Source: Purchased

The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren | Book Review

Posted March 14, 2024 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren | Book ReviewThe Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren
Series: The Improbable Meet-Cute #1
Also in this series: Rosie and the Dreamboat, Drop, Cover, and Hold On
Published by Amazon Original Stories on January 23, 2024
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 96
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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On February 14, an accidental email to a stranger opens the door to an unexpected relationship in a captivating short story by the New York Times bestselling authors of The Unhoneymooners.

One typo, and a boy and girl connect by chance. Wishing each other a happy Valentine’s Day isn’t the end. In fact, it becomes a friendly annual tradition—with rules: no pics, no real names, nothing too personal. As years pass, the rules for their email “dates” are breaking, and they’re sharing more than they imagined—including the urge to ask…what if we actually met?

Christina Lauren’s The Exception to the Rule is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute, irresistibly romantic stories about finding love when and where you least expect it. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.

Even though The Exception to the Rule is the first book in the Improbable Meet-Cute series, I chose to read it last because I knew that all the others would pale in comparison. And I was right! This was my favorite of the series, and one I’d be happy to read again.

First off, I recommend you read the Kindle copy and not the audiobook. Most of this story is told through emails back and forth between the two love interests, and I knew within 5 minutes of listening that I could not continue hearing the narrator read the email addresses, dates, times, and subject lines at the top of each email for the next 2 hours. Switching to the Kindle copy was a very good choice, and I came away loving the story! Also, fair warning: this series of novellas focuses on the meet-cute and that’s it. You get that initial spark between two people, and then the story ends. If you go into these stories knowing that you will be getting an incomplete romance (although, this one is the most complete of them all), I think you’ll be happier.

I loved watching this relationship unfold over so many years. I’m a firm believer in falling in love without ever being with someone in person. You can do it without even meeting them. So a quick burst of emails once a year for over 10 years is a very strong foundation to build a relationship on. There was so much more substance to this story than the others in this series, and I loved watching Terra and Callum reach so many milestones in their lives over the course of the story. They grow up, go to college, have multiple relationships, and get careers during this time, and they catch each other up as vaguely as possible so as not to give away identifying information. There’s so much character development for such a short book, and I was so invested in them. It’s so cute, and I know you will love going on this journey with them. Who knew a simple typo in an email address could set off such a romantic chain of events? If you only pick one book from this series to try, please make it this one. I wish it was a full-length novel so we can see how life together goes for these two. I think a sequel is in order! And seriously, Hallmark needs to pick this up for a movie. It would be so cute!


Cotswolds Holiday by Kasey Stockton | Book Review

Posted December 6, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 1 Comment

Cotswolds Holiday by Kasey Stockton | Book ReviewCotswolds Holiday by Kasey Stockton
Series: Christmas Escape
Also in this series: Faking Christmas
Published by Self on November 30, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas
Pages: 347
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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Some people face their problems head-on, other people run . . .

When my ex-boyfriend sends me his wedding invitation eight months after breaking up with me, and the bride expects me to be in the wedding party, it's time for my tried-and-tested party trick: disappearing.

And nowhere is better to escape to than the cozy English Cotswolds in the middle of December.

Everything goes according to plan until I arrive in the Cotswolds. Snow is more slippery than I expected, my room is nothing like the listing described, and my pub owner landlord—well, he steps directly from my lumberjack fantasies and into my heart.

The only problem? I can't fall for an Englishman who lives on the other side of the world from me. Not even one who has Dr Pepper on tap and kisses like it's an Olympic sport. It's much harder to run across the pond, and all good things must come to an end . . . but what if I can't say goodbye?

Part of the Christmas Escape series, Cotswolds Holiday is a clean Christmas romance where an American girl runs off to England and tries not to fall in love.

Cotswolds Holiday is another book in the series of closed-door Christmas standalone novels called Christmas Escape. I had so much fun reading several of these books last Christmas, and this was one of them! I just didn’t have room in my schedule to post my review, so I delayed it for a year to post now! While not my favorite in this series, I had fun reading it. Luna is a YouTube yoga instructor (ugh), and escapes to the English countryside to get out of having to attend her ex’s wedding. Rhys is amazing. He owns the quaint, cozy little pub that Luna rents a room in for her stay in the Cotswolds. He’s quiet and thoughtful and subtly flirty

There’s a lot of drama surrounding exes, and that did wear me out a little. Luna’s ex-boyfriend is still contacting her, trying to get her to attend their wedding for the sake of his fiance. This entire storyline actually really irked me, and ends up a little manipulative in my mind. Nobody whose ex-boyfriend breaks up with you and then jumps into marrying your best friend within just a few months should have to put up with being made to feel guilty for being upset about it and not wanting to be there to watch. The magic of Christmas just wouldn’t fix that for me, but I digress. Then there’s also drama with Rhys’s ex, another yoga instructor (ugh), and I didn’t like that storyline either. Blergh. Then there was this other storyline with Luna trying to form a partnership with this popular yoga clothing line (ugh), and the people she’s trying to work with suck a lot. The romance was fine, if not a bit dramatic at times. Luna likes to run away from her problems, hence the drama.

What won me over on this book was Rhys and his pub. And Christmas. I loved this pub, and how it was all decorated for the holidays. It sounds so cozy and the regulars there all know each other. There’s a knitting group that meets there, and a book club. The people are all so nice. The pub has a bit of a mascot in this cute dog who hangs out and has adopted everyone. Rhys and his cousin run the place, and I loved the cousin. She was a more interesting and likable character than Luna, in my opinion. Rhys’s cooking sounds delicious. I loved the scenery of the Cotswolds and I even enjoyed their silly rivalry with a neighboring town. I love the little Christmas festival. So all in all, it was a fun read that I made some allowances for because it’s Christmas and I loved the setting. And I want Rhys.


A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas | Book Review

Posted December 19, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas | Book ReviewA Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas
Series: Wallflowers #4.5
Also in this series: Devil In Winter
Published by St Martin's Press on October 14, 2008
Genres: Historical Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance
Pages: 213
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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A scandalous love under the mistletoe.

It’s Christmas time in London and Rafe Bowman has arrived from America for his arranged meeting with Natalie Blandford, the very proper and beautiful daughter of Lady and Lord Blandford. His chiseled good looks and imposing physique are sure to impress the lady-in-waiting, and if it weren’t for his shocking American ways and wild reputation, her hand would already be guaranteed.

Before the courtship can begin, Rafe realizes he must learn the rules of London society. But when four former Wallfowers try their hand at matchmaking, no one knows what will happen. And winning a bride turns out to be more complicated than Rafe Bowman anticipated, especially for a man accustomed to getting anything he wants. However, Christmas works in the most unexpected ways, changing a cynic to a romantic and inspiring passion in the most timid of hearts.

2022 will go down as the year of Lisa Kleypas for me! I have read 18 Lisa Kleypas books this year, which is wild to me, because I haven’t read 18 books by another single author, much less 18 books by one author in a single year! I think I can officially crown her as my favorite author, and what better way to wind down this year than with her Christmas novel. I have loved the Wallflowers series so much, and A Wallflower Christmas is such a lovey cherry on top. It was so much fun to catch up with all the original Wallflowers and see a bit of an extended epilogue for them all. Each one of their love stories was so wonderful, and seeing how they’re all doing now was really fun and felt like coming home. I loved how they all took Hannah under their wings and dubbed her an honorary wallflower. Each woman had their hand in Hannah’s love story, and it was heartwarming to see that kind of love and support be poured down upon her. I love a book with strong female friendships, and the Wallflowers are some of the strongest friendships I’ve read about.

I quite liked Rafe and Hannah both together and individually. Rafe is the brother of Daisy and Lillian, two of the Wallflowers, and it was fun to see them so invested in his love story. Rafe is a rake with a heart of gold and a soft core. He’s sentimental and sweet and so romantic. Some of the things he does and says (and writes) had me fanning myself and getting teary at the same time. He’s come to meet Natalie, who he’s essentially been assigned to marry, but he’s much more interested in her companion, Hannah. Hannah is strong and kind, and one to root for for sure.

I loved returning to Stony Cross Park for Christmas. I adore a strong Christmas theme in historical romance novels because I’ve always been a huge fan of the traditional Christmas preparations. The way Christmas is celebrated in these novels, with candles and real greenery brought it from outside, traditional foods and carols… it just makes me feel so cozy to read about. Hannah chooses to read “A Christmas Carol” to the children in the library each night by a roaring fie. It was so sweet reading about her interactions with them, and their excitement over the story warmed my heart. I love the way Lisa Kleypas was able to wind a new romance, an update on so many beloved characters, and the magic of Christmas into one tale. I wish it had been longer! Oh, how I will miss these Wallflowers and the men in their lives.


When She Was Naughty by Tessa Dare | Book Review

Posted December 15, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 2 Comments

When She Was Naughty by Tessa Dare | Book ReviewWhen She Was Naughty by Tessa Dare
Published by Self on December 24, 2020
Genres: Historical Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance
Pages: 67
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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A Christmas Eve ball.
A light-hearted beauty.
An earl who needs to come in from the cold.

All year long, Chloe Garland’s been trading witty remarks and heated glances with her nemesis, the arrogant Lord Cheverell. But when Chloe tricks him into wearing a hideous waistcoat—complete with sequins, pompoms, and jingle bells—to her family’s Christmas Eve party, she may have gone too far. Her penalty? A single, scorching kiss—and a Christmas gift she never expected.

Love.

I love Tessa Dare, and I’ve been suffering patiently waiting for her next release so I was excited to stumble upon this short story that I had heard absolutely nothing about! When She Was Naughty is a cute, festive, bite-sized story that’s perfect to curl up with on a snowy night! Our heroine, Chloe, tricks Lord Cheverell into wearing the ugliest Christmas waistcoat ever to her family’s fancy ball because she thinks he hates her. The description of this thing is just wonderfully horrible, and I love it so much! In reality, he’s been in love with her for months and this trick has him thinking she hates him. There’s not a lot of depth or angst, just some witty banter, a prank gone wrong, some misunderstandings, a few swoons, and a big dose of festive cheer.

I left this book with a big smile on my face, and that’s really all I ask of a Christmas book. Do I wish it was longer and more developed? Yes. But I wholeheartedly enjoyed what I was given. I highly recommend checking out When She Was Naughty if you need a little pick-me-up and a reminder that Christmas is the most wonderful (and romantic) time of the year!


Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel | Book Review

Posted December 8, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 3 Comments

Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel | Book ReviewFaking Christmas by Cindy Steel
Series: Christmas Escape #3
Also in this series: Cotswolds Holiday
Published by Self on November 2, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas
Pages: 340
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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One little white lie.

That's all it took. Now I'm suddenly having to fake-date my work nemesis to get me through a week at a Vermont Christmas lodge with my family.

The problem? I can't stand Miles Taylor. Not only that, but I don't date people I work with. But I can handle it. I've had practice faking my emotions for years. So it shouldn't matter that Miles never lets me get away with anything. And that he happens to boil my blood hotter than a steaming pot of wassail. So when he throws his annoying grin my way or forces me on dates he knows I'll hate, I'll just grit my teeth and smile.

Or maybe not. Did I mention that Miles is the one person in the world I can't seem to fool?

When my emotions begin feeling less like a sham and his arms feel way too comfortable, it makes me think that maybe Miles had a plan of his own. And I'm starting to like it a lot more than mine.

★ Faking Christmas is a sweet, closed door romance full of sizzle, witty banter, and chemistry, but without explicit content.

I’ve been having so much fun with the Christmas Escape series this year! This series consists of 7 full-length, standalone novels that are all super swoony closed-door romances. In each story, someone is trying to escape something in their lives, whether it be the holidays themselves or someone/something in their life. One book was released per week, starting on October 16th, 2022 and ending on November 30th, 2022. And, as of right now, they’re all on Kindle Unlimited! Faking Christmas was the one I was most excited about, because I love fake dating and I loved Cindy Steel’s Christmas novella, A Christmas Spark, which I read last year! Faking Christmas did not disappoint one bit. In fact, it’s a new favorite and a book I plan to read again and again.

1. First off, I really love closed-door romances during Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, I love open door romances as well, but there’s just something about Christmas that makes me want to focus more on the holiday season than on intimacy. But I still love love. That’s why this series appealed to me so much. Cindy Steel is so good at creating these sweet, romantic moments and I don’t even miss the sexy scenes at all!

2. I loved Olive and Miles. Both are teachers at the same school, and they’re not the biggest fans of each other. I really don’t enjoy enemies to lovers stories so I was a bit worried, but these two are friendly enemies. They don’t care for one another, but they’re still kind and respectful to each other. They tease each other and poke fun at minor things, but there’s no hate there. Phew! I really struggle with characters who fight and argue all the time, so I’m so glad that was not the case with this book. Both characters are endearing, sweet, silly, and great for one another. Miles is a dreamboat and Olive is the girl next door. 

3. I really liked most of the supporting characters. Miles’s family is wonderful. I love his dad in particular, and his mom is super nice. I also liked Olive’s sister and think they have a really cute relationship. She also has adorable twin nieces and a cool brother-in-law. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Olive’s mom, but I came around in time. Olive’s ex is also around for a little while, and he’s a slime ball.

4. I loved all the Christmas! The lodge in Vermont sounds stunning, with cabins all blanketed in snow. The lodge hosts a Christmas bingo with fun festive tasks for guests to complete, plus they have fun activities like sledding and gingerbread house making. The cabins all have Christmas trees, music plays over the speakers, dinner is done family style in the main building. It just sounds so perfect! Miles talks Olive into doing a polar bear plunge with him, and that might be my favorite scene.

5. The romance is *chef’s kiss*. I LOVE fake dating, and these two do such a great job… at first. Miles is so enthusiastic about the fake dating scheme and really goes overboard with affection. I couldn’t stop beaming as I read. He pushes Olive outside of her comfort zone, but in doing so he shows her what she truly deserves. They have multiple deep conversations, evening cuddle sessions, and flirty moments. The banter is perfection. The kisses were swoony and definitely steamed up my glasses. I love reading a good kiss.

6. There’s a deeper underlying issues surrounding grief and the loss of a parent (that happened before the book begins), which I feel was handled so well and allowed Olive and Miles to form a deep and meaningful connection. I felt so many feels!

All in all, Faking Christmas is a Christmas book lover’s dream come true. I highly, highly recommend you give it a try! It’s guaranteed to warm your heart and put a smile on your face. I hope it ends up on audio someday so I can listen when I need a pick-me-up!