The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely

I've read other books by Lauren Blakely (Big Rock, Mr. O), and found them all to be fun, sexy, and well-written...a trifecta that escapes so many authors in this genre, but that Blakely has mastered.

When I found out that I was approved to receive an an advanced copy from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, I may have yelped in delight. I was so excited to get my hands on Blakely's newest, because I loved her others. 

And I was not disappointed. 

Here's the blurb from Amazon:

April Hamilton wants you to know she hasn’t been on GigsForHire since that time she sold her futon after college. She doesn’t even spend that much time online. And even if she did, she would not be looking up personal ads. But going home alone for her family's summer reunion is an invitation for every single relative to butt into her personal life. She simply can’t handle another blind date with the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker from her hometown. So when she finds the GigsforHire ad for a boyfriend-for-hire, she’s ready to pay to play.

Heading Home and Need a Buffer? I’m the REAL DEAL.

Theo Banks has been running from the past for years. He’s this close to finally settling all his debts, and one more job as a boyfriend-for-hire will do the trick. He’s no gigolo. Please. He’s something of an actor, and he knows how to slip into any role, including pretending to be April’s new beau -- the bad boy with the heart of gold.

Even if it means sleeping in close quarters in that tiny little bed in her parents’ inn. Even if it means spinning tales of a romance that starts to feel all too true. What neither one of them counts on is that amid the egg toss, the arm wrestling, and a fierce game of Lawn Twister that has them tangled up together, they might be feeling the real deal.

She only wanted to show her family once and for all that she had no need to settle down.

He didn’t expect to have the time of his life at her parent’s home.

They didn’t plan on loving every single second of the game.

But can a masterful game of pretend result in true love?

This trope (fake boyfriend/girlfriend) is one that is often used in romance novels, so it can get stale and contrived. HOWEVER, the way that Blakely brings her characters to life, makes the story anything but stale.  And it was funny. And steamy. 

I loved April and Theo. They were both well-developed characters that had realistic personalities. Theo was hilarious, sweet, and tough-- just how I like my leading man in a comedy-romance.

Blakely created an idyllic setting... a lakeside B&B, small town, summer-camp vibe. Perfect for summer love. 

How I pictured April's mother's B&B

I also really appreciated that the characters were honest with each other. I can't stand when the characters of a romance hide their feelings and feel like they'll be rejected, so they make a mess of their chances, etc. etc. 

There was none of that here. It was refreshing. 

I devoured this book in less than two days, it was that good. Then I went on vacation, so my review had to wait. Sorry about that. 

The Real Deal is THE perfect summer read. 

5/5 stars. Can't wait for her next one! 

Sugar & Gold by Emma Scott

This is one of those books. 

You know the kind.

The kind that you start reading and can't put down, forsaking all commitments and family members in the process. The kind that keep you up at night, devouring each word, unable to sleep until you find out what happens next.

The kind of story about a love so consuming, so entrancing, that it transcends all explanation and, instead, is transmitted through the magic of beautiful writing.

Yes, this is that kind of book.

"Magic," I said, "There's magic in the world after all."

Nik has special abilities, those that have made his parents abandon him, and have led to a life of solitude. Fiona has a past that she wants to leave behind her, and a concrete plan for the future. 

Neither of them believed that love was something that fate had in store for them. 

But it did, and they found each other. And together, they create a world where they belong.

Emma Scott has an amazing ability to write about love without cheesiness, sex without vulgarity (but plenty of steam), suspense without cheap plot twists. Frankly, if Emma Scott were to write the descriptions on the back of cereal boxes, I would be as engrossed. She has captured magic in her keyboard.

Fiona

"I've loved you before," I said, "I'll love you after."

Sugar & Gold was published in June 2017, but it's my favorite book of 2018 so far. Maybe just my favorite ever.

It's the second book in the Dreamcatcher series (How to Save a Life was the first), and it has some characters that cross over. That said, it can be read as a stand alone. It contains some paranormal elements, but no mystical creatures or anything like that.

I loved this book. LOVED, I say. I am obsessed with Nik and Fiona and Emma Scott.

5 stars, but only because 5 is the most. I'd give it a million if I could. 

When Time Stands Still by Sara Furlong Burr

I love the premise of this book! Reunited with your first love under dramatic circumstances? Second chances? And that beautiful cover? Sign me up!

I first heard of this book on NetGalley (a free copy was supplied to me in exchange for an honest review), and I knew I had to have it. 



Here's the blurb:

"It’s been nearly a decade since Elle Sloan last saw Luke Hutchins. Close to ten years since she broke up with him over a single phone call, providing him with little explanation. Since the end of their relationship, Elle has done everything she could do to move on, marrying, proceeding forward with her life, almost allowing herself to completely forget about Luke.

Almost.

Out of nowhere, Elle receives a phone call from Luke’s mother. Luke has been in a horrific car accident and, a month later, has just awoken from a coma. However, instead of celebrating, his family is stunned to learn that Luke is suffering from amnesia and only remembers his life as it was before his breakup with Elle. Not wanting to tell Luke that he and Elle aren’t together anymore for fear it may compromise his recovery, Elle is asked by Luke’s family to come to the hospital to see him. Their hope is that she will slowly be able to jog his memory and cushion the blow. 

Guilt-ridden over how their relationship ended, Elle readily agrees, finding herself transported back in time with Luke to the life they once shared and the future they could have had together."

Sounds awesome, right?

The book alternated between now and ten years ago, which the author does well. We are with Luke and Elle as they meet, fall in love, and unfortunately, fall apart. We also see where they ended up, and how, if possible, they could find their way back to each other. 

I really feel like this novel has potential, and could be amazing with a strong edit. 






Things I loved: 

The premise, the M/F main characters, the pacing, some of the banter between the characters. Luke (he was pretty swoon-worthy). 

**SPOILERS a comin'! **

Things that (I think) could use a tune up:

The cliches (drunken-trailer trash mama, a virgin, spunky roommate, abusive ex, rape, a heroic intervention, "you're too good for me," -- ALL of the tropes seen in New Adult novels in one book!), and the WAY over the top use of simile/figurative language. Some of the descriptions were just...over the top:   
          

"Her trepidation, so raw and apparent, had inherently transferred itself into me the moment I heard her voice on the end of the line, forcing me to soak up every tear she must have shed over the last few weeks like a sponge."

And, although I love the idea of it, the premise itself needs a little cleaning up too... I didn't feel that Luke's friends and family were in the right, and I doubt very much that any real families would do what they did. I'm willing to suspend belief for a good book, but this was a bit much at times. 

And the surprise from Maggie at the end was kind of out of left field. Seemed like a last ditch attempt at drama. Oh, and there is an attempted rape by a serial rapist/murderer (NOT the rape mentioned above. Another rape!) that was kind of forgotten right after. It was kind of like the book went in a different direction for a minute, then veered back on course.

And the cover doesn't match the plot in any way, other than it features a human. 


Like I said, a strong edit could make this book great.

I'd give it 2.5 stars (rounded to 3 on goodreads).

When Time Stands Still is available on Kindle Unlimited, just FYI.

One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake

I came across this book on GoodReads, on a list called something like "romances set in a small town," and I am so glad I did! 

So far, it is my favorite book of the summer! 

Here's the blurb:

The perfect daughter. The perfect prom queen. The perfect wife. Jenny Tolliver’s been the good girl all her life, and it’s gotten her nowhere. Now that her marriage has been busted up by her cheating ex, she’s decided it’s time to regroup and rediscover herself. This summer she’s headed back to her hometown of Destiny, Ohio, to the very lakeshore cottage where she grew up, to figure out what life holds in store for her next.

She never dreamed the answer would be Mick Brody, Destiny’s #1 hellraiser. He comes from the wrong side of the tracks (or in his case, the lake), and he’s landed in hot water more times than he can count. He’s exactly the kind of guy Jenny’s always kept her distance from … but soon the good girl and the bad boy are caught in a raw heat that’s out of control. Too bad Mick’s got a secret that threatens to tear them apart and ruin Jenny’s perfectly, passionately reckless summer …

Sounds good, right?? 

It was published in 2009, so it's not a new release, but I still feel like I "discovered" something. It includes some of my favorite Romance Novel tropes:

• girl has a douchy ex to get over
• girl returns home after years in the big city
• girl returns to her small town
• small town, apple pie, town picnic, etc. 
• mysterious bad boy with a heart of gold
• reformed bad boy
• hot, steamy, sex scenes 
• reconnection with a person from the past
• summer lovin'
• characters from two different worlds
• and more

I LOVED this book, and I am currently reading book #2 in the series, Sugar Creek. 

My Rating 5/5

*Read a preview here

The Girls by Emma Cline (Sorry!)

It's not you, it's me. 

I'm opting not to finish this book after reading 30%.
It's NOT due to the writing. Emma Cline has really shown tremendous writing skill here. The way that she can recall the thoughts and feelings that come with being a 14-year old girl? How does she do it? It's uncanny, but damn, it's so psychologically insightful.

I'm not quitting due to the pacing... the story moves along just fine. The text is complex enough to give my brain a workout, but not confusing. Cline is good at this. This book is one that will be talked about, for sure.

It's just... the subject matter that is a bit much for me. As the main character gets closer and closer to Suzanne and her crew, my nerves are getting rattled too much. We see her making choices and I want to grab her and tell her to STAY HOME.

I read about a toddler with a sunburn, and how they were raised, and I had to tap out. Done.

Sorry. I'm a weeny.

THANK YOU to Random House and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

From Amazon.com: Like the spellbinding psychological suspense in The Girl on the Train and Luckiest Girl Alive, Megan Miranda’s novel is a nail-biting, breathtaking story about the disappearances of two young women—a decade apart—told in reverse.

It’s been ten years since Nicolette Farrell left her rural hometown after her best friend, Corinne, disappeared from Cooley Ridge without a trace. Back again to tie up loose ends and care for her ailing father, Nic is soon plunged into a shocking drama that reawakens Corinne’s case and breaks open old wounds long since stitched.

The decade-old investigation focused on Nic, her brother Daniel, boyfriend Tyler, and Corinne’s boyfriend Jackson. Since then, only Nic has left Cooley Ridge. Daniel and his wife, Laura, are expecting a baby; Jackson works at the town bar; and Tyler is dating Annaleise Carter, Nic’s younger neighbor and the group’s alibi the night Corinne disappeared. Then, within days of Nic’s return, Annaleise goes missing.

Told backwards—Day 15 to Day 1—from the time Annaleise goes missing, Nic works to unravel the truth about her younger neighbor’s disappearance, revealing shocking truths about her friends, her family, and what really happened to Corinne that night ten years ago.

Like nothing you’ve ever read before, All the Missing Girls delivers in all the right ways. With twists and turns that lead down dark alleys and dead ends, you may think you’re walking a familiar path, but then Megan Miranda turns it all upside down and inside out and leaves us wondering just how far we would be willing to go to protect those we love.



As Corinne would say, this book was a total "mindfuck"! Holy shit, it was GOOD! 

All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda is told sort of out of order... there's a beginning, then it starts going backward for two weeks, then we're brought back to the beginning, then it goes forward a few months. There are also flashbacks to 10 years ago.

Sound confusing? Fret not, dear reader. Part of this book's awesomeness is that Miranda navigates this unorthodox storytelling expertly, slowly unraveling the plot and keeping the reader interested hooked. Seriously, I could.not.put.it.down.

Like The Girl on the Train, you find yourself accusing characters, retracting your accusations, accusing others, and then when the lightbulb goes on... you have nothing to say but, "Whoa!"

Twists, turns, lies, betrayals, secrets, love, dreams, and more are loaded into an awesome story.

None of the characters are without flaw, but all are relatable. By 50% I had alternately fallen in love with and then later hated most of the characters.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot, because Miranda reveals it on her terms, at her pace, like a mutha' effin' boss.


I'm calling it now: This book is going to be huge. 

READ IT. It comes out on June 28, 2016. You can thank me later! 

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

My Rating: 5/5 

Stirred by Tracy Ewens

"Everyone has life experiences, things they did when they were young and stupid. I..well, I guess I woke up one morning, or maybe after a few mornings, and realized that I don't have anything tucked away. I don't have any cool stories or experiences. I wanted those. I still do."

Sage is a mixologist at her friends' bar/restaurant and loves her job. Her background is in mechanical engineering, but she found herself unhappy, unfulfilled, and wanting more of a life. She wants to have that metaphoric "bottom drawer" filled with tucked away memories, secrets, and adventures to look back upon. She decides to find herself by being her own friend... along the way she makes some real and true friends that become like family to her. The older brother of her best friend turns out to be the man of her dreams.

Garrett is Sage's best friend's oldest brother and a hard-working, serious farmer. He's so used to being the one in control, running the show, shouldering responsibility, that he hasn't had the time or inclination to realize that something was missing from his life.

"He's spent his life letting other people shine."

Until Sage gets drunk and reveals her feelings. After that, neither one finds it possible to move on.

Stirred is a love story that kind of explores "what if?" your fantasy finally came true. Both Garrett and Sage have been hurt before--different ways, but still-- and have to work past their own emotional baggage to find out if they are willing to open up all the way and let love, true and real, in.

I loved the way Ewens crafted the development of Garrett & Sage's love story... it wasn't insta-love at all. Yes, Sage was "in love" with Garrett from the beginning, but once she got closer, she realized what love really is. Through each other's eyes, they are able to see the worth in opening up for another, and they each  deserve that kind of happiness.

Sage was a cool character. She had a great sense of humor, and could stand on her own two feet. I loved how intelligent she is, and that she wasn't afraid of personal growth and being honest about her feelings. There is nothing more annoying than a female MC that hides her feelings. 

Ah, Garrett. What is there not to like love? He's most women's fantasy: a hot farmer/business owner that cares about his family, takes great care of his dog, and is strong enough to pick Sage up like she's a feather... the scene at the end with the dresser. Swoon! 

"You probably have a bigger bottom drawer than you realize, Sage."

I also loved the way Ewens mixed steaminess and romance without getting graphic. The kiss in the wine cellar had me holding my breath... and the scene in the barn during the rain storm... WOW. 

Although this is part of a series (this is #5), it works well as a stand alone. Ewens provides the perfect amount of background information to fill in gaps & explain relationships, without going off on tangents. 

When NetGalley sent me this ARC in exchange for an honest review, I had no idea that it was a series but now that I've read the last, I want to go back to the beginning and read them all. 

My rating: 4.5/5