made a special experience surrounding the characters and their journey.

From the first page to the end, this book leaves you feeling so wonderful. Selfishly, I didn't want it to end and deliberate read it slow. Out of all the books that I've read from Annie thus far, this one definitely hits different. I can't express it into words but it's just a feeling that just hugs you and leaves you feeling good.

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At the end there was you: a novella by Wendy Heiss

About the Book

The world will end in seven days.

Winter is a Priestess, her life is simple and uncomplicated, but shortly takes a turn when she is appointed as an aide for a Mage who intends to stop the God of Death from spreading a plague that would end their world. Both of them begin searching the Urvalis library for answers and find more than they had bargained for.

And as the end approaches, the questions begin vaguing.

Review

One word to describe this book is haunting. I think that word completely describes the vibe of this story. The world is set to end in seven days, and the writing feels that the end is near. I found that aspect of the story one of the strongest points. Everything else I struggled with. 

There is rarely world-building in this story. As interesting as the concept is, I would have preferred if the author spent more time explaining the world and how everything works. I had a lot of questions that were left unanswered. As for the characters, Winter and Azrael, unfortunately, I found them to be simply fine until the latter half of the book. Then, I really learned to appreciate them. 

Final Thoughts

At the end there was you had writing that set the mood for the story that was being told. Unfortunately, often the story itself felt short and underdeveloped. At the end is when the story begun to shine. 

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Review: Royal Valentine by Sariah Wilson

About the Book

Valentine’s Day becomes a Roman holiday for a princess in disguise in a dizzyingly romantic short story about making wishes come true by the USA Today bestselling author of The Chemistry of Love.

Princess Ilaria has had it up to her tiara with the paparazzi, her own wild reputation, and the public eye. Trading places with her assistant, Ilaria wants just one blissfully ordinary weekend. Then a handsome photographer with a sexy Scottish burr offers to be her guide. Sparks fly, but how long can they last? Ilaria’s secret has to come out—and it could ruin a perfectly serendipitous romance.

Sariah Wilson’s Royal Valentine is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute, irresistibly romantic stories about finding love when and where you least expect it. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s make a date of it.

Review

Unfortunately, Royal Valentine was a miss for me. Almost every aspect of this story felt forced. Ilaria is a princess who yearns to live a normal life for a few days, so she switches places with her assistant. While pretending to be an American tourist, she meets Callum, and the two of them explore Rome together. 

The book is fairly short; however, I’ve seen other novellas with the same number of pages be successful where this book failed. Ilaria and Callum lacked chemistry. There was no spark between them, and their entire story felt rushed. Callum’s reaction to finding out the truth about Ilaria was frustrating when he also had a secret of his own. This book has an unnecessary third-act break-up scene. 

Final Thoughts 

Royal Valentine felt extremely bland. Everything felt forced. The MMC appeared almost disgusted when he found out Ilaria’s secret, and that was a big turn-off. 

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Review: The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas

New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas is back with the second book in her heartwarming Someday Valley series, The Lavender Bookshop. The series, a spinoff of her Honey Creek series, will charm you as the preceding book, reconnect with some old friends and make room in your heart for some more.

Returning to Someday Valley, we are greeted by it's southern charm and rustic beauty. The Lavender Bookshop sets in roots in the heart of this town, bringing comfort to the folks and a sense of home for owner Noah O'Brien. Leaving his life behind with dreams and uncertainty, he finds himself right in the heart of a town that has claimed others such as him. Unsure of what's to come or where he's headed, he finds himself getting everything that he could ever want unexpectedly including the heart of a sweet school teacher, Cora Lee Buchanan.

Cora Lee, not only in love with his bookstore but finds herself enamored by his subtle charm and kindness. As their budding friendship blossoms, they find themselves creating their own story, searching for their happy ending and hea. These two bring joy and innocence to the book that you can't help but root for them.

Cora wasn't the only Buchanan in search of their hea. Bear, her father, known for his toughness and grumpy stature finds that tough exterior crumbling. Don't let the outside fool you because beyond that tough exterior is a big softie inside. Every town has their secrets and with him, the longing and desire for a secret love has crippled his life. When a friend needs help that puts his secret life in jeopardy, it forces a new chapter that leads to everything his he thought his heart couldn't have. Decisions are made that change his life in ways he couldn't imagine.

As we left off in the first book, the search was on for the siblings of Rusty. In storms Andi Delane, a tough gal who needs and counts on no one. While hiding low from some folks after her for a case she is on, she comes to town in search of the brothers she never knew. When she unexpectedly finds out that a deputy has been assigned to protect her, she finds herself struggling to let him in. As she lowers her guard, she finds herself not only trying to survive but fighting a losing battle that is trying to get her to stop running from the one thing she is trying to stay away from. There's something in the air in this town and as she finds out, there's something that pulls you in and doesn't let go.

This book was a slow burn romance with characters that simmered beautifully to the end. Another wonderful book in this series introducing characters that were in search of something and found a second chance of love, hope and renewed assurance that they were meant to be where they were in this wonderful place. What I love about this series and characters, especially in this book is that no matter who you are or what hardships that seem to block your blessings, you deserve to be loved.

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