Genre: Romantic Comedy

You Deserve Valentine’s Day Brunch by Sarah Hogle | Book Review

Posted July 3, 2025 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 5 Comments

You Deserve Valentine's Day Brunch by Sarah Hogle
Series: You Deserve Each Other #1.5
Also in this series: You Deserve Each Other
Published by Self on January 1, 2020
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 9
Format: eBook
Source: Author
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A message from the author's Instagram post:

I wrote this wee little Naomi & Nicholas short story a couple years ago for a Valentine's Day blog post. I can't find the post anymore, so I think the host might've deleted it, and every now and then I get a DM asking where someone can find this short story. Unfortunately, I didn't have it saved to my computer, so I always apologized and said it was lost. But then I realized: Duh! It's still in my emails! So if you've been looking for it, here it is.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who continues to pick up these chaotic gremlins and give them love.

I’m not usually one to review bonus content like this, but I want the world to know that this very short story exists! Nick and Naomi are celebrating Valentine’s Day, and as we’ve come to learn from them they love to play tricks on each other. This time, Nick is up to something. My heart warmed so much reading this sweet little Valentine’s Day scene between the two of them and now I want to read You Deserve Each Other all over again! If you need a quick little pick-me-up on a rough day, this will do the trick!

This short story can be found on Sarah Hogle’s Instagram. Click here to read it now!

Off the Map by Trish Doller | Book Review

Posted May 29, 2025 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 1 Comment

Off the Map by Trish Doller
Series: Beck Sisters #3
Narrator: Sarah Naughton
Published by Macmillan Audio, St Martin's Griffin on March 7, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 272
Format: Audiobook ARC
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
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On the road to love, you don't need a GPS...

Carla Black’s life motto is “here for a good time, not for a long time.” She’s been travelling the world on her own in her vintage Jeep Wrangler for nearly a decade, stopping only long enough to replenish her adventure fund. She doesn’t do love and she doesn’t ever go home.

Eamon Sullivan is a modern-day cartographer who creates digital maps. His work helps people find their way, but he’s the one who’s lost his sense of direction. He’s unhappy at work, recently dumped, and his one big dream is stalled out—literally.

Fate throws them together when Carla arrives in Dublin for her best friend’s wedding and Eamon is tasked with picking her up from the airport. But what should be a simple drive across Ireland quickly becomes complicated with chemistry-filled detours, unexpected feelings, and a chance at love - if only they choose it.

I will spit it out right now: I did not like this book at all. Maybe it’s because I haven’t read the first two books in the series, but I don’t think that’s it. I don’t think that seeing these characters as secondary characters in someone else’s love story would make me like them more. They both are just sucky people, and since I’m a character driven reader I knew this would most likely go downhill really fast. I listened to this book, though, and I always end up hanging in there longer than I otherwise would have if I’d been reading the book on my own. Sarah Naughton did a very good job reading this book, and the Irish accents were perfect. I loved listening to her. And that, my friend, is why I finished this book at all.

I love road trip books, and two people trekking through Ireland gave me Leap Year vibes. You know, the movie with Amy Adams? One of my top favorite movies ever. And that’s why I jumped into this series with the final book. I needed a Leap Year feeling! It was my mistake for elevating my hopes way too high but, even so, Carla and Eamon suck. They are so irresponsible and see no problem with dragging their feet to their friends’ wedding so they can go on adventures and sleep together a lot. Like. Come on and put your pants on, you idiots, the wedding is waiting for you!! Carla’s personality was also pretty crummy. She has absolutely no tact, and I didn’t find it to be funny or endearing. She’s just rude. Eamon was a jerk. And the fact that their “relationship” just screamed of a string of one-night stands gave me no depth or development. They start getting it on within the first few pages of the book, and I didn’t get it. There’s no romance there, and the spicy scenes were prominent. The story was all over the place for me.

I’ve read multiple reviews saying that the first two books in this series are totally different from this one, and that some people had whiplash from the spice level and lack of emotional depth that they had assumed they’d get again going into this final book. That gives me hope that I might like those, so I will give them a try because I usually like Trish Doller’s writing. Luckily this is not my first book of hers, and luckily I have reviewer friends I trust, or I might have decided to not give her another chance. That cover sure is cute, though, and I did like the scene from the book that’s been illustrated for us. It actually might have been the only scene I liked? lol. Oops.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren | Book Review

Posted May 15, 2025 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
on May 14, 2024
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Edelweiss)
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Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways.

Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.

Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents — his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.

But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.

I was so, so excited for this book. If you know me, you know that The Unhoneymooners is one of my favorite books ever and I was so excited for another fake dating CLo book set in a tropical location. The Paradise Problem seriously had all the makings of a favorite book for me, but I ended up being so disappointed in it. Here are a few of my very unorganized thoughts on this book so I can move on and away from this.

I hated how Anna was portrayed (like is she really this dumb and hopeless?). I am so tired of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, and that’s what the authors tried so hard to have her be. The romance felt too rooted in lust, and this has way more steam in it than I’m used to in Christina Lauren’s more recent releases. There’s also way more language than I’m used to from them. I hated the main dude’s entire family. The family drama was seriously so over-the-top. What poor little rich people. I loved the setting. This could have been so good, but they took everything I loved from The Unhoneymooners and did a complete 180. Oh, and it is so jam packed with modern pop culture references that will not age well at all. This ended up being my biggest bookish disappointment of 2024.

Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison | Book Review

Posted May 8, 2025 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 1 Comment

Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison
Series: Lovelight #3
Also in this series: In the Weeds, Business Casual
Published by Berkley on August 30, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 335
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
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Layla Dupree has given up on love.

She’s waded through all of the fish in the sea, each one more disappointing than the last. Apparently owning the bakery at Inglewild’s most romantic destination does not help one’s love life—despite her best efforts. All she wants is a partner who gives her butterflies, not someone who ghosts her at dinner and leaves her with the check.

Good thing Caleb Alvarez has the perfect solution.

After saving Layla from another date gone bad, he has a simple proposition: One month of no-strings dating. He’ll do his best to renew her faith in men while she rates his dating game. It’s a win-win situation. All the benefits of dating, without the added pressure of feelings and unmet expectations.

But there’s one ingredient they haven’t considered. The chemistry between them is red hot and the urge to take things to the next level is more tempting than Layla’s double fudge mocha brownies.

Will the heat between them boil over? Or will it be another case of mixed signals?

Mixed Signals is a sweet and steamy small-town romance. Our story features a bashful man who can rock a Hawaiian shirt, a hopeful and dreamy bakery owner, enough sweets to give you a cavity, and your favorite Inglewild residents. Mixed Signals is a standalone romance and the third book in the Lovelight series, a collection of interconnected novels.

I know I’ve sung Lovelight’s praises for years now, and this book will be no different. I love this small town and all the people who live in it. I love B.K. Borison’s writing. I love the romances she gives us, the special moments, the swoons. She’s an auto-buy author for me for sure. In this book we have Layla the baker and Caleb, the guy who no substitute teaches because he was fired by the police department for being too sweet. lol. So you’ve got pastries as a love language and a golden retriever who will capture the moon for his beloved. What more could anyone want?

Ok, so we’ve got Layla. She’s been very unlucky in her dating life, which I can absolutely relate to. I can confidently say that there are not many people out there who have dated as many frogs as I have. Anyway, I felt for Layla. She’s so sweet and she deserves someone who will treat her right and love her with his entire soul. And that’s Caleb! He’s been in love with her forever, and he shows her by going to her bakery every morning to order a croissant just so he has the opportunity to talk to her. Are you melting yet? Of course, she has no clue because she’s been burned so many times that he heart is guarded behind a very thick wall. He runs into her one day after her most recent horrible date, and they commiserate about their awful dating lives. Caleb comes up with an idea to date each other for one month as a mutually beneficial, no-strings-attached partnership of sorts. He will show her how she deserves to be treated, and she will critique his dating abilities and offer suggestions for improvements (if she has any–and how could she??).

Caleb’s and Layla’s chemistry is off the charts. Maybe it’s easier to date someone when you’re not supposed to be emotionally invested in them, but they sink into this very sweet friendship very quickly. I loved their dates and their conversations. I loved watching Caleb fall more and more for Layla, and I loved watching Layla slowly let him start tearing down her walls. They are the sweetest couple, and they both value what they have because it’s something they’ve wanted for so long. I swooned and smiled and my eyes turned into hearts for them.

AHHHH this series. I will never not tell someone to read it. I am annoying about it. I am clearly crummy at book recommendations because I’ll tell you to read these no matter what you preferred genre is. Oh, you like sci-fi? Read the Lovelight books. You’re a mystery fan? Read the Lovelight books. You don’t like romance? Wellllllllllll you’ll love the Lovelight books. I know this is book #3, but I accidentally reviewed these out of order so I am still mourning the fact that the series is over. I read these in order and I recommend that you do, too. I always love catching up with previous couples and B.K.’s writing just gets better and better!

The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle | Book Review

Posted April 10, 2025 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 2 Comments

The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle
Series: Moonville #2
Published by GP Putnam's Sons on April 8, 2025
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Magical Realism, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
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From the acclaimed author of Old Flames and New Fortunes comes a steamy enemies-to-lovers romantasy about a paranormal skeptic who is roped into a ghost hunting romp by the charming boy next door . . . who might just show her what real fantasies are made of.

Paranormal skeptic Zelda Tempest is hoping for a much-needed creativity boost for a new paranormal mystery novel. But despite the alleged magic of her hometown, Moonville, Ohio, she’s as stuck as ever.

With two witch sisters, not believing in magic is strange for a Tempest, but no one is more disappointed than Morgan Angelopoulos, the charming man next door. So, to cure her of her writer's block and her disbelief in magic, Morgan ropes her into a ghost-hunting romp, only for Zelda to discover something else bizarre, never-before-seen creatures that appear as ordinary pets to everyone else.

Curious about what else might be lurking in Moonville's woods, Zelda and Morgan embark on a quest to uncover the true magic that lies in their midsts . . . and perhaps, just maybe, they will find that the magic they're searching for has been with them all along.

When I sit down to read a Sarah Hogle book, I know I’m going to get whimsy, wit, banter, and a big dose of quirk. Her books are unlike anything I’ve read before, and I always end up loving them. Sarah’s imagination must be full of magic, sparkles, flowers, and one-liners. Her brand of humor speaks to me, and I laugh every time I read her books. I adored Old Flames and New Fortunes last year, and was so eager to return to this special little town called Moonville, which is filled with people who love (and maybe even practice) magic. You’ve got plants and crops that grow quicker than they should, a witch who tells fortunes through flowers, a forest with quite the personality, local lore, and a diner called The Dark Side of the Spoon. Are you intrigued yet? Well, you should be!

This was such a cozy read for me. I loved Moonville in the Spring in the first book, but I also loved it in the Fall. Pumpkins abound, there’s a bite in the air, and everything seems to be humming with magical energy. The Magic Happens, where Zelda and her sisters live and work, sounds just as homey as it did in the first book. Oh, to live in a colorful home and run a flower, book, or candle shop downstairs! It just sounds so cool. It was fun catching up with Romina and Alex, who I fell in love with in the first book. It was also fun to see Zelda’s other sister, Luna (who I am sure will be the subject of the next book), and Luna’s daughter Aisling. They’re all such great, fun, hilarious characters. I love the bond these sisters share.

Zelda is quite the skeptic, even though all the women in her family are witches. Quite ironic, considering she’s a fantasy author and writing about magic is her livelihood. But that’s all fiction to her! She comes up with reasonable explanations for all the interesting things that go on in and around her home, and she thinks her family is a group of wishful thinkers. Enter: Morgan. Oh my gosh, this dude is ridiculous (in a good way)! He has a very interesting sense of fashion and he’s funny and witty and has such a high opinion of himself, but he’s also caring and sweet and so whipped for Zelda. He’s also a paranormal investigator who believes in everything! And he’s so upset that Zelda isn’t a witch and doesn’t believe in magic, so he forces her to tag along on his investigation of a mansion that’s rumored to be haunted to try and convince her she’s wrong. Maybe it’ll help her writer’s block, he says. And then… Zelda starts seeing things. And then she remembers she’s been seeing these things her whole life. All of a sudden, the hunt to convince Zelda that magic is real turns into the hunt to understand the magic that Zelda has discovered in herself. And Morgan, as frustrated as he makes her, is there for the entire chaotic ride (which includes a bonkers campout in the magical woods). I refuse to spoil anything, so I will not go into too much detail, but I will say that this book focuses way more on magic and witchy-ness than the first book does. I’m not a witchy girl or into paranormal reads, but I had a lot of fun reading about Zelda’s and Morgan’s adventures, even if the romance took a bit of a back seat to the magic. I did scratch my head a few times because oh my gosh, where did Sarah Hogle even come up with some of this stuff? lol. And that’s not a bad thing, don’t get me wrong. This was a very fun, wild, and zany ride for me! Zelda and Morgan are very cute together. They’ve got this enemies to friends to lovers thing going on, and their banter and flirtatious teasing was so much fun to read about.

I love everything Sarah Hogle writes. She pens some of the loveliest imagery and the most whip-smart dialogue. Everything always flows so nicely, and her books give me the cozy feelings I crave in a book. I’m excited to travel back to Moonville soon!