Tour Review - - It's Raining Men

It's Raining Men

by Rich Amooi

Publisher: Rich Amooi

Release Date: October 25, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

On a dare, Faith Daniels tosses a coin into the infamous “Fountain of Love” and wishes for the perfect man, laughing it off as the dumbest thing she’s ever done. Like magic, her quiet life turns upside-down when men begin to appear out of nowhere, like zombies, but drop-dead gorgeous and without the odd limp. There’s a doctor, a lawyer, a firefighter, and a swimwear model, for starters. All of them are kind, generous, and successful. All of them are interested in Faith. But who is Mr. Right?

PJ's Thoughts:

When I pick up a Rich Amooi novel I can always count on plenty of humor and heart. The same holds true with It's Raining Men but this time there's a bit less laugh-out-loud humor, a greater depth of emotion, and a range of complex, and complicated, relationships. Faith married her high school sweetheart then lost him when he was killed in action overseas. Now approaching forty, her friends have convinced her to get back into the dating game. All of a sudden, Faith's surrounded by gorgeous guys all vying for her time but could her second chance at love be with the one who's been right in front of her all this time? 

I enjoyed Faith and her group of friends and I was all in with Faith's second chance at love. I really liked the guy she ended up with and the fact that their slow-burn relationship was built upon a solid foundation of friendship. I did have to keep reminding myself that I was reading fiction because I had a hard time buying into the way the dynamic among the group of friends played out, especially with Faith, her best girlfriend, and the man Faith ends up with. It's to Amooi's credit that he convinced me it would all work out happily and none of the relationships would suffer in the end.

The secondary cast really lit up the page, bringing humor, conflict, and endearing sweetness to the story. Amooi excels at creating a community of characters who weave in and out of the story seamlessly, adding to its richness and leaving the reader feeling as if they've spent time with good friends.  

If you enjoy romantic comedies with heart, humor, characters with some life experience, and plenty of chemistry but no sex on the page, give Rich Amooi a try. I always turn the final page of his books with a smile. Always. 

Review - - The Flip Side: A Novel

The Flip Side: A Novel

by James Bailey

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Release Date: November 17, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

To coin a phrase, Josh is suffering a quarter-life crisis. He just broke up with his long-term girlfriend, lost his job, and moved back home with his parents (shudder). Welcome to rock bottom in Bristol. As Josh starts questioning all his life choices, he has a mad thought: Maybe he would just be better flipping a coin. After all, careful planning has landed him homeless, jobless, and single.

What starts as a joke soon becomes serious and Josh decides to start putting his faith in the capriciousness of currency. He doesn’t have anything to lose.

But when the chance of a lifetime and the girl of his dreams are on the line, will the coin guide him to a rich love life or leave him flat broke?

PJ's Thoughts:

The Flip Side is a lighthearted, humorous romcom with a side of sweet romance and a cast of interesting characters. At the beginning of the story, Josh is not what I would call a strong male lead - at times, it feels like he's twenty-eight going on fourteen - and yet he's oddly endearing and I found myself rooting for him. He has yet to choose a career or really see any project he undertakes through to completion, as his friends point out to him repeatedly. After his proposal to his long-time girlfriend goes horribly awry and he finds himself back home with his loving but annoyingly intrusive parents, it's almost understandable that he would turn his decisions over to the flip of a coin. The story follows him through a full year of flipped decisions with consequences that range from cringe-worthy, to sweetly endearing, to outright hilarious and, finally, to a potentially life-altering decision that he just may need to make for himself instead of relying on the coin. I enjoyed his adventures, the excitement, the heartbreak, and the growth he experienced along the way. 

The secondary cast is quite the interesting collection. My favorite secondary character was Josh's grandfather. The relationship between Josh and his Pap really touched my heart. I found the dynamic among Josh and his friends to be realistic and entertaining. Josh's parents walked a fine line between character and caricature, injecting a fair amount of humor into the story though they started to wear on me after a while. I'm guessing some of that may have to do with the fact that I'm American and the setting, characters, and humor in this book are profoundly British. 

The story travels from England to the Continent and I really enjoyed the author's spot-on descriptions of both settings and residents of Amsterdam and Paris. It was a bit like taking a European tour without leaving the comfort of your home.

Josh's romantic thread is not the primary facet of this story but, when we get to it, adds a touch of emotional depth and sweetness. I admit, I was expecting that thread to weave in a different direction but was ultimately satisfied with the path the author chose to take.

Most of the romcoms I've read are told from a predominantly female perspective so having this one be from a male perspective was refreshingly original. If you enjoy lighthearted British humor with a touch of romance give The Flip Side a try. 

Review & Giveaway - - One Charmed Christmas

 

One Charmed Christmas

by Sheila Roberts

Publisher: MIRA

Release Date: September 29, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

Catherine Pine is hoping her Christmas is a bit more jolly than last year’s. That one was her first without her husband, and with her kids and their families absent this year, she’s worried. But things change when her good friend invites her on a Christmas cruise to lift her spirits. Suddenly every day is an adventure and she’s making a bunch of new friends, including the lovable Sophie Miles.

It’s like a gift from Santa when Sophie and Catherine meet the charming Dr. Rudy Nichols, a perfect match for hypochondriac Sophie. But he comes with a two-legged lump of coal, his guard-dog daughter. And then there’s chocolatier Trevor March, who’s also interested in the scrumptious Sophie. Can he convince her that chocolate is the perfect cure for what ails her? Who knows what Santa has in store for these holiday travelers? Anything could happen this charmed Christmas!

PJ's Thoughts:

If you've taken a cruise, or any kind of travel tour, you know it's a bit like campus on the first day of college, with strangers coming together in tentative forays into potential friendship. Friendships that occasionally, over time, grow into more. For this festive European river cruise, Roberts has gathered an interesting collection of characters sure to stir the waters...and this reader's interest. And, just like every tour/cruise I've taken, some I want to be friends with while I'd like to toss others into the drink. That's one of the facets I most enjoy about a Sheila Roberts novel. She doesn't write perfection. She creates characters with flaws and challenges, characters like us, human and imperfect. But also, characters who grow, evolve, and learn from life's lessons. 

If you hadn't already guessed, this is a character-driven story, flowing at a pace commensurate with what I'd imagine a European river cruise might be, with fascinating stops along the way. Roberts' descriptions took me into the heart of the small, historic towns and festive Christmas markets dotting the landscape along the Rhine (a lovely gift in this time of no travel) and into the joy, fear, anger, heartache, hope, and love in the hearts and minds of her interesting cast of characters. I laughed, cringed, shed a few tears, and managed to refrain from tossing anyone overboard in my mind (though there were times I really wanted to). I actively cheered for certain characters (Trevor and Catherine, I'm talking to you), and at the end, sighed with satisfaction for lessons learned, friendships formed, hearts engaged, and family found. It was One Charmed Christmas, after all. 

Have you ever taken a river cruise? What was your favorite part?

Have you read Sheila Roberts yet? 

The German food descriptions in this book had me drooling all over my keyboard. What's your favorite holiday treat? Do you have a favorite that stems from your family's heritage?

One randomly chosen person who comments before 11:00 PM (Eastern), November 5 will receive a signed, hardback copy of One Charmed Christmas.

*Must be 18 

*U.S. only

  

Review - - Bella Cigna

 

Bella Cigna

by Wendi Dass

Foreign Endearments - Book 1

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Release Date: September 30, 2020

Reviewed by Santa

Bella Cigna by Wendi Dass is a four star debut novel. 

After losing everything, Sarah Flynn decides to take her friend’s advice and ventures to an entirely different continent to find herself, a bit of adventure and, in the end, love, or should we say amore. 

Let me rephrase that. She doesn’t lose everything as much as it is taken out of her very hands. After two year of trying to conceive through many different procedures, she gets a call from a fertility clinic willing to work with her and her husband. This is their chance! She quit her job as a teacher to work for a federal agency in order to make more money so they could afford all those procedures! She excitedly runs home to tell her husband Phillip - who advised they take a three month break from it all - only to find him packing up his things and heading out the door to another woman! Needless to say, she is heartbroken and retreats to her mother’s home. 

Her friend, Meredith, encourages her to take a leap of faith and go abroad to teach for a year, to take some chances and open herself up to adventure. Why not! That is how Sarah arrives to teach nine year olds English at La Scuola della Santa Teresa. She is met by Anna, a fellow teacher, who takes her under her wing and gets her to spread her own.  

Sarah also meets Eduardo, the father of one of her students. Sarah finds it difficult to believe someone like him could be interested in her. But he sees her as beautiful both inside and out even if she does not quite believe him. After all, her husband had seen her as less than perfect but Eduardo sees her as a bella cigna - a beautiful swan. To him, she is perfetta - perfect. This is Sarah’s journey across an ocean to find and love herself - and Eduardo. 

I highly recommend this debut novel to women’s fiction and romance readers everywhere!

Review - - The Magic of Christmas

 

The Magic of Christmas

by Christi Barth

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Release Date: October 15, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

It’s the opportunity she’s dreamed of…

After spending two years focused on her career, Rowan West is finally up for an advertising manager promotion. Holiday parties and gift-buying are on hold as Rowan travels to New Hampshire to create a marketing campaign that can revive a struggling, Christmas-themed resort and adventure park. Rowan’s brains and ambition make her shine, and she won’t allow anything to get in her way—especially not her far-too-handsome competitor with a sense of humor and high-up connections.

He needs to prove himself…

Jeremy Kincannon is competitive enough to fight tooth and nail for a promotion he doesn’t even want. Because his stepfather owns the company, no one believes he earned his spot despite having climbed up from the bottom like everyone else. He’s intrigued by his button-upped, business-only colleague who’s distractingly pretty. So he lays down a challenge—he’ll call a truce to their verbal sparring if she tries to have fun.

As their rivalry wanes and attraction grows, will Jeremy and Rowan embrace the magic of Christmas?

PJ's Thoughts:

I love a workplace, enemies-to-lovers romance. Even better when your nemesis turns out to be the complete opposite of what you believed. Toss in a head-to-head competition for a coveted promotion, forced proximity in a Christmas wonderland, a temporary corporate cease fire, and over the top holiday cheer, and you just may have the ingredients for a happy, heartwarming, holiday romance. And, with luck, perhaps a happily ever after.

I've always enjoyed Christi Barth's books. She has a knack for bringing both characters and the settings in which she places them to life. The Magic of Christmas is no exception. It sparkles with wit, humor, snappy dialogue, and undeniable attraction. Jeremy and Rowan are both complex, interesting characters who I enjoyed getting to know while the cast of secondary characters added warmth, humor, and wisdom along the way. Barth also tucked in a few surprises to keep things from becoming too predictable. I enjoyed both the journey and the ultimate destination. 

If you're looking for a charming holiday romance (I could so see this as a Hallmark movie) to put you in the Christmas spirit, give this one a try. 

Review - - A California Christmas

A California Christmas

by Brenda Novak

Silver Springs - Book 7

Publisher: MIRA

Release Date: October 13, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

Up-and-coming TV anchor Emery Bliss can’t imagine anything more humiliating than the sex tape her ex revenge-posted online. That is, until it causes her to lose her job on top of her self-esteem. Seeking solace—and anonymity—in Silver Springs, Emery isn’t looking to get involved with another man any time soon. But when she’s thrown back into contact with Dallas Turner, she sees something that his many detractors have missed.

Being home for the holidays and his adoptive mother’s wedding isn’t where mountain climber Dallas feels most comfortable. Thanks to his troubled childhood, he’d rather be on a rock face alone than trying to connect with people. Emery, however, makes him want to overcome his past…somehow.

Both Emery and Dallas had been planning on a quiet, solitary Christmas, but the sparks between them are lighting a fire strong enough to last—possibly forever.

PJ's Thoughts:

This is one emotional story. Emery's ex-boyfriend/co-anchor has really put her through the wringer, personally and professionally. She's returned to Silver Springs to hide and to heal, not to begin a new relationship. Dallas has returned for his adoptive mother's wedding and isn't interested in a relationship either. Neither his career nor his past are conducive to letting anyone close to him emotionally. Physically, on the other hand...

I really liked these two together. I enjoyed the friendship they formed and the desire between them that threatened to erupt. I could feel Emery's shame and anger over what had been done to her. It was both healing and empowering to watch her regain her strength and dignity with Dallas's help. And Dallas. He's a good guy but so closed off. My heart hurt so much for the pain that little boy inside him had endured. If anybody deserved a happy ending, it was him. 

Both Dallas and Emery were wonderfully complex characters that Novak slowly revealed to readers with a skilled hand. There's also a bit of a mystery woven into the story with a few twists I didn't see coming. There are also other relationship threads that I'm guessing are from earlier books in the series. I haven't read those books yet and at times I did feel as though I would have had a better understanding of Dallas's adopted family and their back stories had I already read those books. Which I plan to do now.

Tour Review - - Never Let Me Go

 

Never Let Me Go

by Kianna Alexander

The Southern Gentlemen - Book 3

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: September 1, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

Architect Maxwell Devers is laser-focused on winning the contract to build a new cultural arts center—his biggest project yet. But as a single dad of a beautiful baby girl, he has to find some help if he's going to stay on track.

Yvonne Markham is thrilled to get her first nanny assignment. She knows the high-paying job will speed her progress toward owning a child care center of her own. Maxwell's daughter is a delight, and she quickly comes to love the bouncing baby girl. Falling for her handsome new boss, however, was not part of the plan...

PJ's Thoughts:

Never Let Me Go is the third book in Alexander's Southern Gentlemen series but works well on its own. It's a charming, enjoyable story between two people who are not looking for commitment and an adorable baby who brings them together.

I was pleased with how quickly Maxwell stepped up when his daughter's grandmother fell ill, taking full responsibility of his daughter while his ex-girlfriend was deployed overseas. It was heartwarming to watch them develop a strong bond, much of which was accomplished with Yvonne's guidance and encouragement.

The relationship between Yvonne and Maxwell is a slow burn that begins with friendship and slowly deepens into more. I liked them together. Both are realistically depicted characters, as is their relationship, and the relationships they have with their families. Maxwell's family, in particular, plays heavily into his attitudes regarding love and commitment and the author explores that, giving readers a deeper understanding of his character and how it impacts his romantic relationships.

I also appreciated the way his ex-girlfriend, his daughter's mother, was portrayed and the approach all three adults took in regards to their co-parenting relationship. Alexander works real world issues into Yvonne and Maxwell's relationship and does it in a mature and cooperative manner I enjoyed with a happy ending all around. 

Review - - Christmas Ever After

Christmas Ever After

by Karen Schaler

Publisher: HawkTale Publishing

Release Date: September 29, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

 

While promoting her next novel, a Christmas love story, author Riley Reynolds is caught off guard when she’s asked during a live national television interview how she can write about romance when she still hasn’t found “the one” herself. Scrambling for an answer, she quickly answers that she has had great love in her past and that love inspired her novels.

Little does she know that this one offhanded remark will turn her world upside down. Three of her ex-boyfriends see the interview, and each, believing she’s talking about him, shows up for her Christmas Camp book event at the Christmas Lake Lodge, determined to rewrite his happily-ever-after with her!

Over the festive weekend, Riley’s old boyfriends compete to win her heart, pulling out all the stops while planning the most romantic Christmas dates on the planet. Despite herself, Riley starts falling for each guy— again—but for different reasons. As Riley revisits each relationship and discovers more about herself, she embraces the magic of Christmas and finally finds true love and her own Christmas ever after...

PJ's Thoughts:

So. Much. Fun. Take one not-so-cute first meeting, a tanking writing career, a heroine who hasn't celebrated Christmas since the age of eight, and a manipulative PR manager with the brilliant idea to save her reputation with a Christmas-themed, author-reader weekend at his college roommate's family lodge. Visualize a small mountain town, frozen lake, lots of snow, and forced proximity with Christmas on steroids. Add in three party-crashing ex-boyfriends, each under the assumption that he's the heroine's one true love, a lively cast of townspeople all operating under the erroneous assumption that the heroine is some sort of Christmas super elf, a hero who just might be able to help her find that lost holiday spirit again, and an adorable Bernese Mountain dog who can come live with me any old day. Stir it all up and you have a heart-tugging, holiday romcom that had me smiling pretty much from beginning to end. 

If you're in the mood for plenty of great dialog, humor, and heart, along with tempting recipes and holiday ideas, pick up a copy of Karen Schaler's Christmas Ever After. It's sure to put you in the mood for snowball fights, Christmas lights, and romantic holiday delights. 

Review - - A Highlander is Coming to Town

 

A Highlander is Coming to Town

by Laura Trentham

Highand, Georgia - Book 3

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Release Date: September 29, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

 

Holt Pierson is dreading Christmas. His parents absconded to Florida for the season and left him to handle the family farm which will be his one day—whether he wants it or not. Driven by duty, Holt has always followed the path expected of him. But lately, he’s been questioning what he wants and where he belongs. Will assuming the responsibility of the Pierson farm make him happy or is there something—or someone—else out in the wider world calling to him?

To Claire Smythe, the Scottish lead singer of a touring band, Highland, Georgia, is the perfect place to hide . . .until a very handsome and deeply curious Holt begins to ask all the questions Claire doesn’t want to answer. As Holt draws Claire out from under and into the fabric of small-town life, can Claire put the past behind her and embrace the unexpected gifts of the season—including the new and lasting love?

PJ's Thoughts:

A Highlander is Coming to Town is another enjoyable story in Laura Trentham's Highland, Georgia romantic comedy series. I've been looking forward to learning more about Holt and am delighted that he turned out to be as endearing, kind, steadfast, and genuinely nice as I had hoped he would be. Claire, on the other hand, is new to Highland. She's prickly, secretive, and a fish out of water. Highland may pride itself on its Scottish roots but northern Georgia is a far cry from Claire's home in Scotland.  

Claire has never known unconditional love, never fully trusted another person, never known anyone to perform a kindness without expecting something in return (thanks to her dysfunctional family). Small wonder she regards Southern hospitality with skepticism. I enjoyed watching her slowly lower those protective walls she has built around herself as she gets to know Ms. Meadows (the elderly woman she works for), Holt, and others in the small community. I also enjoyed watching her shake up Holt and his rather complacent life. Holt grounds her, giving her a safe place to land while Claire opens his eyes to possibilities he hadn't considered. 

The pace of this book is slow and easy, with minimal angst, a bit of steam, a lively group of townspeople, and a happily ever after I can believe in. Fans of the series will enjoy new events in Anna's and Iain's relationship (book 2 - A Highlander in a Pickup) while readers new to Highland, Georgia should be able to jump in with A Highlander is Coming to Town. 

Review - - Hiring Mr. Darcy

 

Hiring Mr. Darcy

by Valerie Bowman

Publisher: June Third Enterprises

Release Date: September 25, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

She’s hiring…

Meg Knightley is a history professor with a little OCD and a lot of love for Pride and Prejudice. When her similarly nerdy history professor boyfriend tosses her over for a starlet on the eve of the Jane Austen Festival and Games, she needs a new Mr. Darcy ASAP.

He’s the man for the job…
Jeremy Remington left a lucrative tech job to follow his dreams—but getting his custom woodworking business off the ground isn’t cheap. When his best friend’s sister offers good money for little more than acting the gentleman, he jumps at the chance. After all, how hard could it be to fly over to England and wear a cravat for a few days?

Until things get real.
She hired him to play the part of a proper gentleman, so why can’t she stop thinking about what’s underneath his waistcoat?
And when Meg finds out Jeremy has had a crush on her for years, will the job turn into a permanent gig?

PJ's Thoughts:

Historical romance author Valerie Bowman brings all the wit and charm for which she's known to her first contemporary romance. It's humorous and heartwarming, with a nod to Bowman's historical roots and a truly swoon-worthy romance. Though it does take a while to get to that romance part.

Bowman's characters are fully formed, with surprising depths, and intriguing lives. It took me a while to warm up to Meg. She's rather judgmental and dismissive at first of anyone she believes is inferior to her intellect and academic achievement. As her brother so succinctly puts it, she's a snob. She's also much too tightly tied to her life checklist. But then there's Jeremy and he makes everything worthwhile. I absolutely adored him and the fact that he's had a hidden crush on Meg for years is just too delicious. He lures Meg out of her academic bubble and shows her what life on "the outside" can be when you follow your heart. 

As a bonus, Bowman takes readers behind the scenes of her Jane Austen Festival and Games and the cosplay participants who are very serious - sometimes humorously so - about their craft. Let's just say the competition is a bit fierce. 😉

If you've enjoyed the witty banter and charm of Valerie Bowman's historical romances, I recommend giving Hiring Mr. Darcy a try. If you're new to her writing, this is a great place to start. I don't know if Bowman has any more contemporary romances hidden under her bed but if she does, I hope she plans to publish them because I am definitely here for them.