Review: Business Casual by B.K. Borison

About the Book

Two opposites decide to test their chemistry with one steamy night together. But will once be enough?

Nova Porter isn’t looking for love, and she certainly has no explanation for her attraction to buttoned-up, three-piece-suit-wearing investment banker Charlie Milford. Maybe it’s his charm? Or maybe it’s his determination to help her fledgling business however he can. Either way, she’s distracted every time he’s around. With her new tattoo studio set to open in her hometown of Inglewild, she doesn’t have time for frivolous flirtations.

In an effort to get Charlie out of her system once and for all, Nova offers a proposition. One night. No strings. They’ll kick their uncomfortable attraction to the curb and return to their respective responsibilities. But their explosive night together scatters their expectations like fallen leaves. And with Charlie in town as the temporary head of Lovelight Farms, Nova can’t quite avoid him.

And Charlie? Well, Charlie knows a good investment when he sees one. He’s hoping he can convince Nova he’s worth some of her time.

Review

I’ve been waiting to read this book since B.K. Borison has posted the aesthetic on her social media. Despite not reading the previous books, I was determined to read this one. Business Casual was everything that I had hoped for and more. Borison wrote this story with love and admiration.

Nova and Charlie might seem like opposites at first glance; however, I wouldn’t say it is entirely true. Both are dealing with their insecurities and to their best to hide it. Nova from her big brother Beckett. He’s giving so much up for her, and she doesn’t want to disappoint him. This reasoning is why she works so hard and doesn’t want him to see her tattoo shop. Moreover, I loved Nova’s relationship with Beckett. It’s a top-tier sibling relationship and makes me want to go back to read his book to get more glimpses of it.

Charlie is hiding his insecurities from everyone in the town. He has a troubling relationship with his father, a job that he doesn’t enjoy very much. At the beginning of the book, Nova makes a very interesting statement. Internally, she said that for someone who lives out of State, Charlie spends a lot of time in her town. His reasoning for that is a heartbreaking reveal, and I related to his feelings. I hold him and Nova close to my heart. I loved the two of them a lot.

Nova and Charlie enter a one-time “arrangement”, which becomes a permanent one. Throughout the story, they learn acceptance and growth. They were encouraging and super sweet to each other. They had me giggling and kicking my feet.

Final Thoughts

Business Casual is a cozy, heartfelt, and wonderful story that I didn’t want to end. Nova and Charlie captured my entire heart and I clung to every word on the pages. I had not read the previous books; however, those who had will love the appearances of the other couples. They have sweet moments sprinkled in as well. 

Review: A Wilderness of Glass by Grace Draven

About the Book

The treacherous waters of the Gray have widowed many women in the village of Ancilar. But the sea gives back as well as takes away, something Brida Gazi discovers one bleak autumn morning while harvesting sea wrack on its storm-battered shore.

Wounded and stranded ashore, the merman Ahtin lies dying among the tidal pools until a land-walker woman, who can call forth magic with a mysterious flute, rescues him. Ahtin finds himself unable to resist Brida's allure - or her magic - despite the risk to himself and his people.

But Ahtin isn't alone in his fascination. Another, driven by bitterness and relentless purpose, seeks Brida and her unusual talent to manipulate for his own schemes, and neither Ahtin's devotion nor the sea's ancient sorcery will stop him from realizing those ambitions.

Review

I will admit that when I first started reading A Wilderness of Glass I considered DNF-ing. It took a few chapters for me to be completely sold. Even though I felt unsure about the story, I will say that Draven does write beautifully. This was my first book by her, and I loved her writing style. It felt magical and intimate and lifted this story.  

Once I got past the hurdle of the first few chapters, I started to understand why this story was highly recommended. It is a beautiful romance between two characters who feel grief. Draven gave her characters such depth and the writing felt extremely deep.

Final Thoughts

Draven created a magical and deep world with so few words. For anyone who wants to read a novella about mermaids and romance, this story is for them. For anyone who wants to read a story about grief, this is also for them. At the beginning, it might feel as if readers are thrown into this world unprepared; however, that feeling is quickly resolved. It’s also worth mentioning that this novella is part of a world already established within Draven’s Wraith King series. It can be read as a stand-alone; however, it could read better if it had prior knowledge about those other books.  

Review: Pity Parade by Whitney Dineen

The Pity Parade, the latest book in the Pity series by Whitney Dineen, follows Trina Blackwell. If you’ve been following the series, then you know Trina is a tv show host for a matchmaker show that brought Tim and Paige together in the last book.

For those new to the series, Trina has been a matchmaker on a hit tv show for awhile but most importantly for everyone but herself. Almost lucky, she met a guy at a charity event that had great potential but to her disappointment, he didn’t want a relationship.

Due to the circumstances that led to her show being canceled, she was given an ultimatum for redemption by putting herself out there to be the center of attention of a new upcoming show for eligible men to potentially date her. The idea has her running for the hills. Trying to find a way to get out of this situation, she comes up with a plan to find a guy but little did she know that someone from her past would come back showing the hand of fate that would give them the second chance they both needed.

I honestly couldn’t stand Trina before but found myself keeping an open mind going into this book. Getting to know her and her journey kept me engaged and wanted to see what was to come with her potential love interest. This had some really fun moments, heartwarming reflections and she became someone to root for. It was wonderful seeing familiar faces that added to the charm and the importance of friendship and love that made the book wonderful.

The series will conclude this fall with the upcoming, Pity Present. There aren’t any details yet but from what I read, we can assume from the ending someone else will get their hea in this sweet town, Elk Lake. Another wonderful book in this series and I can’t wait to see what’s to come in the next.

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Review: Love Unwritten (Lakefront Billionaires Book 2) by Lauren Asher

About the Book

Rafael

Ellie Sinclair is a hopeless romantic who writes love songs.

I’m a struggling workaholic who could inspire a hundred breakup albums.

On paper, we have nothing in common except for my son.

For eight months, I avoid her until our summer trip.

Fourteen days. Two islands. And one nanny I shouldn’t be attracted to.

Spending time with Ellie is expected, but enjoying her company?

That isn’t part of our travel plans.

After my divorce, I swore to protect my heart at all costs.

Even if it means breaking hers in the process.

Ellie

What’s worse than working for a grumpy single dad?

Admitting that I once had a secret crush on him in high school.

Thankfully, Rafael Lopez and I have changed since we graduated from Wisteria High.

He is a billionaire with a company to run and a child to take care of.

I’m an unemployed songwriter he hired to watch his son and teach music.

We coexist without any issues until a vacation changes everything.

Lines blur and old feelings for Rafael return with vengeance as I face a new dilemma.

Being his son’s nanny is one thing, but wishing for more?

Sounds like a heartbreak song waiting to be written.

Review

The Lakefront Billionaires series is shaping out to be Lauren Asher’s best series. I adored the first book, and I very quickly fell in love with Love Unwritten. As it stands, it is my favorite within the series. I only have one complaint with this book. More on that later. Right now, I want to gush about the book.

This is such a heartwarming story. It’s not just a romance, it’s a story about family relationships. Life experiences and a messy divorce have left Rafael with a struggling relationship with his son. He loves his son deeply and doesn’t know how to fix the situation. I loved Rafael’s character growth. He was imperfect and vulnerable and was willing to put in the work. He and Ellie were able to build the trust needed and open up about their childhood experiences.  

Ellie fits perfectly in Nico (Rafael’s son) and Rafael’s life. Like Rafael, she didn’t have a perfect childhood. She made tremendous growth in the past; however, she’s still affected. She was able to be vulnerable with him and work to further grow in her career. While also harboring a sweet relationship with his kid.

Nico was adorable and so lovable. I loved how he had depth and relationships with the characters in the book. He wasn’t just a plot point. It was also wonderful to see Dahila and Julian from the first book. Julian is so connected to Rafael’s story, and I loved their friendship.

My only complaint with this book is that I felt that the author got tired in the final stretch. This is a 600-page book. At the end, everything was told, instead of her painting this beautiful picture as she had previously done. It felt rushed, and I finished the story slightly disappointed. This could very well be me craving more of Ellie and Rafael.

Final Thoughts

Love Unwritten is another highlight in Asher’s career. Ellie and Rafael are beautiful characters that I hold so dearly to my heart. These are two deep and compelling characters who hold so much in. It’s a slow-burn romance, that works well for them as they create this deep connection with each other and build trust. They are special.  

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Review: Almost Family by Ann Bancroft

Almost Family, takes us through the emotional and transformative journey of Liz Millanova, a woman facing the reality of her life during stage 4 cancer. Haunted and coming to terms with the relationship that ended her marriage, an estranged daughter and finding hope among strangers, this book makes you appreciate the limited time we have and to surround it with people that will make it valuable.

With confirmation of her cancer returning, Liz was encouraged to join a support group so that she could find comfort and support with others who faced the same. Initially reluctant, Liz found herself unexpectedly connecting with two other members, Dave and Rhonda.Not feeling they were getting the support they needed, they decided to form a smaller group among them, not realizing how much it would change their lives.Hitting it off, deciding to meet on their own, they instantly formed a friendship, finding comfort and joy with the hope to give each other while they were still here. As their bond deepened, their determination to live despite their terminal diagnosis helped Liz confront her unresolved issues and find strength and support where she least expected it. Their time together also allowed them to support each other through facing the end on their terms and leaving this world with no loose ends. 

This book was a beautiful book that balanced humor and the complexity of the emotional toll of facing the end of life with a terminal illness. The balance of their personalities brought such an authentic, relatable narrative that makes them engaging and heartwarmed to invest in the last stages of their lives with them to live it out to its fullest. This was a testament to the power of friendship and the importance of finding joy in our most arduous moments and how the power of human connection can heal the souls.

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Review: Maybe Next Time by Christina C. Jones

About the Book

For better or worse… That was the promise Denver and Kensa made, but it’s a sentiment they’ve somehow lost along the way. What started as a passionate wildfire has diminished to a flicker, all but snuffed out by unspoken fears, perceived betrayal, and a complete breakdown in communication. Can either of them tuck their ego away long enough to rekindle their flame?

Review

Books regarding marriages in trouble are always a hit-and-miss for me. However, I found Maybe Next Time to be one of the ones that I think it worked. Despite the short length, the author provides a thorough, emotional story with Denver and Kensa. At the start of the novella, Kensa is done with her marriage, and Denver isn’t. I enjoyed how they were able to communicate and realize that everything boiled down to grief. And in the end, both of them let go of their pride and their ego to save their marriage.

Out of the two main characters, I enjoyed Kensa more. Denver felt too reckless, and I wish that Kensa would have made him grovel for her more.

Final Thoughts

Maybe Next Time is a short, quick read about two characters who had experienced heartbreak and had drifted apart from each other. Denver has a few questionable moments, and Kensa should have made him work harder; however, something can be said about how the two of them were able to communicate and come back together.

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