Goodreads

Release date: October 13, 2020

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

In this finger-licking good rom-com, two is the perfect number of cooks in the kitchen.

Nikki DiMarco knew life wouldn’t be all sunshine and coconuts when she quit her dream job to help her mom serve up mouthwatering Filipino dishes to hungry beach goers, but she didn’t expect the Maui food truck scene to be so eat-or-be-eaten—or the competition to be so smoking hot.

But Tiva’s Filipina Kusina has faced bigger road bumps than the arrival of Callum James. Nikki doesn’t care how delectable the British food truck owner is—he rudely set up shop next to her coveted beach parking spot. He’s stealing her customers and fanning the flames of a public feud that makes her see sparks.

The solution? Let the upcoming Maui Food Festival decide their fate. Winner keeps the spot. Loser pounds sand. But the longer their rivalry simmers, the more Nikki starts to see a different side of Callum…a sweet, protective side. Is she brave enough to call a truce? Or will trusting Callum with her heart mean jumping from the frying pan into the fire?

Review:

This was such a sexy, delicious read! If you like romance, especially romance that incorporates food into the story this is for you. This one made me hungry with the mouthwatering descriptions of the food Nikki and Callum both create AND it’s set in Hawaii so you also have the bonus of a gorgeous setting too. It was also spicy with some seriously smoking hot sex scenes and outside of the bedroom these two had witty repartee and fantastic chemistry. This would be super fun to read this summer, definitely fitting for that time of year!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: May 4, 2021

Publisher: Grand Central

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

In the midst of a sizzling hot summer, some of Hollywood’s most notorious faces are assembled on the idyllic Caribbean island of St. Genesius to film The Siren, starring dangerously handsome megastar Cole Power playing opposite his ex-wife, Stella Rivers. The surefire blockbuster promises to entice audiences with its sultry storyline and intimately connected cast.

Three very different women arrive on set, each with her own motive. Stella, an infamously unstable actress, is struggling to reclaim the career she lost in the wake of multiple, very public breakdowns. Taylor, a fledgling producer, is anxious to work on a film she hopes will turn her career around after her last job ended in scandal. And Felicity, Stella’s mysterious new assistant, harbors designs of her own that threaten to upend everyone’s plans.

With a hurricane brewing offshore, each woman finds herself trapped on the island, united against a common enemy. But as deceptions come to light, misplaced trust may prove more perilous than the storm itself.

Review:

Last summer I really enjoyed the authors debut, it was juicy and scandalous and gave me Jackie Collins vibes who is one of my all time favorite guilty pleasure authors, so I was really hoping her next book would be just as wickedly fun. It totally was! If you’re looking for yet another perfect summer read that will provide a much needed escape this is ideal.

I’ve always been a sucker for books about Hollywood, specifically the movie industry and I loved that this one follows the characters as they travel on location to shot a new film. It didn’t hurt that they’re filming on an island in the Caribbean either and the author did a great job of bringing the setting to life. There’s a big revenge plot here and I’m also a sucker for people trying to get vengeance, throw in some scandal, sex and rich actors behaving badly and you have everything I need for a delicious summer read.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: July 28, 2020

Publisher: Forever

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Dr. Nora Walsh has just been dumped in spectacular fashion, making it the perfect time for a major life change. She figures taking over the medical practice in tiny Matchmaker Bay for a couple of years will help her get over her broken heart, and then she can head back to the big city. But when the first man she sees looks like a superhero god, she wonders if maybe there’s something to small-town living after all.
Jake Ramsey also has a broken heart — one he never expects to heal. He doesn’t need people anyway and is content hiding out in his secluded cottage on the beach. But after helping Nora with a medical emergency, he finds himself opening up to the witty, warmhearted doctor. Soon the local matchmakers are working overtime to pair them off, and Jake begins to wonder if his campaign to get Nora to stay is for the town or because he can’t bear the thought of her leaving.

Review:

I struggled a little with the first book in this series, it was missing something for me and I felt like it was a bit too long. I wanted to give the next book in the series a fair chance too and I’m glad I did because I did end up enjoying this one more!

I loved that Nora was brand new to town and had no real connection to anyone and I enjoyed seeing her make new friends, find some romance and just find herself a home. Jake’s grief was portrayed so honestly and tenderly and he really tugged on my heartstrings. Their relationship felt really mature and deep right from the start and I love that it was rooted in friendship. Seeing Jake open his heart to Nora was so sweet and totally melted my heart. A sweet romance with lots of depth. 🥰

Overall rating: 4/5

Goodreads

Release date: March 9, 2021

Publisher: Forever

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Maya Mehta will do anything to save her tiny, beloved community theater. Put on musicals she hates? Check. Hire an arrogant former-pop-star-turned-actor? Done. But what Maya really needs to save her theater is Matchmaker Bay’s new business grant. She’s got some serious competition, though: Benjamin “Law” Lawson, local bar owner, Jerk Extraordinaire, and Maya’s annoyingly hot arch nemesis. Let the games begin.

Law loves nothing more than getting under Maya’s skin, and making those gorgeous eyes dance with irritation. But when he discovers the ex-pop star has a thing for Maya, too, Law decides he’s done waiting in the wings-starting with a scorching-hot kiss. Turns out there’s a thin line between hate and irresistible desire, and Maya and Law are really good at crossing it. But when things heat up, will they allow their long-standing feud to get in the way of their growing feelings?

Review:

I was actually really looking forward to this book as Maya and Law have been secondary characters in the first two books and I just knew their romance would be spicy with the whole enemies to lovers thing. The wait was definitely worth it because this was my favorite in the series thus far.

Besides catching up with the couples from the first two books and the meddling matchmakers you get a deeper look at both Maya and Law and what really happened between them in the past to make them so cranky towards each other. Bickering between soon to be lovers is always fun for me and these two had great banter, they definitely made me laugh. I loved getting to see more of Maya’s theater work as well, she’s a passionate character and her enthusiasm was adorable. The epilogue was super satisfying as it ties up some loose ends with all the characters, especially since I think this is the last book in the series.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: November 17, 2020

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

A woman ready to give up on love discovers that age is truly just a number in this heartwarming and steamy new romantic comedy by USA Today bestselling author Nicola Marsh.

For almost a decade, successful 37-year-old Samira Broderick has used her bustling LA practice as an excuse to avoid a trip home to Australia. She still resents her meddling Indian mother for arranging her marriage to a man who didn’t stick around when the going got tough, but now with a new job Down Under, she’s finally ready to reconnect with her. And while she’s there, a hot international fling might be just what she needs to get out of her recent funk.

Aussie stuntman, Rory Radcliffe, has been hiding his stutter for years by avoiding speaking roles. When a job he can’t refuse comes up as a reality show host, he knows he’ll need some help for the audition: a dialect coach. But he finds himself at a loss for words when he discovers it’s the same sexy woman with whom he just had a mind-blowing one-night stand…

Samira can think of many reasons why Rory is completely wrong for her: he’s ten years her junior, for one, and he’s not Indian–something Samira’s mother would never approve of. Even if things were to get serious, there’s no reason to tell her mother…is there?

Review:

Oh I just adored this one, my first by Nicola Marsh but definitely not my last! It was the type of fresh romance we all need right now, with interesting and diverse characters as well as interesting and complex issues. I didn’t realize how much I would like an age gap trope but apparently I really do?! Loved that Samira was older as well, the older man/younger women has been done to death for me. Besides that fun angle you have a first for me, a hero with a stutter and man did I swoon hard for Rory. The fact that both Rory and Samira were grappling with their individual problems and working on themselves was great to see, not everything explored here was solely about them as a couple and I appreciated that they were working on themselves, I found them both to be incredibly relatable. Everything I want in a romance was here, heat, passion, communication, tender moments and lots of fun!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 20, 2021

Publisher: Grand Central

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Her public life

Her public life

Her public life
Jade Thompson has it all. She’s an up-and-coming social media influencer, and she has a beautiful new home and a successful architect for a fiancé. But there’s trouble behind the scenes. To Greg’s children, his divorce from their mother and his new life can only mean a big mid-life crisis. To Jade, his suburban Connecticut upbringing isn’t an easy match with her Caribbean roots.
Her private life A savage home invasion leaves Greg house-bound with a traumatic brain injury and glued to the live feeds from his ubiquitous security cameras. As the police investigate the crime and Greg’s frustration and rage grows, Jade begins to wonder what he may know about their attackers. And whether they are coming back.
Her secret life As Greg watches Jade’s comings and goings, he becomes convinced that her behavior is suspicious and that she’s hiding a big secret. The more he sees, the more he wonders whether the break-in was really a random burglary. And whether he’s worth more to Jade if he were dead than alive.

Review:

This was a weird one for me y’all, I don’t even know exactly how I feel just that I wasn’t a huge fan. As much as I had issues with it, I did read it fairly quickly so there was something compelling about it and I never contemplated setting it aside. But I also found it kinda silly and boring too. I think my biggest issue was there was a lack of suspense for me, which made me not really care about what was going to happen to the characters. I was really in the mood for a fast and entertaining domestic suspense when I started this so I was disappointed that this wasn’t it. Between a lack of connection to the characters, not enough thrills and suspense, and a plot that I easily figured out, I just can’t get excited about this one.

Overall rating: 2.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 6, 2021

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

How do you start a new chapter of your life when you haven’t closed the book on the previous one?

Eighteen months ago, Autumn Divac’s husband went missing. Her desperate search has yielded no answers, and she can’t imagine moving forward without him. But for the sake of their two teenage children, she has to try.

Autumn takes her kids home for the summer to the charming beachside town where she was raised. She seeks comfort working alongside her mother and aunt at their bookshop, only to learn that her daughter is facing a huge life change and her mother has been hiding a terrible secret for years. And when she runs into the boy who stole her heart in high school, old feelings start to bubble up again. Is she free to love him, or should she hold out hope for her husband’s return? She can only trust her heart…and hope it won’t lead her astray.

Review:

Don’t let the beachy cover fool you, this one had way more depth than I was expecting based on that alone. This was an emotional, multigenerational story that explores some very timely and relevant issues in a beautiful manner.

You hear from Autumn, her daughter Taylor and her mother Mary and I loved the various perspectives from all different age brackets. I can’t even imagine how Autumn is dealing with a missing husband and her kids as well, someone in my own circle going missing is my biggest nightmare. Each woman had their own issues they’re struggling with besides the disappearance of Nick and this brought so much substance to the story. It was definitely a multilayered story with some light moments, but overall it’s emotional. I think it could appeal to all types of readers, there’s romance, a mystery and family drama which is such a perfect combination for me.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 6, 2021

Publisher: Montlake

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

It was a lifetime ago that recently widowed Maggie Flynn was in Wyndham Beach. Now, on the occasion of her fortieth high school reunion, she returns to her hometown on the Massachusetts coast, picking up right where she left off with dear friends Lydia and Emma. But seeing Brett Crawford again stirs other emotions. Once, they were the town’s golden couple destined for one another. He shared Maggie’s dreams—and eventually, a shattering secret that drove them apart.

Buying her old family home and resettling in Wyndham Beach means a chance to start over for Maggie and her two daughters, but it also means facing her rekindled feelings for her first love and finally confronting—and embracing—the past in ways she never thought possible. Maggie won’t be alone. With her family and friends around her, she can weather this stormy turning point in her life and open her heart to the future. As for that dream shared and lost years ago? If Maggie can forgive herself, it still might come true.

Review:

As the weather starts to warm up I’m drawn to beachy, breezy reads so when I read the description of this one, I knew immediately it would be just what I’ve been in the mood for lately. A multigenerational storyline, an idyllic setting and a new series from one of my tried and true authors? Yes please!

As much as I loved the setting and the premise of this one, the characterization is where it really shines. Maggie and her two lifelong friends were all such lovely, authentic women and I also loved that they were middle aged and had more life experience. You also get the viewpoints of Maggie’s two daughters so there’s definitely something for everyone here, a little romance, some drama and lots of friendship. A truly heartfelt read that I enjoyed so much, can’t wait to see what the next book is about.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.