Genre: Contemporary Romance

Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca | Book Review

Posted January 12, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 1 Comment

Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca | Book ReviewWell Traveled by Jen DeLuca
Series: Well Met #4
Also in this series: Well Met, Well Played, Well Matched
Published by Berkley on December 6, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
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The Renaissance Faire is on the move, and Lulu and Dex are along for the ride, in the next utterly charming rom-com from Jen DeLuca.

A high-powered attorney from a success-oriented family, Louisa "Lulu" Malone lives to work, and everything seems to be going right, until the day she realizes it’s all wrong. Lulu’s cousin Mitch introduced her to the world of Renaissance Faires, and when she spies one at a time just when she needs an escape, she leaps into the welcoming environment of turkey legs, taverns, and tarot readers. The only drawback? Dex MacLean: a guitarist with a killer smile, the Casanova of the Faire… and her traveling companion for the summer.

Dex has never had to work for much in his life, and why should he? Touring with his brothers as The Dueling Kilts is going great, and he always finds a woman at every Faire. But when Lulu proves indifferent to his many plaid charms and a shake-up threatens the fate of the band, Dex must confront something he never has before: his future.

Forced to spend days and nights together on the road, Lulu’s interest in the kilted bad boy grows as he shows her a side of himself no one else has seen. The stresses of her old lifestyle fade away as she learns to trust her intuition and follow her heart instead of her head. But when her time on the road is over, will Lulu go with her gut, or are she and Dex destined for separate paths?

I love Jen DeLuca’s Well Met series! I love taking a trip to a Renaissance Faire through her stories, seeing the little skits and shows, the costumes, and the fun booths where people sell things. I never wanted to visit one of these faires until I started reading these books. What a dream it would be to see one in real life! Especially if there’s as many opportunities to fall in love as this series makes it seem! Well Traveled is the 4th (and final) book in this series, and while it does stand on its own I recommend reading the other books because characters from the earlier books show up in this one. As always, my main points are bolded.

1. Lulu comes onto the scene in a previous book for just a little bit, but she made an impression and I was so excited to find out she was going to get her own story in this series! Lulu is Mitch’s cousin, and if you’ve read the other books in this series you’ll remember Mitch as the kilted life of the party, who plays a role in the human chess match at every Faire. She’s an attorney, has a bit of a crisis, and runs off to the Faire where she meets a group of brothers who spend their summers traveling from Faire to Faire playing their music. Lulu goes through a lot of personal growth in this book, more so than we saw with the leading ladies in DeLuca’s other stories. She grapples with work/life balance, figuring out what she wants out of life, and letting loose a little in order to find her happiness. She tosses her phone into a wash bin, hands off her laptop to a friend for safekeeping, and goes off the grid in order to reset. That takes bravery and determination, and I loved this journey for her.

2. Dex, swoony member of the band The Dueling Kilts, is just… *dreamy sigh*. He’s a rake, who seems to be ready to find someone to settle down with. He just doesn’t know it yet. And he surprises himself when he starts realizing that the idea of having one someone to love is appealing after all. The way he looks at Lulu and the things he thinks about her had me swooning. I love it when the bad boy starts to soften because he starts thinking about the big picture instead of only living in the moment.

3. The romance between Lulu and Dex blooms at a very slow and tender rate. It was so nice to luxuriate in all their little moments together. I just feel like these two are going to make it. They went from relatively indifferent to one another, to friends, to more and it felt so genuine and authentic. There’s some steamy scenes (hello RV moment, I’m looking at you), which haven’t been too prominent in DeLuca’s other books. That being said, this almost felt more women’s fiction than romance for the bulk of the book. Which is FINE. I would have liked a little more banter and flirting between our two leads, though. The romance takes a bit of a backseat to the growth Lulu goes through until later on in the book. But I didn’t mind!

4. The secondary characters were wonderful. Lulu finds a group of card readers and develops a friendship that helps her along her way. I liked that friendship aspect. I also loved the friendships she formed with the other members of the band/team.

5. There’s SO much Renn Faire in this, and I loved it. I loved all the descriptions of the Faire, what life is like when you travel from one to the next, etc. It was so much fun.

6. I loved catching up with the couples and characters from the previous books, and seeing where their lives have taken them. I’m going to miss everyone!

7. Jen’s writing is so good. Her descriptions, the things she has her characters say to each other, and the small moments that add up to such a wonderful story are all perfection.

What a wonderful conclusion to this series. I’ve been saying for quite some time that Well Played is my favorite book in this series, but Well Traveled might have taken its place now. I highly recommend Jen DeLuca’s books, and can’t wait to see what she does next!


Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison | Book Review

Posted December 23, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison | Book ReviewLovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
Series: Lovelight Farms #1
Published by Self on November 10, 2021
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance
Pages: 416
Format: eBook
Source: Gift
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Where the lovelight gleams …

A pasture of dead trees. A hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons. And shipments that have mysteriously gone missing. Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloom’s dreams.

In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, she enters a contest with instafamous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the $100,000 cash prize, she might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on the application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only … there is no boyfriend.

Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just came home for some hot chocolate, and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process.

Well that was lovely. Anyone who throws together fake dating best friends on a Christmas tree farm deserves my undivided attention. And, B.K. Borison you got it! I will admit, I was worried about the hype but I needn’t have worried. This was lovely. Lovely, I tell you. As always, my main points are bolded.

1. Ok. Stella owns a Christmas tree farm that she and her mother, who passed away before the book began, went to when she was a child. It holds so many memories for her, so when it went up for sale she bought it. But times are tough. The farm is hemorrhaging money because everything keeps going wrong (or is it sabotage??), so she enters a content to try and win a cash prize and publicity from a famous social media influencer. Grrr… I am so tired of influencers. Like, SO tired. lol. But moving on. Stella lies on the application for the contest and claims her best friend, who she has been in love with for years, is her boyfriend. No big deal, she will rope him into pretending he is. And he is really, really good at it. Stella is super likable. She’s guarded, but she loves fiercely and protects those she cares about. Luka is a dreamboat. No complaints.

2. Speaking of Luka. He’s Italian and loves to cook Stella yummy pasta dishes, tidies up her home when he visits, and will drop everything at the drop of a hat to be there for her. Where do I get myself a Luka? And his mother, oh my gosh. I love his mom.

3. I love the other supporting characters who co-own the farm with Stella. They’ve got a lovely found family dynamic, and look out for one another. The three of them are such a supportive and loving unit. I’m excited to read their stories in the other books in this series. I also love the local sheriff. He’s taken Stella on as a daughter figure and is very quick to help her with whatever she needs. He watches out for her, and I loved that. The influencer, Evelyn, even won me over, with her down-to-earth personality and caring nature. All in all, it’s such a great cast of characters.

4. I loved the setting so much. The Christmas tree farm sounds magical and beautiful, and the descriptions of the scenery and the weather were breathtaking. I loved the small town, and how everyone knew everyone. It felt like such a friendly place to be.

5. There’s a bit of a mystery, with a couple tense moments, which really added to the story! There’s also a lot of depth surrounding the origins of Stella’s and Luka’s friendship and also how she acquired the farm, which grounded the rather light and fluffy main storyline.

All in all, I loved this. Lovelight Farms is just as sweet and cozy as its name, and I really enjoyed reading it. I got all the warm fuzzies and so much Christmas cheer. I can’t wait to read the other books!


A Christmas Spark by Cindy Steel | Book Review

Posted December 21, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

A Christmas Spark by Cindy Steel | Book ReviewA Christmas Spark by Cindy Steel
Series: Pride and Pranks #1
Published by Self on December 5, 2020
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 131
Format: eBook
Source: Gift
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Snowed in at a cabin with the most infuriating man in the world. I may take my chances with the wolves...

When my best friend found out I’d be alone over Christmas, she hooked me up with a week stay in her family’s cabin in Idaho. I was on a publishing deadline for my latest book and was really looking forward to a cozy week by the fire, cuddled up in flannel pajamas with my laptop and hot chocolate.

Alone.

So imagine my surprise when I arrived at the cabin during a blizzard, and found it already occupied. By an all too familiar face and a fine pack of chiseled abs. Even though it had been ten years since I’d last seen Chase, he had no problem picking up exactly where we left off. I had a big problem with it.It didn’t matter what he threw at me—the old nickname, the teasing, his charming grin, or even those chiseled abs (did I already mention those?), I refused to let him get to me after…the incident. Nope, not me. I was made of stone.

Unfortunately, I’m beginning to understand that when you strike Chase against stone…you get sparks.

★A Christmas Spark is a closed-door romantic comedy full of heart, sizzle, witty banter, and one tiny swear word, but swoony kisses are as steamy as it gets!

I love, love snowed in romances, so when I stumbled across this book last year while looking for some fun Christmas reads I knew I had to have it even though I’m not the biggest fan of enemies to lovers. In this story, the enemies part comes from back in high school when Chase said some hurtful things about Penny. She still feels that pain, whereas he has no recollection of ever saying anything. I think the fact that only one of them saw the other as an enemy is why the trope didn’t bother me. I do wish these two had talked it out way before now, though, because 10 years is a long time to feel that kind of pain over a thing your dumb brother’s best friend said as a teen. But then we wouldn’t have a story, would we? And honestly, if I put myself in Penny’s shoes I’d still be hurt 20 years later and definitely wouldn’t have said anything to Chase about it, so who am I to talk? High school is rough. I know I came out a little traumatized. I really enjoyed how they handled working through it, though, and Chase’s treatment of the situation warmed my heart. The boy has grown up. And he’s gotten himself some abs.

I loved the setting of the cabin. It sounded so cozy and remote, with all the snow and the cold nights under blankets. I’d love to be stranded in that cabin, and I’d really love to be stranded in it with Chase. I loved the banter, the antics, and the Christmas. It’s such a short, short story that I really can’t say much more without spoiling anything! There’s some super swoony moments and some tender discussions and I enjoyed all of it. Many feelings. Cindy’s writing is great, and I can’t wait to read more of this series!


Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler | Book Review

Posted December 16, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 4 Comments

Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler | Book ReviewMistletoe and Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler
Series: Moose Springs Alaska #2
Also in this series: The Tourist Attraction, Enjoy the View
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on November 6, 2020
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Edelweiss)
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How the moose (almost) stole Christmas.

Lana Montgomery is everything the quirky small town of Moose Springs, Alaska can't stand: a rich socialite with dreams of changing things for the better. But Lana's determined to prove that she belongs...even if it means trading her stilettos for snow boots and tracking one of the town's hairiest Christmas mysteries: the Santa Moose, an antlered Grinch hell-bent on destroying every bit of holiday cheer (and tinsel) it can sink its teeth into.

And really...how hard could it be?

The last few years have been tough on Rick Harding, and it's not getting any easier now that his dream girl's back in town. When Lana accidentally tranquilizes him instead of the Santa Moose, it's clear she needs help, fast...and this could be his chance to finally catch her eye. It's an all-out Christmas war, but if they can nab that darn moose before it destroys the town, Rick and Lana might finally find a place where they both belong...together.

It’s no secret that I love this Moose Springs, Alaska series by Sarah Morgenthaler, and now is the perfect time to talk about the second book (even though I reviewed 1 and 3 a couple years ago) because it’s the most adorable Christmas romance! Upon finishing I immediately got the audio version so I can listen while baking, wrapping presents, or crocheting Christmas ornaments. Mistletoe and Mr. Right is such a warm, happy, funny, festive read and I will recommend it (and the other books in this series) all day long.

I loved Lana as soon as I met her in The Tourist Attraction, so I was delighted to see her get her own love story this go around. I was also extremely excited to return to Moose Springs and see Zoey, Graham, and all my other favorite people who live there. Lana and Rick have the cutest relationship. I loved watching it all unfold. They are definitely proof that opposites really do attract. Lana is spunky extroverted heiress from the big city and Rick is a quiet, small town single guardian of the sweetest kid. He’s head over heels for Lana already and she hasn’t quite noticed him yet. They kind of go from acquaintances to friends to flirty friends to lovers, and I loved their journey. The moose story is silly, but wonderful. And oh my gosh, there’s this weird squirrel B&B that had me laughing so hard that I had to immediately write to the author.

I don’t want to talk too much, because everything feels like a spoiler to me. But bottom line, you need to read this series. It’s filled with beautiful Alaskan scenery, moose, super down-to-earth characters, small town friendships among the townspeople (everyone knows your name, essentially), and so much heart and humor. I can’t wait for more Sarah Morgenthaler books.


Sleighed by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward | Book Review

Posted December 9, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

Sleighed by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward | Book ReviewSleighed by Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward
Narrator: Andi Arndt, Teddy Hamilton, Sebastian York, Zachary Webber, Maxine Mitchell
Published by C. Scott Publishing on November 15, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas
Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
Format: Audiobook
Source: Audible
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"Get Sleighed"

When my ex dumped me right before Christmas, I was left with a luxury: an all-expense paid trip for two to Cabo—private jet and all. Somehow, my best friend roped me into giving away the other half of the trip as a contest prize on her podcast. Kelly won the “World’s Worst Dump Story”. She and I didn’t meet until we arrived at the airport, which was when I discovered she was actually a he. Apparently, we’d forgotten to include open-to-women-only in the rules. My trip to Cabo started as a disaster, but as time went on Kelly and I grew close. Until someone unexpectedly showed up....

"Lights Out Love"

Cole is utterly annoyed by his neighbor Josie’s obnoxious Christmas display. When she blows out power on the street, he marches over and lets her know what he thinks of the mess she’s made. But when the only generator in town brings the two nemeses together...the Christmas display isn’t the only thing burning bright.

"Hot Item"

Getting into a fight with a sexy stranger over the last hot toy on the shelf was not the way I intended to spend Christmas Eve. And I certainly didn’t plan on spending hours more trying to win a contest to decide who would get to buy it. But when our time is up, would the toy be the only hot item I wanted to take home?

I’ve listened to a few Christmas audiobooks written by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward over the years, and they’re always fun! I was excited to see this one pop up on Audible one day. I hadn’t even heard of it so it was a nice surprise! This was a short and sweet listen that I enjoyed crocheting to for a few hours!

It’s hard to review three short stories, so I’ll just be short and sweet with my review as well! The first novella is called “Get Sleighed“, and it was fun! I thought the idea of having a contest to give away the second half of a vacation after being dumped by the guy you were supposed to go with was a cute idea. I enjoyed my little jaunt to Cabo and had fun hearing about what our hero and heroine (I cannot for the life of me remember their names) did while they were there vacationing. The romance was super sweet. My favorite part was the contest itself. Contestants had to call in to a podcast and share their worst getting dumped story. Some of those stories were hilarious and very entertaining!

The second novella, “Lights Out Love“, was cute, but not my favorite. Josie loves decorating the outside of her house with millions of lights for Christmas. Cole can’t stand having the light pour into his house like the noonday sun every night. Then the power goes out (of course Cole assumes it’s totally Josie’s fault) and he’s even more upset! But Josie, being the kind soul that she is, lets him benefit from her generator and has him over so he can charge his computer and get work done. They strike up a friendship, and Cole softens to her. She de-Scrooges him a little. It’s a very happy, heartwarming story!

The last novella, “Hot Item“, has my heart and really made this book for me. Two people in search of the hottest toy of the season have to battle it out to see who gets to buy it when the manager can’t deal with their arguing. So they spend the evening wrapping presents for charity and whoever gets the most tips wins the right to buy it. They talk a lot and it was all just very sweet. I got a little teary-eyed (in a good way). Really loved this story!

All in all, I had fun with Sleighed! I loved all the narrators (so many of them are my favorites), and it was fun to listen while I crocheted Christmas presents! It was like listening to a movie. Definitely give it a try if you’re in the mood for something short and festive that will make you smile!