Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertox review

Title: Unorthodox Love

Author: Heidi Shertox

Ch: 30 plus epilogue

Pg: 33

Genre: Jewish rom com

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher:  Alcove Press

Thanks to Jean Meltzer I’m hooked on Jewish rom com and romances and any books that focuses on Jewish joy. And Unorthodox is the debut novel by Heidi Shertox. The heroine Penina is an Orthodox Jew who match makers send her on dates with not best pickings because she can’t have kids. But then her boss Sam Kleinfield comes into the picture. Sam is Jewish but he’s not Orthodox.

Sam starts out as a bit of a jerk but then Penina isn’t exactly the friendliest to him. But for me he quickly grew on me and became one of my favorite fictional heroes. And he delivers one of my favorite lines in chapter seventeen of the book. Why does it seem like all the best guys are fictional?

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Flirtation or Faceoff by Leah Brunner review

Title: Flirtation of Face off

Author: Leah Brunner 

Ch: 42 plus epilogue

Pg: 306

Series: DC Eagles book 2

Genre: Rom Com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Indie

Just when I didn’t think Leah Brunner could top Mitch, she gives me Colby Knight a hockey player who slight spoiler reads his crushes favorite book. I’m what book nerd doesn’t wish a guy would read her favorite book to better understand her. And of course, Noel joins the ranks of nerdy girls who possibly get the guy.

Flirtation and Faceoff had sight miscommunication but for this book works. And of course, a matchmaking grandma. Colby is misunderstood but as you read the book you get his growth and changes for the better. And I mean the library scene has this beauty and the beast nerd swooning.

Write What you Know by Jess Mastorakos review

Title: Write what you know

Author: Jess Mastorakos

Ch: 30 plus epilogue

Pg: 336

Series: Love in Charlotte Oaks book 4

Genre: Rom Com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: indie

In Write what you Know the fourth book in the Love In Charlotte Oaks Jess Mastorakos does it again. Another laugh out rom com with a Marine hero. I thought Riley Conrad would be my favorite hero in this series, but then I met Marine Staff Sergeant Travis Wilson. Who just happens to have the one Marine MOS that’s weakness for me in a romance hero. A slight bad boy Marine with a heart of gold.

And Aurora St John is my favorite heroine and the one I relate to the most as a fellow Marine brat the daughter of lifer Marine. And of course, I could relate to what she said about growing up because I have said something similar. And Rory as she’s called by everyone, but Travis writes rom coms and that’s currently my hobby.

To me Write what you know is the realistic book I’ve read that Jess has written. And Gertie the goat is starting to grow on me.

Desire or Defense by Leah Brunner review

 

Title: Desire or Defense

Author: Leah Brunner

Ch: 33 plus epilogue

Pg: 284

Series: Hooked on a feeling 1

Genre: Rom Com

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Indie

I’m not into sports all that much outside of baseball. And I’ve never seen a hockey game. But I was pretty much hooked on this book from page one. Now I’m not as bad as Andie was when it come to hockey facts. Though I can’t take credit for that my hockey knowledge comes from my sister. Now Mitch is my kind of hero he’s rough around the edges and so is Andie, but they soften each other’s edges. Andie is a heroine I relate to because she was the older sister that stepped up.

Yes, this one is about hockey but it’s also about so much more. It tackles grief loss and mental health in a tactful and realistic way. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series.

 

Countdown by Lynette Eason review

Title: Countdown

Author: Lynette Eason

Ch: 26 plus epilogue

Pg: 298

Series: Extreme Measures book 4

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Rating:4 stars

Publisher: Revell

Countdown is the final book in the Extreme Measure series. We finally get Raina’s story as well as a great ending to the series. While this one was a little slower pace than the previous four in the series it ended up being my favorite because of that. I enjoyed getting to know more about Raina’s past and meeting Vince.

Reading Countdown reminded me what Lynette Eason is my go-to for Christian Romantic Suspense because she gives me the right balance of suspense and romance. Can’t wait to see what she does next.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Positively Penelope by Pepper Basham review

Title: Positively Penelope

Author: Pepper Basham

Ch: 23

Pg: 416

Series: Skymar # 2

Genre: Christian fiction rom com

Rating: 4.5 stars

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Positively Penelope is the second book in the Skymar series. And I enjoyed it just as much as I did Accidentally Izzy. In this one Penelope comes into her own. And the reader gets to see her grow even more than she did in the first book. I enjoyed getting to see more of the island of Skymar. And of course, Matt and Isis help to make the story. And I’ve also found that the single dad troupe is starting to grow on me.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson Review

 

Title: A Royal Christmas

Author: Melody Carlson

Ch: 17

Pg: 167

Genre: Contemporary romance

Rating: 3.5 stars

Publisher: Revell

I’m generally not a fan of princess stories, the one where the commoner falls for the prince. But if it’s a girl who finds out she’s a long lost princess think The Princess Diaries then I want to read. Throw in Christmas and I’m hooked. And that’s A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson gives the reader.

I have to say I was rooting for Adelaide from page one. I wanted her to get a happy ending. And the Magic of Christmas in Europe even if it’s only in the pages of a book added to the story. It’s a quick read. This is the perfect novella to read this Christmas and add to your Christmas stack in returning years.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Maggie Moves on by Lucy Stone

Title: Maggie Moves on

Author: Lucy Score

Ch: 38

Pg: 403

Genre: Rom Com

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: forever

I’m a sucker for home improvement tv shows. So, give me a rom com that focuses on one with a heroine who is the home improvement person. A sweet hero who’s not threatened by a capable heroine and a loveable doofus or a dog who wants to play matchmaker sign me up. While this one is a little on the long side for a rom com it reads fast.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer review

Title: Kissing Kosher

 

Author: Jean Meltzer

Ch: 47

Pg: 400

Genre: Jewish Rom Com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: MIRA

In Kissing Kosher Jean Meltzer does it again. She gives a book with Jewish joy and romance and quite frankly we need more books about Jewish joy. This one is her steamiest book to date but it’s still lower on the spice level. But as some who like Aitval suffers from chronic pelvic pain though mine is from endometriosis this romance was right up my alley. Where can I get an Ethan.

Ethan’s not perfect. I mean he ends up in her life because of a lie. But he takes the time to learn in order to make things better for her. Too bad he’s fictional.

Kissing Kosher also gives delicious sounding Kosher baked goods. Rival bakery families what’s not to love. Now this book also includes medical cannabis that might not be for everyone, but it works with the story.

And I just have to say thanks Jean Meltzer for giving me a heroine with pelvic pain in romance and s rom com and a hero who loves her for her.

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston review

Title: The Seven Year Slip

Author: Ashley Poston

Ch: 40

Pg: 336

Genre: rom com

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Penguin random house

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston ended up being a book I enjoyed more than I thought I would. This one gave me The Lake House vibes with a hint of Practical Magic. The Lake House because of Iwan and Clementine l living in separate years and Practical Magic because of the quirky aunt and her saying that seem to fit at the right moment.

I loved Clementine from the start because I don’t, I’ve ever read a character quite like her in a rom com. And for the fact that she was almost 30 and didn’t have her life together. This one was quick read.

The Seven Year Slip is a rom com that deals with figuring out adulthood, friendship and grief in a tactful way that just makes sense.

Trigger warning for suicide of a loved one.

The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter review

Title: The Blonde Identity

Author: Ally Carter

Ch: 65 plus epilogue

Pg:304

Series: N/A

Genre: Contemporary Rom Com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher:

What’s a Gallagher girl fan to do know that she’s grown up. Read Ally Carter’s newest book The Blonde Identity about spies and while it’s not a Gallagher grown up. It does contain Ally’s charm and banter.

I do have to stress that while it is still very much Ally’s writing style it’s not a teen book it’s adult with language but not that much and it does fit the character that uses it. There is a steamy scene that is off the page, but it’s rather fade to black than close door.

The Blonde Identity kept me trying to reasons to kept listening to the audiobook to find out what happened. Because the action and the banter between Zoe and Sawyer kept me wanting too more. And what’s not to love about a spy chase across Europe.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Falling Hard for the Royal Guard by Megan Clawson

Title: Falling Hard for the Royal Guard

Author: Megan Clawson

Ch: 23 plus epilogue

Pg: 384

Genre: Rom Colb

Rating: 4.5 stars

Publisher: Harper Collins

Not only I’m a sucker for rom coms I’m a sucker for British rom coms. And Megan Clawson’s debut rom com is indeed a very British rom com. I mean it set in the Tower of London it doesn’t get more British than that.

Maggie is one of the rom com heroines that I found myself relating to the most. I mean im not British I don’t live in the Tower of London and my dad’s not a beefeater. But I am the daughter of a former Marine turned LEO and the scene Maggie went through with her under clothes I can relate to. Plus, Maggie’s sassy and a book and history nerd.

Falling for the Royal guard will keep you laughing from page one. Maggie has a large extended family though not related by blood. And of course, this rom com deals with grief that I could relate to. As will most readers. Pick this one up you weren’t be disappointed.

First line Fridays

 Hosted by Reading is my Superpower

Chapter One 

"The Sun always leaves the East Casemates first."