This is a collection of inspirational novellas written by three generations of Brunstetter women. Each story follows a different couple in the intertwined community of Big Valley, Pennsylvania where three Amish communities with varying levels of observance live in harmony. The writing is uneven but all the characters have non-farming jobs, which is unusual for this sub-genre. I frequently read Amish and enjoy farm settings, but it’s nice to see an acknowledgement that farming alone … Continue reading The Brides of the Big Valley by Wanda Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, and Richelle Brunstetter →
Unmet expectations are killer. I wanted a kickass bisexual heroine tearing down the corrupt empire and stealing a dragon to rescue her kidnapped girlfriend. What I got was a slow-paced fantasy novel with an additional love interest that I desperately tried to will out of existence. By “slow-paced,” I mean boring. There is a chunk in the middle where I didn’t understand why the plot wasn’t moving. The entire premise is that the rescue mission … Continue reading Shatter the Sky by Rebecca Kim Wells →
Sure Thing was recent-ish-ly featured for Books on Sale. Since I’m the one who usually puts these posts together, it can be a work hazard. But shit, it was 99c! It also had some promising reviews on Goodreads and the quotes people pulled had me interested. It sounded fun! After finishing the book and sitting with my thoughts for days, though, I have no idea if I enjoyed it or not. Like I said, I … Continue reading Sure Thing by Jana Aston →
If Present Day Elyse traveled back in time and told Past Elyse that someday Nora Roberts would write a romantic suspense novel that didn’t quite work for her, Past Elyse wouldn’t have believed her. Then Past Elyse would have squinted at Present Day Elyse and said, “Are we growing out our bangs again? You know we’re only going to last six weeks before we cut them.” I love Nora Roberts’ romantic suspense books. I schedule … Continue reading Under Currents by Nora Roberts →
Reading Red, White & Royal Blue is an excellent reminder about why a couple’s chemistry isn’t the only thing that matters in a romance. This book has received positive buzz, and for good reason: the enemies-to-lovers romance is swoonworthy, the banter is witty and laugh-out-loud funny, and the epistolary aspect is a delightful surprise. Despite how much I enjoyed the relationship between Alex (the son of the American president) and Henry (a British prince), there … Continue reading Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston →
I went into Crashing the A-List by Summer Heacock expecting a celebrity romance with RPF (Real Person Fiction) overtones. I love celebrity romance and I could even overlook the fact that the hero’s name is Caspian Twiddleswich and that he looks a lot like a certain Sherlock star. This book is light on the romance, though, and reads a lot more like the novels I devoured in the early aughts that were frequently labeled “chick … Continue reading Crashing the A-List by Summer Heacock →
Steampunk Darcy is a lot of fun and also kind of a mess. It never fully resolves the conflict between the two main characters. It has a weird ethical problem in terms of an automaton. It ends on a cliffhanger with no planned sequel. But it also has a poignant story about familial loss and responsibility, great sexual tension, clever use of Pride and Prejudice motifs, plausible conflicts, cool world building, and lots and lots … Continue reading Steampunk Darcy by Monica Fairview →
If A Lady in Disguise is ever made into a movie, and it does not star Carole Lombard, I’ll be very disappointed. True, Lombard died in 1942, but why must we quibble over such small details? This book is a screwball comedy romance that revolves around a Big Misunderstanding. I’m not fond of Big Misunderstandings but I do believe in the maxim “Go big or go home,” and while I was not crazy about the … Continue reading A Lady in Disguise by Lynsay Sands →
Some Like It Scandalous delivers on its premise: childhood enemies-to-lovers, fake engagement, scientist-slash-businesswoman heroine, and a rich and fleshed-out Gilded Age setting. Despite the intriguing premise, I had difficulties with the first half (it drags on far too long before getting to the most interesting parts of the novel), the portrayal of the hero as witty and creative when evidence suggests otherwise, the absence of Daisy’s father when he is responsible for the climactic conflict, … Continue reading Some Like It Scandalous by Maya Rodale →
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey is the first book in a new contemporary romance series about the inhabitants of Port Jefferson, Long Island. It has cute small town vibes, renovation elements, and a fake relationship. While Bailey’s writing and the fake relationship trope were what drew me to this book, my enjoyment was greatly offset by a trope that is my anti-catnip: the off limits best friend’s sister. Baseball player Travis Ford has returned … Continue reading Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey →
Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune is what I’d describe as women’s fiction with magical realism. It also has pages upon pages of yummy food descriptions. While the writing is evocative and every foodie’s dream, the weak romantic subplot, haphazard emotional resolution, and frequent repetition of phrases diminished a majority of the shine of the atmosphere and writing. Natalie Tan returns to her childhood home in San Diego’s Chinatown following the death of her … Continue reading Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim →
