Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: October 31, 2022

Reviewed On: November 10, 2022

BASIC PLOT

Unwrap this gorgeous gift of a book for an escape to the snow-peaked caps of the Scottish Highlands and a romance that will melt your heart…

Izzy McBride had never in a million years expected to inherit an actual castle from her great uncle Bill but here she was, in the run up to Christmas, Monarch of her own Glen – a very rundown glen in need of a lot of TLC if her dream of turning it into a boutique bed and breakfast was to come true.

But when Izzy’s eccentric mother rents a room to enigmatic thriller author Ross Adair and the Scottish snow starts to settle like the frosting on a Christmas cake, it’s a race to get the castle ready before they’re all snowed in for the holidays.

REVIEW

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Cute story! I love anything set in Scotland, so this was perfect, plus… Christmas!!! Yay!

A great thing about this book was that the descriptions were done really well.  So well, in fact, that at times the descriptions of the Scotland really did transport me.  Reading about Edinburgh, I felt that I was actually waking the streets – A few of the places even brought back happy memories from my own travels.

As far as the story goes, I have to admit, the main character of Izzy was not my favourite person. She seemed so helpless and unable to do things on her own. She kept having to call her friends from culinary school for help and ideas for meals – even though she completed the same program they did. I wish she had been written stronger, maybe surer of herself. The relationship between mother and daughter felt over done. I don’t think I actually know of any mother who has their child call them by their name. Xanthe is also an interesting character.  Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with her at all, to the point where I was tempted to skip over any parts she was in (side note – I didn’t, for the sake of getting the full story). Xanthe’s character was seriously triggering for my anxiety – Her actions and antics just put me on edge.  I do wish there had been more character growth for Izzy – her mother sort of just pushes her around even though Izzy is the owner of the castle.

I was a little confused when it came to Ross because the name and job, he is given in the description is not the name (and job) he’s introduced as. The twist was basically given away in the description.  But, the Ross we meet at first is your typical book guy – all moody and broody and “stay out of my way”… Loved this! He changes and grows as the book goes on.

The relationship between Izzy and Ross is typical of a Hallmark movie, which was fine for me, but I felt like something was missing for them.  I still haven’t put my finger on what it was though. Maybe it was the minimal spice?  Maybe it was that the relationship felt more like a friendship than a romance? But this relationship worked for this story.

The story line with the Carter-Jones family was pushed so hard that I figured something would go horribly wrong – predictable. Then the story line with the jewels… I do wish there had been more of a “whoa” moment but as soon as the Claymore and it’s need to stay in the family came out I knew the sapphires had to be tied to it somehow… Again, predictable.

The book had its sweet moments and it was a really easy read.  Definitely a good book to have as a time filler during the Christmas holidays!

FAVOURITE QUOTES

He lifter his hands to her face again. “That kiss floored me.”

---

Butterflies soared and danced in her stomach, swooping and diving, as her blood fizzed in her veins like Alka-Seltzer on speed. The touch of his lips as intoxicating as the words ‘threw me off a cliff’, which reverberated over and over through her brain.

---

“Yes, but you get the friends you deserve.”

---

STAR RATING

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: April 4, 2023

Reviewed On: November 7, 2022

BASIC PLOT

What starts out as a fake wedding date turns into something these childhood enemies never expected in the next sparkling romantic comedy by Mazey Eddings.

Some facts are indisputable. The sun rises in the east, sets in the west. Gravity exits. Indira doesn’t like Jude. Jude doesn’t like Indira. But what happens when these childhood enemies find the only thing they can rely on is each other?

On paper, Indira has everything together. An amazing job, a boyfriend, and a car. What more could a late twenty-something ask for? But when she walks in on her boyfriend in an amorous embrace with a stranger, that perfect on paper image goes up in flames.

Jude has nothing together. A doctor that’s spent the last three years traveling the world to treat emergencies and humanitarian crises, a quick trip home for his best friend’s wedding has him struggling to readjust.

Thrust into an elaborate (and ridiculously drawn out) wedding event that’s stressing Jude beyond belief and has Indira seeing her ex and his new girlfriend far more frequently than any human should endure, the duo strike a bargain to be each other’s fake dates to this wedding from hell. The only problem is, their forced proximity and fake displays of affection are starting to feel a bit… real, and both are left grappling with the idea that a situation that couldn’t be worse, is made a little better with the other around.

REVIEW

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

To start, I have to admit this is the first Mazey Eddings book I have ever read.  If her other books are anything like this one, well let’s just say I’ll be adding yet another new author to my favourites list!

Mazey has a way of drawing you into the book, making you feel like you are a part of the story.  I felt that I connected with the characters so easily and quickly.  Just like when building a friendship, you learn little by little who the person is – it was the same with our main characters in this book for me.  The author’s writing is also very real. I like that the swearing doesn’t feel out of place or forced or just thrown in – it’s put in places exactly where you would expect a person to swear.  I find that any time a book completely omits swearing, it just feels fake to me.  We all swear.  It’s a natural part of our language. Let’s accept it as a norm and move on.

Our main characters have VERY rich backgrounds.  Indira’s issues stem all the way back to her childhood, while Jude’s are more recent. But these issues are a part of them and make them (in my opinion) lovable in their own ways.  I appreciated that even though Indira is a psychiatrist herself, she still goes to see her own psychiatrist.  She doesn’t pretend to be put together or have it all figured out.  She knows she needs help, and she seeks it out.  Smart girl.  Jude on the other hand… Well, he’s got a huge problem and he doesn’t see it as a problem that can be fixed.  More as something he did to himself and now, he has to live with it forever. Basically, the two polar opposites of mental health.  So, what happens when you bring those two together and smash them against each other in the middle? Well… A LOT of witty banter, A LOT of hate and animosity and whole lot of figuring out… Oh shit, I don’t actually hate this person… I am so deeply and truly in love with them that my whole world actually centers on them. 

Indira and Jude are each others anchors.  They are each others’ cores.  This is why I absolutely loved this story.  While each other got along just fine without the other… Life makes more sense when the other person is there.  I was worried that with all the trauma and PTSD there might be too much, or it might feel too forced, but never once did that feeling come.  Everything was woven into the story with detail and care.  Every interaction had a reason.

I did feel that there was too much “I love you” towards the end.  I don’t think I know a single couple who actually says that so often, so it just felt a little forced by the end.  But that was just one small detail in an otherwise awesome book.

This book was real, it was raw, it cut me open and made me cry.  But it had a lot of bright moments too.  I laughed out loud a few times, and my heart did that wild “swoop-swoop-swoop” a few times! 

FAVOURITE QUOTES

But nothing could ever be easy when it came to Indira, and their animosity didn’t have a source so much as it was a fact of nature. The sun rose in the east. Set in the west. Indira annoyed Jude. Jude annoyed her back.

---

“Did the shock of your ascension from hell kill him?”

---

“Memories of you are inevitable”

---

He needed her. It was a desperate and basic type of need to be close to her. His Indira. His touchstone. His person.

---

“I’ve always loved you. Even when I didn’t like you, I love you. You’ve been a permanent fixture in my life, someone steady to rely on, even when that reliance came with annoying each other or teasing. Because you let me tease you back. You’ve always been my person, Jude. My annoying, wonderful person. And I think I’m your person too.”

---

You can hurt and also loved. You can feel sadness and also laugh and feel joy. Good emotions can coexist with hard ones. You can struggle and suffer and learn to heal while you also love. The best place to start is by giving yourself permission to feel with abandon. Feel everything.”

---

She held a magnifying glass up to the most hidden parts of his soul and still smiled, happy the simply know him.

---

STAR RATING

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: November 7, 2022

Reviewed On: November 3, 2022

BASIC PLOT

Lucy Gonzalez might have once been a stressed personal assistant, but now she’s hitched up her grandma’s bitchin’ vintage Airstream and is hitting the road with all the best places to find cheap eats and see the sights on a shoestring budget.

And she has company along for the ride. If those thirst-worthy abs seem familiar it’s because they belong to billionaire Miles Hart. True story, he used to be Lucy’s boss until she quit on him. Something about not being appreciated? Anyway, you will appreciate Miles—and his groveling—plenty on this trip.

Now, you have front row seats to the hottest trip of the year. Sparks! Fireworks! Unexpected smooching! And you won’t want to miss the jaw-dropping surprise that will make this destination totally worth the hilarious journey…

REVIEW

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I liked the idea of the book. Any story that centers around travel is a win for me! The idea behind the story was cute and on some levels I did enjoy the book, but I wish there was a little more depth. There wasn’t much character growth and some of the interactions felt forced.

The very beginning of the book ticked me off a little. Lucy keeps saying that she “loves” her job…. but then when her boss acts exactly as you would expect him to… she quits? Umm… what? It didn’t feel believable to me. Plus, she’s supposed to be in love with her boss, but she can’t put up with the type of person he is? Sorry, but that doesn’t actually mean you’re in love with him. Lucy is 100% a naïve little girl who thinks everything in life with just come to her. I feel like her character could have had at least a little more depth.

Meanwhile, Miles is your quintessential young and hot boss. At first he comes across very shallow and single dimension, but he’s got an interesting back story. I do think his back story could have been expanded more. Did like the character growth for Miles. I loved watching Miles fall for Lucy, but how he didn’t realize she had been crushing on him? That baffles me.

At the end of the road-trip though, all that growth that Miles accomplished is basically thrown out the window. I did like the decision Lucy made – it was a saving moment for her character in my eyes.

The batter is cute and on point. The spice was just enough. Dual POV was great. Overall, an easy and quick read. A great book to have on the kindle for a day at the beach.

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STAR RATING

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Publication Date: February 7, 2023

Reviewed On: October 31, 2022

BASIC PLOT

For her entire life, Rose Maxwell trained to become the next Prima on the Supernatural Council. Now that she’s stepped down, it’s time for this witch to focus on herself. And not think about her impulsive one-night stand with Damian Adams, a half-Demon Veterinarian who she can’t get out of her head. Neither of them is looking for a relationship. But when Rose is sentenced to community service at Damian’s animal sanctuary it becomes impossible for them to ignore their sparking attraction. A friends-with-benefits, no feelings, no strings arrangement works perfectly for them both.

After a sequence of dead-end jobs, it’s not until Rose tangos with two snarly demons that she thinks she’s finally found her path. However, this puts Damian back on the periphery of a world he thought he left behind. He doesn’t approve of Rose becoming a Hunter, but if there’s one thing he’s learned about the stubborn witch, it was telling her not to do something was one sure-fire way to make sure she did.

Working—and sleeping—together awakens feelings Damian never knew he had…and shouldn’t have. Because thanks to his ex’s hex, if he falls in love, he’ll not only lose his heart—but his humanity.

REVIEW

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I wasn’t 100% what to expect going into this book.  I do enjoy fantasy romance and I’ve been known to ready a “witchy/mystical” book once in a while, but I’ve never really looked at the romcom style ones.

However, I am happy to report that I was glad I picked this one up! 

I was glad that while the book is the second in a series, it can be read as a standalone as well. 

I liked the idea of Rose and Damian’s one night turning into something more, then watching their “arrangement” grow into something more, then obviously one of them screws it all up.  I mean… Why do we fall for these types of books over and over and over again? Oh right… Because they are awesome!

There where so many swoon worthy moments in this book that I was clutching my heart 99.9% of the time… and when Damian calls Rose “Little Witch”? Oh, I was a puddle on the floor!

We got to see both characters realize who they actually are and who they could be, not only with each other, but also on their own.  Rose is a straight up bad-ass who kicks butt and I love her for that.  Damian is a grump who is secretly the sweetest person ever.

I would liked to have seen some more deep moments/conversations between the two main characters, but this was a light-hearted book, so it wasn’t that impactful.  There was a lot of character growth for both Damian and Rose. I felt that the “hex” part was sort of glazed over at the end, I wish there had been more depth to it. 

I fell for these two together, I felt like I lived their story.  The book is well written and easily pulls you in.  While it’s not set to publish until February, it was the perfect ready for this Halloween season!  It’s also a great beach read or fall camping read!

FAVOURITE QUOTES

“Liar, liar, cauldron on fire, little witch.”

---

“I never had a chance to do otherwise because you’re it for me. My match. My conscience. My beating heart and my next breath. I didn’t realize it until you weren’t there. When you walked out of that barn, you took my heart with you. Because you are my heart.”

---

STAR RATING

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: August 1, 2022

Reviewed On: October 27, 2022

BASIC PLOT

There’s a new sheriff in town…
And he’s her worst nightmare.

Reason #1: Ben Crawford is Olivia Knight’s long-time arch rival. They’ve been sworn enemies ever since she wore overalls to school one day, and he asked her in homeroom where she parked her cow. Now that he’s back, it doesn’t appear much has changed. He’s still arrogant. He’s still trouble. And this time, he’s got a badge and handcuffs. Which will make murdering him and disposing of his body much more challenging for her.

Reason #2: Sheriff Ben has done a lot of growing up during his time away from Shell Grove. He went and got himself some muscles and tattoos, and has the nerve to wear that sheriff’s uniform absurdly well. For some reason, that’s all she can seem to focus on whenever they cross paths. All the nice changes he’s made, instead of how vehemently she’s vowed to hate his guts for all eternity.

Reason #3: The complicated connection that has forever entwined their lives doesn’t have a pleasant backstory. As adults, they should be able to forget what happened when they were teenagers and move on. But in a small town where everyone has long memories, there are reminders everywhere of the nasty events that destroyed both of their families years ago. And she’s not sure their growing feelings for each other are enough to forgive the sins of the past and carve out a future…together. Ben has a secret. A big one. The longer he’s in Shell Grove and surrounded by people who know his sordid history, the more likely that secret is going to come out. But if it does, Olivia will never speak to him again. Which will not do. Because he’s finally realized that Olivia is the reason why he came back to town in the first place. And if he doesn’t want to lose her forever, he needs to correct the mistakes he made a long time ago and prove he’s not the NEMESIS she’s always thought him to be.

REVIEW

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

While this is a second book in a series, this book can easily be read as a standalone.

If you like hot, spicy and smutty books then this one is spot on!  But there was also a lot of cute little moments that had me laughing out loud, swooning, sighing and holding on to my heart for dear life! What a fantastic and easy read!  It's 100% a perfect beach read, and I mean, who wouldn't want a guy like Ben to be their book-boyfriend?

Now while I normally don’t like dominant alpha males (just personal preference), I do think that Ben is the perfect type.  I feel like you could still pit a strong willed (alpha) female against him, and he would just turn into a giant teddy bear just for her.  Ahh… there goes my wild imagination.

The banter between Ben and Olivia is on-point.  The moments where the lines blur (slowly but surly) is either adorable or just H-O-T.  Ben falls first – hell, he fell for her when they where kids.  What’s that thing parents tell kids when a boy is being mean/teasing a girl? Oh yeah… HE LIKES YOU!

I love books with character growth and was happy to see this for both Ben and Olivia. It wasn't rushed and I felt like I was actually along for the ride.  Having the back stories/memories from their past included was an added bonus.  In some ways both the main characters where the same, but the author did well to still make each of them unique in their own ways.

My only issue with the story was the reason why Olivia’s father left her.  Yes, the background information is there (I won’t spell it all out because that would a HUGE spoiler), but I still feel like it just wasn’t enough to leave your teenage daughter behind to pick-up the pieces. It bugged me a little, but I think the author made it work with the book... It lead to what could be considered a heart-warming reconciliation/reunion between father and daughter in the end.

This a book that I will be adding to my physical collection, and I can't wait to read it again!  Also… I need to go read the first book in this series!  I’ve heard great things about it as well!

FAVOURITE QUOTES

Hunter nudged him with his elbow. “Finally what?” Ben stared down at the bar in disbelief. “Finally fallen into place. Like…it all felt whole for the first time.”

---

He’d thought Olivia invading that space might freak him out. Possibly agitate him. But he only got agitated when she left.

Not having her within the walls of his house every night made him restless. Made him question her safety when he wasn’t there to protect her. Her happiness when he wasn’t there to make her smile. Her sleeping patterns when he wasn’t there to hold her after she startled awake from a bad dream.

---

Love just required a lot more work from the heart. It required more space, more vulnerability, more presence of mind. Hatred was easy. Love was complicated but…rewarding. Hatred merely consisted of a person’s basest emotions, their primal instincts. Love involved a more in-depth exploration into one’s psyche. A deeper examination of the soul. Anyone could hate someone, but real love took courage.

---

STAR RATING

Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction

Publication Date: September 23, 2022

Reviewed On: October 24, 2022

BASIC PLOT

As the clock strikes midnight over a disastrous New Year’s Eve and happy couples celebrate all around her, Kate makes a resolution, hastily scrawled on the back of a napkin, that next New Year’s Eve she will have found someone of her own to kiss.

But when you’re a forty-something cat-mom who’d rather binge Netflix than brave the singles scene, finding someone to kiss turns out to be harder than it sounds. Kate is totally unprepared for navigating hook-up apps, speed-dating, and sliding into somebody’s DMs.

With the end of the year rapidly approaching, Kate seems further than ever from reaching her goal. As relationships crumble around her and dark long-kept secrets spill out, could Kate’s fixation on her quest cause her to let true love slip through her fingers forever?

REVIEW

First... Let me start by saying that I very rarely post negative reviews.  But Ever since I read this book, I have been on the fence about whether or not to post my review.  As you read this review, just remember, everyone is entitled to their own opinions.  Just because this book didn't sit well with me... Doesn't mean someone else won't like it!

I read this book as an ARC - Thank you Netgalley for a copy of the book.

I had a hard time liking the main character - Kate.  I don't know what it was, but I just couldn't connect with her and how she acted.  I honestly felt embarrassed for her a few times.  She's meant to be in her 40's, but 99.9% of the time she - and by extension her best friends as well, read as  20-something year olds.

I also felt like there was a little too much going on.  I appreciate the references to mental health, addiction and workplace harassment but I felt like it was a little much at times.  It was mentioned that it was out of character for Kate to drink so much and I didn't feel that there was enough explanation to her friends as to why she was doing it.

When it comes to Ben... He's a sweetheart.  I liked him at first.  Part of me understands why he basically ignored Kate and cut her out of my life, but at the same time, NO... She was obviously going through stuff in her life and cutting her out was not something that I expected.  With Ben suffering from mental health issues, he would have been the perfect person to help her through her issues.

Now Julie, the best friend. She's a functioning alcoholic. That much was obvious right from the beginning and damn did I feel for her.  But, I expected a little more from her.  Suffering with her illness I would have expected her to help Kate more as well since she knows what it's like and she saw the binge-drinking happening and she could have questioned it a little more.

It's also worth mentioning that this book flips between present and past and has multiple POVs.  Toss into that all the mental health topics, and well... It was just a little too much.  At times I felt like it was triggering my anxiety.  But again, just because I didn't like it... Doesn't mean you won't!

FAVOURITE QUOTES

Sadly, nothing stuck out as “WOW” or “LOVE THIS” from this book.

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STAR RATING

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: September 21, 2022

Reviewed On: October 13, 2022

BASIC PLOT

One broken marriage. One broken heart. One chance to meet someone new.

Hannah leaves her unhappy marriage with her daughter Ava and moves to the village of Leadsham to start afresh. She plans to keep a low profile, focusing on Ava and making a new life for them, far away from her violent ex-husband.

What she hadn’t counted on was Andrew Brody. A police officer with a strict moral code, he knows something’s wrong as soon as he meets Hannah, and he wants to help. But Hannah has been let down by the police – and men – before, and pushes him away.

But the more Hannah tries to ignore Brody, the more she’s drawn to him. Caring, kind and patient, he’s nothing like the man she’s running from. Can Hannah finally put her past behind her, and open her heart to someone new?

REVIEW

I simply could not put this book down!  I finished it in a day because I just had to know what happened next!

This story had my heart breaking over and over and over... but in the best possible way.  See in my opinion, if my heart is not being broken, then I'm not connecting with the story.  Along with the breaking there was also a whole lot of swooning! 

Andrew is basically perfect and THE dream guy.  I would fall for him in an instant.  I wanted to find Hanna and hug her tight and hold her close.  I really truly felt like I knew these characters - they felt relatable and down to earth.

The story line was all to real, stuff like this does still happen in today's day and age.  I do wish there had been at least a little as part of the story that focused on what women in these situations can do... But it didn't ruin my view of the book - and there was info included at the end of the book.

While this was a story of love, it was also a story of a young woman finding her own way in the world and learning who she was outside of a violent relationship.  Every moment between Andrew and Hanna is precious and every moment between Andrew and Ava is endearing.

Sometimes it's nice to get away from those hot and steamy books and this one provided the perfect break!

I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book and add it to my bookcase!  100% a book worthy of reading over and over!

FAVOURITE QUOTES

“I just want you to know that you are safe.” His low rumbling voice washed over her. “With me, you will always be safe.”

---

He was meant to find her that day because she was his. No, she didn’t belong to him; she was her own person. That way of thinking was for the likes of her husband. They were just two people who belonged together. He would rather die than hurt her. He sat there holding her, listening. It was what he was good at

---

‘I want you here. Both of you. I know that this is new, and you have things to deal with, but I’m not going anywhere, Hannah.” He paused for a moment. “Erin is you, and you are Hannah, and I like every part of you. I know you have Ava, and she comes first, but all I’m saying is you have me too. I really like you, and I don’t say that lightly.”

---

STAR RATING

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: August 23, 2022

Reviewed On: October 6, 2022

BASIC PLOT

Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project – a literal dream come true – Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.

Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school – archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.

But when her equipment starts to go missing and the staff ignore her, Bee could swear she sees Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas… devouring her with those eyes. The possibilities have all her neurons firing.

But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there’s only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?

REVIEW

Okay, first off… I have to agree with other reviews I have read.  Love on the Brain is similar to The Love Hypothesis in a few ways.  Yes, it focuses on STEM and is issues women face in this field.  Yes, the main characters are a witty female scientist and big quiet male scientist.  Yes, they both have traumatic pasts. BUT… Isn’t this basically all contemporary romance novels at the heart?  So, I mean, really, what did you expect? All stories in this genre are basically similar.  Right, end rant.  On to the review!

Bee (cute name!) is a funky, hard working, intelligent neuroscientist who is basically obsessed with Marie Curie.  I have nothing against Marie Curie – She is the original badass female STEMist!  Also, Marie Curie was Polish (waving hands because I’m Polish too) and the bashing on the University of Krakow had me laughing out loud.  Bee has had an unusual upbringing and it has shaped her into the person she is today. 

Levi is clearly overly handsome, very tall and brooding – but only around Bee! As we come to discover (because it’s not hard to see) Levi has been head-over-heels in love with Bee since he first met her.  He does everything he can to make sure she stays on the project and that she can do her work to the best of her ability, because she is the best. I mean… How sweet!  He’s also got his share of drama and trauma with that crazy family of his.

Two traumatized people getting together… yeah… There won’t be any issues in this relationship. Jokes! Lots of issues.  Lots of questions (mostly Bee trying to figure out what to do). But that’s all part of growing and evolving in a relationship.

So, this book had me laughing out loud, clutching my heart and sighing romantically to the pages.  The way Levi drops everything to help Bee.  The way Bee doesn’t see how he sees her.  The way they talk to each other over twitter without realizing it… So cute!  The science is not over the top or too hard to understand/follow, which I enjoy.  We get to see some of the stuff that women in STEM (and in reality, in any industry) face on a daily basis – Not enough books talk about this, and I stand by my opinion that it is a huge part of our work lives.  There where enough twists that I was kept on the edge and simply had to know what would happen next!  It’s a very easy read and a total beach-day book. 

One major difference between The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain is the amount of sex.  There is A LOT more in Love on the Brain.  It’s not contained to one chapter, it’s more spread out.  I didn’t mind because it was well written. I do wish (just like with The Love Hypothesis) that we could get Levi’s perspective too!

FAVOURITE QUOTES

He’s speechless for a moment, and then says, somehow managing to sound honest, “Bee, I don’t despise you.”

---

I’ve been cataloging a million little quirks of hers in my head, and they are enchanting. She is enchanting.

---

I want to tell her that she’s luminous, she’s so bright in my mind, sometimes I can’t focus.

---

“You were always in my head. And I could never get you out.”

---

His eyes flutter closed. His lips move closer. “I’m terrified that you won’t go far enough.”

---

“You could rip me to shreds, Bee.”

---

I love you, I think. And you are my home.

---

STAR RATING

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: September 14, 2021

Reviewed On: October 3rd, 2022

BASIC PLOT

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn’t believe in lasting romantic relationships–but her best friend does, and that’s what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.

That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor–and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford’s reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive’s career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding… six-pack abs.

Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

REVIEW

This book was originally lent to be by a friend and after basically devouring it, in one night, I had to get a copy for myself.  The Love Hypothesis has easily become a comfort read for me, if I’m feeling down, or sick, or just not up for anything, I reach for this book, and it brings me up.

An awkward situation pushes Adam and Olive to start “fake-dating” we see Adam and Olive grow close to one another.  But surprise… Adam has been secretly in love with Olive for years and only told his best friend about her… I mean… Can it get any sweeter? 

Let’s start with Olive.  I like Olive.  I feel bad for what she experienced in her past – no kid should have to go through that much.  Her life was shitty, but she made the best of it and is making a name for herself.  Can she seem a little childish at times? Yes, but who isn’t? I mean, you’d have to be the most serious person in whole world to not be childish in some of the situations we see Olive in, and serious is boring.  We see that Olive is serious about her work and her research and that’s all that matters.  You need to have fun in life and when Olive and Adam’s “relationship” starts, her life gets fun!

Let’s talk about Adam.  Where can I find myself an Adam because I want one. He’s committed to his work (yum). He’s successful (double yum). He clearly isn’t needy (triple yum). Oh, and did I mention tall and handsome (all the yums).  But seriously, since we are experiencing the story from Olive’s perspective, we get a very clear picture of who Adam is.  I’d have loved to have know what was going inside his head, but we can’t always have everything. Adam is who he is, but he’s also who Olive needs.  That’s why they are so great together. 

The banter between Olive and Adam is super sweet, I especially love when he calls her “smart-ass”.  When everything goes down at the conference the way that Adam takes care of her without even really knowing what is wrong was swoon worthy.  Adam standing up for Olive when finding out what Tom did, risking his career and any possible other repercussions that could have come out from his violence had me clutching my heart because it was just, perfect. 

I liked how science was folded into the story but wasn’t over the top so as to alienate a non-science reader.  Starting each chapter with a “hypothesis” was a nice addition and gave a little glimpse into each chapter.  I also really liked that Olive was “tall”!  Not enough novels have main females who are taller.  Being taller myself this was so refreshing. This book was a very easy read and as previously stated is a re-read book for me.  It really hits all the right spots for me!

FAVOURITE QUOTES

He smiled. “Olive, you can talk about it. And you should let yourself be weepy.”

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Hypothesis: If I fall in love, things will invariably end poorly.

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“Because he’s him. He’s Adam Carlsen, and I…” She trailed off. No need to continue. And I’m me. I am nothing special. Malcom was quiet for a long moment. “You have no idea, do you?” His tone was sad. “You’re great. You’re beautiful, and loving. You’re independent, and a genius scientist, and selfless, and loyal – hell, Ol, look at this ridiculous mess you created just so your friend could date the guy she likes without feeling guilty. There’s no way Carlsen hasn’t noticed.”

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“To be fair, I don’t like people in general.”

“Right.” Don’t ask Olive. Do not ask. “Do you like me?”

A millisecond of hesitation as he pressed his lips together. “Nope. You’re a smart-ass with abysmal taste in beverages.” He traced the corner of his iPad, a small smile playing on his lips.

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I will tell you another truth. A truth that, I think, will be best for you. A truth that will take me out of the equation but will make its results better. Because I’m starting to wonder if this is what being in love it. Being okay with ripping yourself to shreds, so the other person can stay whole.

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“I am going to take care of this,” he told her. There was something determined, earnest in his eyes. Olive had never felt safer, or more loved. “And then I’ll come find you, and I’ll take care of you.”

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STAR RATING

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: April 23rd, 2020

Reviewed On: September 29th, 2022

BASIC PLOT

Dominic was staring at me like he couldn’t decide whether to chop me into pieces or pull my hair and French kiss me.

Dominic
I got her fired. Okay, so I’d had a bad day and took it out on a bystander in a pizza shop. But there’s nothing innocent about Ally Morales. She proves that her first day of her new job… in my office… after being hired by my mother.

So maybe her colorful, annoying, inexplicably alluring personality brightens up the magazine’s offices that have felt like a prison for the past year. Maybe I like that she argues with me in front of the editorial staff. And maybe my after-hours fantasies are haunted by those brown eyes and that sharp tongue.

But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to be the next Russo man to take advantage of his position. I might be a second-generation asshole, but I am not my father.

She’s working herself to death at half a dozen dead-end jobs for some secret reason she doesn’t feel like sharing with me. And I’m going to fix it all. Don’t accuse me of caring. She’s nothing more than a puzzle to be solved. If I can get her to quit, I can finally peel away all those layers. Then I can go back to salvaging the family name and forget all about the dancing, beer-slinging brunette.

Ally
Ha. Hold my beer, Grumpy Grump Face.

Author’s Note: A steamy, swoony workplace romantic comedy with a grumpy boss hero determined to save the day and a plucky heroine who is starting to wonder if there might actually be a beating heart just beneath her boss’s sexy vests.

REVIEW

Let me start off by saying that this was 100% the longest romance novel I have ever read.  It took me a while to convince myself to pick it up and read it… because thick books can be daunting.  There are two sides to this review – the good and the bad.

I’m going to start with the bad, because I like ending on a good note. 

So… The bad. Ack. I really wanted to LOVE this book, but a few things help me back.  Ally is 39-years old, and Dominic is 44-years old and yet… they act like 20-something year old’s half the time.  There wasn’t enough character growth for me to ever feel really comfortable with them – I would have liked to have seen more, throughout the book, not just in the last little bit.  If the mains had been written as 20-something year old’s I think I would have been more okay with the story.  Next, there was A LOT of sex.  I mean, whoa. The book was basically porn at some points.  I was NOT expecting that.  It didn’t really bother me, but I do think it could have been toned down just a little.  I do think the book was a little too long, but looking back, I don’t think I would have removed any of the scenes. So, this is kind of a moot point.

Okay… On to the good!  I did like that Ally and Dom are both older – there aren’t enough contemporary romance novels where they main characters are in their 30’s and 40’s (I just wish they had acted more their age). Dom basically becomes Ally’s protector (until he turns on her – idiot) – but, and this sort of twists back into the “bad”, he was a little too possessive for me at certain times.  There where so many absolutely adorable moments between these two.  I love the Disney name calling (Charming and Maleficent).  There was one chapter that was just them emailing each other which made me giggle and then Dom tried to apologize to Ally by emailing her again in a “Getting to know me” series – this was really sweet, and I was glad to finally see him opening up.  I also have to add the sex stuff to the good.  While yeah, there might have been a little too much in my opinion… It was also really hot… Like REALLY hot.  To the point where I was sending my best friend pictures of the pages because I couldn’t get over how hot it was. Phew. Totally needed a cold shower after reading some of those scenes.

Overall, I’m giving this book 3.5 stars because I didn’t hate it… but I also didn’t love it… It sort of just fell in the middle for me.   

FAVOURITE QUOTES

“I don’t hate you, Ally.” His voice was quiet, gruff.

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Those blue eyes bore into mine. He looked frustrated. Angry. Hungry.

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“I’ve never seen a man look at a woman like that. Like he’s a kid looking in the window of a candy store and he’s deciding if he’s willing to break the glass to get to the candy and devour it.”

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“I don’t know if I can walk away when I need to,” I confessed, the panic rising in me.

“We’re past walking away, Ally.”

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To: Ally

From: Dominic

Subject: Getting to know me

I’m never getting over you, Ally. And I’m not going to try. My heart was yours from the pepperoni on.

Love,

Dom

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STAR RATING