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Showing posts with label Romantic Comedies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romantic Comedies. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 05, 2021
Much Anticipated Rom-Com A Little Too Madcap
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
At 26, Meddelin Chan is playing the part of the dutiful Asian daughter by living with her mother and working as a photographer for the family wedding planning business. It's not exactly what she had in mind for her future, but she can't allow herself to follow her cousins' shameful examples by flitting off to a more exotic clime in search of her own life, leaving her mother behind to cluck over her disloyalty. Even as she yearns for freedom, Meddy has to admit she finds reluctant comfort in the way her mom and her mom's three loud, overbearing sisters fuss over her every move. When a bad blind date takes a turn for the much, much worse, she knows exactly who to call. Turns out, when it comes to hiding a body, her always-feuding, middle-aged aunties are better than the mob.
Meddy's timing couldn't be worse, however. With the biggest wedding of their career about to unfold, the women have to bring their A-game to the sparkling event. Having a corpse along for the ride is not exactly helping. Things become even more complicated when Meddy realizes her college boyfriend—the one she has pined for ever since their devastating break-up four years ago—is part of the wedding. Then, the groomsmen get too plastered to walk down the aisle, millions of dollars in gifts go missing, a storm descends on the resort venue, and everything else that could possibly go wrong does. A suspicious sheriff on the premises could mean the end of the charade and the incarceration of Meddy and her unlikely accomplices. Can the ladies pull off both a flawless wedding and the perfect crime? Or will they be planning their next event behind bars, wearing those oh-so-unflattering orange jumpsuits?
Ever since I heard about Dial A for Aunties, a debut novel by Jesse Q. Sutanto, I knew I wanted to read it. It just sounded like the perfect light-hearted blend of rom-com and cozy mystery. Sure, it would be far-fetched and silly, but it also promised to be a fun, upbeat romp. I've read a lot of dark, depressing books lately, so I was down for something different. My verdict? Dial A for Aunties is a fun read in lots of ways. The "aunties" are definitely the highlight of the story with their constant bickering, hilarious malapropisms, and misplaced pride. While little about the plot makes any logical sense, it is entertaining in its madcap absurdity. I also appreciated the #OwnVoices aspect of this novel, in which Sutanto highlights her own Indonesian-Chinese heritage. All of these elements combine to make the story humorous and entertaining.
I read mostly serious books, which sometimes makes it tough for me to really appreciate a kooky comedy. So, while I found Dial A for Aunties entertaining, its quick transitions from silly to ridiculous to utterly absurd did drive me a little crazy after a while. By the end of the story, I was very much done with the over-the-top-ness of it all. Even in a screwball story like this, there has to be some logic governing the characters' actions, right? Another thing that tempers the fun in this one is that it's actually very R-rated. I was surprised to find F-bombs being dropped all over the place, as well as a plethora of innuendo and less subtle sexual references. This just didn't fit the fun, cozy-ish vibe Dial A for Aunties seemed to be going for. I admit to going into this book with unrealistically high expectations, which maybe contributed to me feeling (disproportionally?) disappointed in it. Nevertheless, I found myself wishing for a less daffy, more PG version of this novel. This opinion will probably make me an outlier in the book blogging world (which is totally okay), but for me, Dial A for Aunties was just an average read. An entertaining one, just one that didn't turn out to be as satisfying as I wanted it to be.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of the Noodle Shop Mystery series by Vivien Chien)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual innuendo and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC for Dial A for Aunties from the generous folks at Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Friday, August 21, 2020
Enemies-to-Lovers Rom-Com a Fun, Upbeat Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Olive and Ami Torres might be identical twins, but they're nothing alike. Especially when it comes to luck. Ami wins every contest she enters. Olive has her clumsiest, most embarrassing moments broadcast on YouTube and national television. She's not bitter. It's just a fact of life that Ami's life moves seamlessly forward while Ollie gets struck by lightning (literally). She shouldn't be too surprised, then, by her present circumstances. As the maid-of-honor at Ami's posh but almost cost-free wedding, Olive is stuffed into an atrocious, too small gown, which is not making it any easier to make nice with her archnemesis, Ethan Thomas, who is—naturally—the best man.
Shockingly, Olive's luck starts to change when all the guests at the wedding dinner get food poisoning from the discount seafood buffet except for her. From her sickbed, Ami insists Olive take the fabulous, free honeymoon vacation Ami won for herself and her new husband. All Olive has to do to take advantage of a relaxing week in Hawaii is pretend to be newly married to the only other person who isn't sick—Ethan. She'll keep up the pretense when necessary, then dump him on a beach somewhere and enjoy her vacation solo. Easy peasy. There's only one problem—the more time Olive spends in paradise with Ethan, the more she doesn't want to leave. Him. Will the unluckiest girl in the world find a way to screw up what's starting to feel like the best thing that's ever happened to her? Or has fate finally done her a solid?
From its bright, colorful cover to its engaging, zany plot to its likable characters and humorous story situations, The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren is a fun read. It's upbeat, funny, swoony, and just all kinds of enjoyable. I definitely would have preferred a PG-13 version, but still, this is a witty, heartfelt novel that kept me royally entertained. It's almost universally loved by readers/reviewers and it's easy to see why. Next time I'm looking for a diverting rom-com, I'll keep this writing duo in mind.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a half-dozen F-bombs, plus milder expletives), innuendo, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, January 20, 2020
Cute YA Rom-Com Upbeat and Fun
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming — mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.
Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.
All’s fair in love and cheese — that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life — on an anonymous chat app Jack built.
As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate — people on the internet are shipping them?? — their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected.
From its peppy back cover plot summary to its charming cover to its totally apt title, you can tell that Tweet Cute, a debut novel by Emma Lord, is, well, cute. It really is an adorable romance starring two likable characters who find themselves thrown together in a funny (if a little implausible) situation that gets increasingly impossible and confusing. While there's some family drama thrown in for both Pepper and Jack to deal with, it's just enough to add substance to the story without throwing off its light, upbeat vibe. Overall, Tweet Cute is an engrossing, entertaining rom-com that's just fun to read. I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (two F-bombs, plus milder expletives), innuendo, and depictions of/references to underage drinking and illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Tweet Cute from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press (an imprint of Macmillan) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Warm and Sweet, Bookshop Rom-Com Makes for Fun Reading
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Just when it seems nothing else can go wrong for Zoe O'Connell—a single mom struggling to keep up with her expensive, stressful life in London—something does. A "reappraisal" on her crummy flat is the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back. Knowing she'll get no help from her absent mum nor her charming, but always penniless ex, Zoe's at her wit's end. She wants something better for her non-verbal 4-year-old, Hari, but how can she improve their situation when she has no money, no support system, and no hope that things will ever get better?
Enter Surinder, Hari's aunt. A friend of Nina Redmond (heroine of The Bookshop on the Corner), who's looking for help with her bookmobile business, Surinder sets Zoe up with two jobs in a tiny town in the Scottish Highlands. Zoe will help Nina out while also working as a nanny at the local "big house." Desperate, Zoe has little choice but to accept. Soon, she's doing her best to keep her three rowdy charges in line, help their father engage with his children, and keep a pregnant Nina from overworking herself. Hari seems content in Kirrinfief, so Zoe's determined to make it work despite all the challenges she's facing. Can she make a home for herself and her son out of a backward Scottish village? When push comes to shove, will she stay or go?
Jenny Colgan is a new find for me. I read The Bookshop on the Corner in 2017 and loved it, so I was eager to pick up its companion novel, The Bookshop on the Shore. While the latter is not a sequel per se, it does feature the same town as well as some of the same characters from the former. I loved dropping in on these old friends and being introduced to new ones. Like its predecessor, The Bookshop on the Shore is warm, sweet, and funny. I adored everything about it, from the setting to the writing to the characters, both new and familiar. As much as I enjoyed The Bookshop on the Corner, I liked this one even better as it has more depth to it. Colgan writes such fun books. I definitely plan to keep exploring her backlist while eagerly awaiting her newest offerings.
(Readalikes: The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a half dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives) and innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Bookshop on the Corner with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Monday, July 15, 2019
Cute Bookish Rom Com a Fun Romp
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Usually, I write my own plot summaries, but I think the one on the back cover of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman sums things up perfectly, so I'm not going to bother reinventing the wheel. Not this time, anyway.
Meet Nina Hill: a young woman supremely confident in her own shell.
The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.
When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They are all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She will have to...Speak. To. Strangers. And as if that was not enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Does he not realize what a terrible idea that is?
Nina considers her options:
1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.)
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee.)
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)
It is time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she is not convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It is going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.
Cute, right? Although Nina is not quite as adorkable as the summary makes her sound, she's still a highly relatable character, one in whom any book lover will recognize themselves. It's easy to root for this introverted bluestocking as she navigates the rocky worlds of family, romance, and newfound wealth. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is chock-full of fun, interesting characters. It also features an engaging, upbeat plot and some life lessons that are especially pertinent to those of us who are wont to stick our noses in a book and ignore real life. While the novel has a couple raunchy parts that will stop me from recommending it as widely as I otherwise would, I still enjoyed this light, entertaining, bookish read.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (1 F-bomb, plus milder expletives), mild sexual content, rude humor, illegal drug use, and innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill from the generous folks at Penguin Random House. Thank you!
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Rags-to-Riches Romance Far-fetched, But Fun
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: I realized only after finishing In Dog We Trust that it is the fifth book in a series. While the installments do not appear to need to be read in order, characters from earlier books do make cameo appearances in the newer ones. In order to remain completely free from all possible spoilers, you may want to read the series in order.
Jocelyn Hillier's mother always told her never to get personally involved with the summer people who flock to Black Dog Bay, Delaware, every summer. Doing their laundry in order to pay your bills is one thing; canoodling with a tourist is quite another. In the 27 years she's been alive and living in the resort town, Jocelyn has always obeyed her mother's rule. Then, a chance meeting puts her in the middle of a squabble between two of them. Before she knows it, Jocelyn is working as a dog walker for one Richie Rich and dating another.
When Jocelyn's cantankerous boss dies unexpectedly, leaving his vast wealth to his three prize Labs, and naming Jocelyn as their legal guardian, she's stunned. As the dogs' primary caregiver, she's suddenly living in the lap of luxury with access to millions of dollars. Of course, some people—including her boss's estranged son, Liam Sheridan—are angered by Mr. Allardyce's ridiculous dying wishes and will do whatever it takes to get the money to which they believe they are entitled. While persistent Liam starts out as a thorn in Jocelyn's side, it's not long before she's feeling a deep, unsettling attraction to the enemy. Even as he schemes to take away every penny his father bequeathed to his pups and their spirited guardian, who isn't about to take Liam's duplicity lying down ...
I didn't realize until after I'd finished In Dog We Trust by Beth Kendrick that it is the fifth installment in a series. The setting of the romantic comedy seemed familiar, which makes sense since apparently I read—and really enjoyed—the second book in the series, New Uses for Old Boyfriends, back in 2015. Although In Dog We Trust is lighthearted and funny, I didn't end up liking it as much as I did its predecessor. The situation in which Jocelyn finds herself just seems far-fetched, her antics silly and immature. Because our heroine has no real story goal, the novel's plot seems episodic and meandering, with no real focus. I get that it's a rom-com that's supposed to be light and diverting, but still, I would have appreciated a little substance from In Dog We Trust. In the end, I enjoyed this cute romance enough to finish it, but I can't say I loved it. It turned into just an okay read for me.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Black Dog Bay series by Beth Kendrick. Also reminds me of On the Same Page by N.D. Galland and a bit of other small town romances by Robyn Carr and RaeAnne Thayne)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs) and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of In Dog We Trust from the generous folks at Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Martha's Vineyard Rom Com Dull and Unsatisfying
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When her aging, cantankerous uncle injures himself in a fall, Joanna Howes is drawn home to Martha's Vineyard to take care of him. She's anticipating a short visit, but as Henry's leg refuses to heal, Joanna fears she may be in town for the long haul. As her bank balance dwindles, the freelance journalist agrees to take a job writing for one of the two local newspapers. When it becomes obvious she won't be able to pay her bills on the part-time gig, she begins working for the rival paper as well. Publishing articles under two different names, she hopes to keep her separate identities ... separate. The more undercover she tries to delve, however, the more complicated her already messy life seems to get.
Things become even more chaotic when Joanna accepts a date with a handsome stranger only to realize he's at the center of a controversy that's got locals (including her Uncle Henry) hot and bothered. Joanna can't tell her uncle—or either of her editors-in-chief—that her objectivity is being more and more compromised with every minute she spends with Orion Smith. How can she keep the professional distance she needs in order to report fairly on Orion while she's falling so hopelessly in love with him? The last thing Joanna needs is more knots in her already tangled-up life, but that's what she's getting. Can she get herself sorted before she loses everything that's important to her?
On the Same Page, a romantic comedy by N.D. Galland, has a fun premise with lots of potential. Unfortunately, that potential just isn't realized. While I enjoyed learning about Martha's Vineyard's dual personality, that's about the only thing in this novel that intrigued me. For me, the story ran on and on, with so much extraneous detail that it felt
overly long and dull. In addition, I just didn't care for Joanna. Selfish and dishonest, she doesn't ever risk enough to cause enough tension and suspense to make her tale interesting. She doesn't grow as a character, which makes the novel feel unsatisfying. In the end, then, I didn't love this one. Bummer.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of On the Same Page from the generous folks at HarperCollins via those at TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
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Tuesday, January 15th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books
Wednesday, January 16th: Literary Quicksand
Thursday, January 17th: From the TBR Pile
Friday, May 25, 2018
Perfect Set Brings All That Mel Does So Well to the Net (with a Giveaway!)
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As a sports reporter, Bree Mercer has embraced a hard-earned truth—pro athletes do not make good dating material. She sees enough of their inflated egos, childish temper tantrums, and slick-as-ice moves in her professional life; she wants none of that in her personal one. So, when a pro beach volleyball player in her new singles ward starts chatting her up, Bree shuts him down. Hard. Athletes—even incredibly hot ones, especially incredibly hot ones—are simply not an option.
Bree isn't about to give up, no matter how tough the assignment. She knows Kade's career and golden-boy reputation took a big hit when a reporter "friend" betrayed him by selling photos of Kade partying to a tabloid magazine, but she's not interested in tawdry gossip. Bree wants the truth. Who is Kade, really? A reformed man, who now takes his testimony as seriously as his athletic training? Or an unrepentant playboy who'll say anything to fix his tarnished image? The more time Bree spends with Kade, the more desperately she needs to know, and not only for her article. Allowing herself to fall for the handsome jock means risking not just her career but also her heart. Is she willing to put everything on the line in a match she might not win? When the truth about Kade comes out, she'll have to decide if it's game on or game over ...
Perfect Set, the newest LDS rom-com from Melanie Jacobson, sparkles with the author's trademark warmth and wit. All the things that Mel does so well are here—a fun, upbeat setting; smart, spunky characters; bright, humorous banter; and a sweet, swoony romance. Add in a singles ward full of faithful new adults who do real things like watch sports on Sunday, drink Coke (gasp!), flirt shamelessly, judge each other unfairly, even stab each other in the back (figuratively, of course), and you're pretty much guaranteed an entertaining read. Perfect Set is certainly that. Although I didn't love Bree and Kade could have used a stronger personality, I definitely felt the chemistry between the couple. Jacobson always delivers a satisfying HEA, so although the plot is predictable, it's still exciting. This isn't my favorite Jacobson novel (that would be Southern Charmed), but Perfect Set remains a light, enjoyable romance, the kind of well-written fluff that's made for beach reading and poolside indulging. If you're a fan of clean, engaging love stories, then you're definitely going to want to dip in.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other rom-coms from Melanie Jacobson, especially Second Chances. It also reminds me of romances by Brittany Larsen, Tiffany Odekirk, and Jenny Proctor)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for mild innuendo and references to illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Perfect Set from the generous folks at Covenant in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
--
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* May 25th: http://www.iamareader.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.
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Friday, April 13, 2018
Despite Appealing Vibe, LDS Rom-Com Fizzles
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Svetlana "Lana" Huish can't wait to spend the summer on Nantucket Island painting under the indulgent eyes of two of the most influential art patrons in the world. Being selected to participate in their exclusive mentoring program is a great honor and an unparalleled opportunity to make a name for herself as an artist. More than one successful career has been launched because of the program—the 22-year-old Yale grad wants hers to be one of them.
Upon arrival in Nantucket, Lana's shocked to discover she won't be studying on the East Coast at all. Instead, she finds herself in the tiny backwoods town of Bluegill, Idaho, where she'll spend six weeks being tutored by an elderly cowboy who specializes in Western art. Although Lana is immediately attracted to Walt, LeVan Hitchpost's handsome grandson, she's a little worried about the artist himself. It's clear LeVan is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. If her mentor can barely remember his own name, how is he supposed to teach her all he knows about art?
Despite her initial misgivings, Lana soon becomes charmed by LeVan, a mischievous old man whose mind is a lot sharper than he lets on. She's also completely smitten with Walt. Although the two appear to have little in common, Lana's drawn to the compassionate, hard-working farmer. He might not return her feelings, but she can't seem to control hers. As Lana tries to attract Walt's attention and works feverishly to help an ailing LeVan finish the masterpiece he's frantically trying to complete before Alzheimer's steals the rest of his mind, tension boils over in out-of-the-way Bluegill, Idaho. The tranquil summer Lana had envisioned has suddenly become anything but ...
Even though its premise is more than a little far-fetched, Brush With Love by Lisa McKendrick is a fun, captivating New Adult romance. Not only did I enjoy its rustic setting, but I liked the novel's upbeat voice and style. Yes, the story feels more YA than NA, but its bubbly, buoyant rom-com vibe definitely appeals. The characters are similarly likable, although LeVan's duplicitous actions seem cruel and inconsistent with his general nature. Plot is not this novel's strength as the story line meanders here, there, and everywhere, trying to cover too much territory, and getting more improbable as it chugs along. Chapter 23, in particular, threw me completely. It's so abrupt and unemotional and cheesy that I read it over a few times thinking it had to be a dream sequence! It isn't. Honestly, I couldn't feel any chemistry between Lana and Walt, so their romance seems insta-lovey and melodramatic. To top it all off, my copy of Brush With Love (which might possibly be an advanced reader version?) is chock-full of typos and other copy editing errors. In the end, then, I came away from this novel disappointed. The book has tons of potential; it just feels to me like this a draft of a novel, not the polished, complete story it should be.
(Readalikes: The style reminds me of LDS rom-com novels by Melanie Jacobson, Jenny Proctor, and Julie Wright)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for (non-graphic) references to sex and mild innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-copy of Brush With Love from the generous folks at Bonneville Books via those on The Whitney Awards Committee. Thank you!
Friday, December 01, 2017
Mobile Bookshop Rom-Com A Warm, Fun Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
There's nothing 29-year-old Nina Redmond likes more than a swoony, satisfying happily ever after. Whether that sweeping high comes from her own reading or from helping a hungry reader find the right book, it doesn't matter. As a London librarian, Nina's greatest joy comes from seeing the perfect HEAs come to fruition. If only she could find one for herself.
When Nina becomes redundant at work, she's adrift, wondering how to find meaning in her newly unemployed state. Before she can talk herself out of it, she finds herself traveling to the Scottish Highlands to buy an old bus. In her mind's eye, she can see what the rusty vehicle is truly meant to be—a mobile bookshop. London has no need for such a thing, but the folks in tiny Kirrinfief do. As Nina sets about turning her dream into reality, she becomes more and more comfortable in the tiny Scottish village. Is it possible she's stumbled upon not just her life's calling, but also a place where she can truly feel at home? Between her new business challenges, the attention of a handsome Latvian train driver, and the relationship she thinks she might be building with her enigmatic sheep-farming landlord, Nina's once humdrum life has taken some surprising, very intriguing new turns. What's lurking at the end of that twisty road? Could it be Nina's long-awaited, much sought-after happily ever after?
The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan is a warm, fun novel about the power of books to transform lives and communities. It's also about the risk and rewards of taking a chance, even (especially?) a crazy one. Nina's a lovable heroine whose passion will resonate with anyone who loves books. Her antics are entertaining and it's easy to root for her happiness. Perhaps Nina's HEA, especially with her business, comes without enough struggle (as was suggested by my friend Jenny in her recent review of this novel), but that doesn't bother me all that much. I enjoyed this one, however far-fetched it may be. This was my first foray into Colgan territory, but it certainly won't be my last.
(Readalikes: I feel like I should be able to think of a million comparable titles, but nothing's coming to mind. Help?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a few F-bombs, plus milder expletives), sexual innuendo, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: The Bookshop on the Corner came from my personal library, although I'm not sure how it got there. #bookhoarderproblems
Wednesday, August 02, 2017
Cancun Rom Com Just ... Ridiculous
(Image from Amazon)
Seven years ago, the man of Belle Lind's dreams married her college roommate. So what if Marco Dawson barely knew Belle existed? She knows the two of them are meant to be together. When Belle learns that Marco is now divorced and vacationing with his family at a posh Cancun resort, it seems like fate. The 25-year-old fashion designer isn't afraid to take this chance to finally make Marco hers. And what more romantic setting could there possibly be than sultry Cancun?
Enter Flynn Dawson, Marco's identical twin. Flynn's determined to help Marco glue his marriage back together. And he's not about to let Belle stand in the estranged couple's way. 'Course, Belle has no idea Marco even has a twin brother ... Cue chaos, confusion, and canoodling on a Cancun beach that's getting hotter by the second.
I'm not a big romance reader as you well know, but I don't mind the occasional rom com—as long as it's more cute than silly. Sadly, How I Met Your Brother by Janette Rallison is just plain ole ridiculous. I hate to rag on Rallison, as she is a wonderful, generous person who has written some novels that I've really loved (check out her very fun My Fair Godmother series), but this novel is definitely not up to par. It is a clean, lighthearted, easy read that will not tax your brain (like, at all), so there's that. On the other hand, we have a childish, manipulative, fickle heroine; shallow, one-dimensional minor characters; a plot that gets more absurd as it goes; and dull, tell-y prose. So, yeah. If it hadn't been required reading for the Whitney category I was judging, I wouldn't have made it past the novel's first page. At least it was a quick read.
(Readalikes: The book has been promoted as Sabrina meets While You Were Sleeping, which I guess I can kinda sorta see ...)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-copy of How I Met Your Brother from the Whitney Awards Committee for judging purposes. Thank you!
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Highly Implausible Plot Line? Who Cares When It's So Totally Entertaining?
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Mormon Girl: Incognito, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its predecessor, A Date With Danger. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
Eight months ago, Jacklyn "Jack" Wyatt was just your average college co-ed. Then, she got involved in an FBI sting operation, fell in love with special agent Damon Wade, and almost died during the rescue of a kidnapping victim. Jack's undercover FBI gig ended in flames (literally) and now she's back to her boring old mall job. On the plus side, Damon's a thoughtful, devoted boyfriend who makes Jack's heart skip several beats every time she sees him. On the not-so plus side, he's evasive about his job, his family, his membership in the Church, and about his true feelings for his very patient girlfriend.
When Damon travels to Las Vegas on business, Jack comes up with a brilliant plan to reignite their romance. Unfortunately, her surprise visit to the Strip doesn't quite go according to plan. Instead, she finds herself in the middle of another FBI operation, this time posing as a ruthless gunrunner. Determined to protect Damon and his team by playing her part to perfection, Jack must trip her way (on stilettos, no less) through a world so unfamiliar it might as well be Mars. To convince a crew of hardened thugs that she's a fearsome international arms dealers, Jack will have to fake her way through casino games, weapons demonstrations, and dangerous negotiations with the highest rollers in Vegas. A tall order for a Utah native who's never played poker or held a gun and thinks bluffing is pretty much a mortal sin. What's a good little Mormon girl to do?
With Damon by her side, Jack knows she'll be safe. Ish. But when he reveals some shocking secrets about his past, she no longer knows whom to trust. If she gets out of Vegas alive, the pair's going to have some serious DTR'ing to do ...
So, you know how LDS romantic suspense really isn't my jam? While that hasn't changed, I have become a fan of Kari Iroz who happens to write ... wait for it ... LDS romantic suspense. I know! Whodathunkit? The thing that I like about her books, A Date With Danger and its sequel, Mormon Girl: Incognito, is that they don't take themselves too seriously. They're rom-coms more than anything else. Our heroine, Jack Wyatt, is hilarious. She's a funny, vulnerable, self-deprecating Everywoman who's impossible not to like. Damon has less personality, but he's got hidden depths that I hope will be explored more in further novels (I'm keeping my fingers crossed for many more installments in this series). Even more so than A Date With Danger, the happenings in Mormon Girl: Incognito are highly implausible; even still, they're totally entertaining. I very willingly suspended my disbelief so I could follow along on Jack's misadventures in Vegas and, you know what? No regrets. I had a great time tearing through this fun, lighthearted novel. Sure, it's far-fetched, but who cares when it's such an enjoyable read? If you dig clean romantic comedy/suspense with a light sprinkling of LDS doctrine/culture, then you really ought to check out Jack Wyatt. She's a gem.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of A Date With Danger by Kari Iroz and of the movie Miss Congeniality)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for mild sexual innuendo, scenes of peril, and references to illegal activities
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Mormon Girl: Incognito from the generous folks at Covenant. Thank you!
--
Want more opinions on Mormon Girl: Incognito? Check out the other stops on its blog tour:
*June 19th: http://mybookaday.
*June 21st: http://melsshelves.
*June 22nd: https://ldsandlovinit.
*June 23rd: http://Please note: My review was posted late. Also, the giveaway associated with this blog tour has ended.
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