Book Review for The Mr. Right Checklist by Melissa Foster

 

Romantic Comedy Series Collection #2

The Mr. Right Checklist by Melissa Foster

Published:  November 19, 2024 by Montlake

Genre:  Romantic Comedy

Taken from Goodreads: A free-spirited proposal planner and a grumpy professor form a hilarious and unexpected situationship that just might lead to more in this steamy romantic comedy by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.

Dog groomer and budding marriage-proposal planner Destiny Amor believes in true love and happily ever afters. Though it’s not in the stars for her yet—honestly, who can live up to the criteria on her Mr. Right Checklist?—she wants it for others. When Destiny’s first misguided attempt at romance concierge ends in disaster, she’s ready to call it quits, until the supposed groom-to-be steps in with a proposal of his own.

Ryan “Fletch” Fletcher, a divorced-and-never-going-there-again professor, needs to get his matchmaking family off his back, and the disorganized, too-in-love-with-love proposal planner is the perfect solution. He offers to help Destiny get her business on track, if she’ll play the part of his adoring girlfriend at his brother’s wedding.

A professional situationship with her grumpy dog-grooming client? Destiny adores his pup, and she could put up with him to get her business off the ground. With any luck, she might even get that chip about love off his shoulder.

 

My Thoughts:   I am a huge fan of Melissa Foster.   The Mr. Right Checklist had me laughing out loud and loving every word.   I could not wait to read another chapter and see what Destiny and Ryan would get themselves into next.   With each page I fell more and more for the characters and became invested in these two figuring their lives out and getting together. 

The Mr. Right Checklist is an easy book to read.  I devoured it.  I connect with the characters.  I cared about the storyline.   I had so much fun reading this book and getting to know Ryan and Destiny.    They are perfect for each other from the very beginning, it just took them a little time to figure that tout.   

Thank you Montlake and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads

Purchase your own copy on Amazon

 

Meet Melissa Foster (taken from her website):  Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 100 novels. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, always family oriented, and feature fiercely loyal heroes, smart, sassy heroines, and complex relatable issues.

Melissa also writes sweet romance under the pen name,  Addison Cole.

Melissa enjoys chatting with readers and book clubs. Send her an email invitation to your next event!

Book Review for Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor, Heather Webb

 

Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor, Heather Webb

Published: November 19, 2024 by William Morrow Paperbacks

Genre:  Historical Fiction

 

Taken from Goodreads:  ’Tis the season! The Crown meets When Harry Met Sally and Bridget Jones’s Diary, in the latest heartwarming historical novel from Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, bestselling authors of Meet Me in Monaco and Three Words for Goodbye.

December 1952. While the young Queen Elizabeth II finds her feet as the new monarch, she must also find the right words to continue in the tradition of her late father and grandfather’s beloved Christmas Day radio broadcast. But even traditions must move with the times, and the Queen faces a postwar Britain hungry for change. 

As preparations begin for the royal Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, two old friends—Jack Devereux and Olive Carter—find themselves reunited for the festivities. A single mother, typist at the BBC, and aspiring reporter, Olive leaps at the opportunity to cover the holiday celebration, despite self-doubts. When a chance encounter with the Queen presents an exciting opportunity, Olive begins to believe her luck might change. 

Jack, a grief-stricken widowed chef originally from New Orleans, accepts a last-minute chance to cook in the royal kitchens at Sandringham. When he bumps into a long-lost friend, an old spark is reignited.

Despite personal and professional heartache, Jack and Olive’s paths continue to cross over the following five Christmas seasons and they find themselves growing ever closer. Yet Olive carries the burden of a heavy secret. 

Christmas Day, December 1957. As the nation eagerly awaits the Queen’s first televised Christmas speech, Olive decides to reveal the shocking truth of her secret, which threatens to tear her and Jack apart forever. Unless Christmas has one last gift to deliver… 

 

My Thoughts:  Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres.  Christmas with the Queen is so perfect.   I love that the Queen is not the main character in a book although her name is in the title.   Olive is the main character.  Jack, a friend from the past, is the second main character.  Olive and Jack have a history from the war days.   They were friends a time ago and have reconnected while spending time with the Royal Family. 

Olive is the perfect mother for Lucy but she has been keeping a secret.  Seeing Jack again makes it all so real for her.   She must decide what is best for Lucy and take a risk to find a love that was lost. I really enjoyed seeing Olive make strides in a man run world, make friends with the Queen, and find her way to happiness.  

I enjoyed the look into the royal family and their Christmas traditions.  The talk of all the food that is served, the trips taken, and the relationships of Elizabeth and Phillip brought me right into the Royal world.     I could hear Elizabeth’s voice as she gave her speech to the countries. I loved visiting Australia with Phillip and Elizabeth.   As the corgi’s and children ran underfoot while she tried to reel them in and rule, I could not help but think how normal that seemed.    I felt like I was right beside her and living life with her.

This book is so wonderful.  I enjoy a good Christmas story.  Christmas with the Queen is the perfect seasonal book rich with history. 

Thank you Tall Poppy Writers for a copy of the book vie NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads

Purchase your own copy on Amazon

Release Blitz for Merry Kissmas by Piper Rayne

 

Merry Kissmas by Piper Rayne is now live! 

Six years ago, he was her one-night stand, and now they’re sharing a villa for the holidays.

I thought I was over him. That his good looks and British accent couldn’t affect me anymore. But the minute our eyes lock across the elevator, all those feelings come roaring back to life.

Then I find out we’re competing for the same job.

Next comes the realization that we have to spend a week together on a ski vacation because of some six-degree-of-separation nonsense.

The real kicker is when I find out the two of us have to share a villa. A very small, very cozy villa.

Needless to say, this Christmas getaway is starting off rockier than the mountains we’ll be skiing down.

I’ve stayed away for years, what’s one week? But I forgot how much easier it is to ignore him with an ocean separating us—especially when he’s determined to win me back.

  Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!

https://books2read.com/MKISS

Audio Narrated by: Shane East & Stella Hunter

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4cLj2TX

Meet Piper Rayne

Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write "heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle" about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they're married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they're both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!

 

Connect with Piper Rayne

Website: www.PiperRayne.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15810938.Piper_Rayne

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Piper-Rayne/e/B01ND0R15R

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Audiobook Review for Baking It Merry by Samantha Chase and Melanie Mendez (Narrator)

 

Audiobook Review for Baking It Merry by Samantha Chase and Melanie Mendez (Narrator)

Published:  November 19, 2024 by Dreamscape Media

Listening time: 6 hours

Genre:  Christmas Romance

Taken from Goodreads:  A Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Holiday Romance from New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Chase

Everyone in the building loved the bake shop a lot.
Except for the guy on the top floor, who most certainly did not.
If it were up to him, there wouldn’t be a hint of Christmas in the building.

For two months out of the year, Daphne Noelle got to live her dream of owning a bakery. Her little pop-up bake shop—one that looked just like a gingerbread house—brought joy to every customer who stopped by to enjoy her sweet treats. She loved meeting people and making them smile, and being in such a festive setting every day was just the icing on the cake! For the last three years, everything had gone smoothly, but this year, there was one guy who was determined to ruin it all.

One of the things Tristan appreciated most about the office complex where his architecture firm was located is how upscale and elegant it was. Unfortunately, every year for eight long weeks, a holiday shop set up in the lobby, turning it into the equivalent of a traveling circus, and the bake shop booth was the worst offender. The giant gingerbread house was an eyesore and the woman running it was too cheery for his liking. This year, he was determined to do everything he could to have her and her booth removed.

When Tristan finds himself in the middle of a delicate family situation, only Daphne can help him. Now, he’ll have to beg and plead and promise to be on his best behavior while dealing with her exuberant holiday joy. But the more time he spends with her—and the more awkward situations she saves him from—he begins to realize there’s more to her than over-the-top holiday cheer. And maybe, when you’re with the right person, Christmas can mean a little bit more.

My Thoughts:  I love audiobooks and am getting into the Christmas spirit with this one.   Baking it Merry is written by one of my favorite romance authors and narrated by the perfect narrator.   The narrator is new to me, which always makes me nervous, but she had the perfect voice to bring this story to life. 

Daphne and Tristan are such different characters with Tristan’s moodiness and Daphne’s holiday spirit.  They did not really make sense together and did everything they could to not be together.  I loved watching them circle each other, trying to figure out what made the other tick while not wanting to get too close or fall for each other.  I laughed out loud many times and swooned a couple times too.  Tristan is use to being in charge and getting his way.  It was fun to see him have to work to get something he wanted. 

Thank you to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. 

Amazon: https://geni.us/BakingItMerry-Amazon 

Apple Books: https://geni.us/BakingItMerry-Apple 

Barnes & Noble: https://geni.us/BakingItMerry-Nook 

Kobo: https://geni.us/BakingItMerry-Kobo 

Google Play: https://geni.us/BakingItMerry-Google 

Audible: https://geni.us/BakingItMerry-Audible 

Add to Goodreads: https://geni.us/BakingItMerryGoodreads

 

Meet Samantha Chase (taken from her website):  Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that’s hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than eighty titles under her belt – including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017 and THE WEDDING SEASON which was a Hallmark wedding movie in 2023! She’s a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80’s rock. When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire when she should be writing, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 32 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

 

Book Review for The Mirror by Nora Roberts

 The Lost Bride Trilogy #2 

The Mirror by Nora Roberts 

Published: November 19, 2024 by St. Martin's Press 

Genres:  Paranormal Romance, Suspense 

Taken from Goodreads:  #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts continues the hauntingly spectacular Lost Bride Trilogy with book two, The Mirror. 
 
When Sonya MacTavish inherits the huge Victorian mansion on the coast of Maine, she has no idea that the house is haunted. The footsteps she hears at night, the doors slamming, the music playing, are not figments of her imagination. In her dreams she sees glimpses of the past. In the present she finds portraits of brides. And when she has visions of an antique mirror, she is drawn to it, sensing it holds dark family secrets. 
 
Then one night the mirror appears and Sonya glides through this looking glass, into the past—and sees a bride murdered on her wedding day, the circle of gold torn from her finger. It is a scene that will play out again and again—a centuries-old curse that must be broken—and a puzzle she must solve if there is any hope of breaking the curse. 

 

My Thoughts:   The Mirror is book 2 in The Lost Bride Trilogy and they must be read in order.   This book picks up where book 1 ended.   Sonya is living in the haunted mansion that the uncle she did not even know she had left for her.  Luckily, she has some great friends and an amazing boyfriend to help her through all that this house is throwing at her.  

 

Sonya is a brave character.  I love that she is not afraid of the history of the mansion and the past owners.  She wants to know the story of the brides that have lost their lives.  Each bride has their own story but unfortunately came to the same ending.  The history of the mansion in Maine is rich and deep with so much sadness and love.  It is important that anyone’s family history is not lost. Sonya is working hard to make sure they are not forgotten and that the future becomes much happier.  

 

I found The Mirror to be slower than the first book.   There were dragging parts that I found myself skimming over to get to a more intriguing parts.  I still love the series and the storyline.  I am excited to see where book three will take us.  

 

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.  

 

Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads 

Purchase your own copy on Amazon