Book Review: The Marriage Game by Sara Desai

The Marriage Game
By: Sara Desai
Release Date: June 9, 2020
Publisher: Berkley
Add to Goodreads
Source: eARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review

Book Summary:

A high stakes wager pits an aspiring entrepreneur against a ruthless CEO in this sexy romantic comedy. 

After her life falls apart, recruitment consultant Layla Patel returns home to her family in San Francisco. But in the eyes of her father, who runs a Michelin starred restaurant, she can do no wrong. He would do anything to see her smile again. With the best intentions in mind, he offers her the office upstairs to start her new business and creates a profile on an online dating site to find her a man. She doesn’t know he’s arranged a series of blind dates until the first one comes knocking on her door… 

As CEO of a corporate downsizing company Sam Mehta is more used to conflict than calm. In search of a quiet new office, he finds the perfect space above a cozy Indian restaurant that smells like home. But when communication goes awry, he's forced to share his space with the owner's beautiful yet infuriating daughter Layla, her crazy family, and a parade of hopeful suitors, all of whom threaten to disrupt his carefully ordered life.  
As they face off in close quarters, the sarcasm and sparks fly. But when the battle for the office becomes a battle of the heart, Sam and Layla have to decide if this is love or just a game.

My Thoughts:

The Marriage Game was a fun, sexy, and sizzling rom-com! I love venturing in to stories that immerse me in another culture, delectable cuisine, a large close, boisterous, and entertaining family, and of course a romance where the individuals know how to exchange witty, sarcastic, lively, and snarky banter as a form of verbal foreplay! 

Layla Patel leaves the big apple, and returns to San Francisco, when things don't work out with her boyfriend and her job. Her father promises her the upstairs office, as she aspires to get her new business up and running. However, before he knew that she was coming home, he had already promised the office to Sam Mehta. Unbeknownst to Layla, her father had set up ten blind dates for his daughter, because he wanted her to be happy. Love hasn't worked out for her thus far, so she doesn't see the harm in arranged meetings. 

Now Layla and Sam have struck a deal. Sam will help her vet her dates, and if he can assist her in making a promising match, he can have the office to himself. If he isn't successful in this endeavor, then Layla will get to have the office to herself; and so the Marriage Game begins... 

I loved the whole "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," feel when it came to all of Layla's interfering, but well-intentioned "aunties." Layla and Sam were opposites in many ways. Layla was fun, warm, loyal, impulsive, passionate, and liked to fly by the seat of her pants. She had curves, which gave her a more realistic and relatable feel. Sam was quiet, conservative, and a lot more rigid in his behavior and thinking. He was very loyal to his family, especially younger sister, Nisha. He had a lot of guilt for feeling like he had not protected her, and therefore, he kept everyone at arms length, and didn't think he deserved happiness. As much as Layla drove him crazy, as he did her, the attraction these two had for one another, began to grow in to something more! 

In The Marriage Game, we got sparks, heat, laughs, and a whole lot of fun, in a story that is sure to entertain! 

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound | Google

About the Author:

Sara Desai has been a lawyer, radio DJ, marathon runner, historian, bouncer and librarian. She lives on Vancouver Island with her husband, kids and an assortment of forest creatures who think they are pets. Sara writes sexy romantic comedy and contemporary romance with a multicultural twist. When not laughing at her own jokes, Sara can be found eating nachos. Visit Sara at www.saradesai.com

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Waiting on Wednesday (122)

https://www.wishfulendings.com/

Crazy Stupid Bromance

Bromance Book Club #3

By: Lyssa Kay Adams

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: October 27, 2020

Add to Goodreads

Book Synopsis:

A hacktivist and a cat café owner decode the friend zone in this romantic comedy from the author of Undercover Bromance.

Alexis Carlisle and her cat café, ToeBeans, have shot to fame after she came forward as a victim of a celebrity chef’s sexual harassment. When a new customer approaches to confide in her, the last thing Alexis expects is for the woman to claim they’re sisters. Unsure what to do, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts—her best friend, Noah Logan.

Computer genius Noah left his rebellious teenage hacker past behind to become a computer security expert. Now he only uses his old skills for the right cause. But Noah’s got a secret: He’s madly in love with Alexis. When she asks for his help, he wonders if the timing will ever be right to confess his crush.

Noah’s pals in The Bromance Book Club are more than willing to share their beloved “manuals” to help him go from bud to boyfriend. But he must decide if telling the truth is worth risking the best friendship he’s ever had.

Why I'm Eagerly Waiting:

This series just keeps getting better, and I am looking forward to more laughs, romance, and bromance!

What are you waiting on?

Book Review: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

By: Abbi Waxman

Published: July 9, 2019

Publisher: Berkley 

Add to Goodreads

Source: Audible Purchase

Book Summary:

The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book. 

When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They're all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She'll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It's a disaster! And as if that wasn't enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn't he realize what a terrible idea that is? 

Nina considers her options. 

1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.) 
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee). 
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.) 

It's time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn't convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It's going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.

My Thoughts:

April's book club pick was, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, and I loved it! I listened on audible, and the narrator has a soothing, relaxing, and pleasant voice. Every time I listened to this story, it felt like slipping in to warm comfy pajama's with my favorite hot tea or coffee. It just felt like it took me to a relaxing, calm, and happy place. 

This story is told by the main character, Nina Hill. I related to Nina in so many ways. Like myself, she was an introvert that would much rather read a book than socialize or do anything else. She worked at an independent bookstore, (talk about a dream job,) and had a very small close-knit group of friends. Nina loved working on her planner, (another favorite hobby of mine,) and enjoyed participating in multiple book clubs, and weekly trivia nights! 

When the absentee father, that Nina had never met, passes away, she learns she has a huge family. Fun, humor, a little bit of drama, and a whole lot of chaos begin to take over Nina's life. She also meets a man from her trivia nights, and Nina has to decide if she wants to take a chance and make room for all of the new people in her life!

If love enjoy cat's, (Nina has an adorable one), books, trivia, romance, and stories with big boisterous families, you should check out, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill!

Purchase At:

Amazon | Audible | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

About the Author:

Hi there. I'm a chocolate loving, dog loving writer living in Los Angeles. I sit down if I can, and lie down whenever possible. If you enjoy my book and would like a personalized, signed bookplate to go in it, email me your name and address and I'll send you one! abbi@amplecat.com

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

Book Review: Undercover Bromance (Bromance Book Club #2) by Lyssa Kay Adams

Undercover Bromance
Bromance Book Club #2
By: Lyssa Kay Adams
Release Date: March 10, 2020
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Source: eARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review
Add to Goodreads

Book Synopsis:

Braden Mack thinks reading romance novels makes him an expert in love, but he’ll soon discover that real life is better than fiction. 

Liv Papandreas has a dream job as a sous chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef. 

Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub entrepreneur offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. He’ll need to call in reinforcements: the Bromance Book Club. 

Inspired by the romantic suspense novel they’re reading, the book club assist Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart… even while she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned.

 

Check out the first book in the 
Bromance Book Club series!

My Review

My Thoughts:

I didn't think it could be possible, but this series just keeps getting better!  Undercover Bromance is the second book in the Bromance Book Club.  These books can be read as standalones. Each book focuses on a different couple, and features the Bromance Book Club as a strong and colorful cast of supporting characters.

In this book, we get Braden Mack and Liv Papandreas' love story told through their dual perspectives.  Liv is a talented pastry chef at Savoy, a top notch restaurant, where she works for the famous reality star, owner, and despicable head chef of the establishment.  When she catches him sexually harassing a young hostess, she is outraged, and speaks up, only to be fired, and blacklisted.  

Braden offers to help bring down Liv's ex-boss, and even though Liv is determined to do it on her own, Braden won't take "no" for an answer.  He enlists the help of his best friends, members of the Bromance Book Club.  What follows is a page-turning, fun, humorous, entertaining, and romantic love story.

Undercover Bromance was such a treat!  This story had me smiling, chuckling, and laughing out loud at the love story that developed between Braden and Liv, as well as the shenanigans of the bromance book club members.

Liv struggled with trusting others, especially members of the opposite sex.  She refused to lean on anyone, and was determined to do everything on her own.  Braden was a modern day, "Knight in Shining Armor." I loved how his actions showed Liv that good men exist.  She didn't make it easy on him, but through patience, determination, and persistence, Braden managed to break down her walls.

He was lonely, and wanted love, and a family all his own.  Braden thought by being "perfect," and living life by a manual, (his romance novels), he could get what he wanted.  However, he learned that "real" or authentic, wasn't perfect; and all of the crazy feelings that Liv stirred up in him, and drove him crazy in a good way, where what true love was all about.

I loved Braden and Liv's story.  The pages just flew by, and I completely escaped in this book.  I loved every moment of this story, and didn't want it to end.  It had me swooning and excited for the intense, and passionate love that Braden and Liv experienced.  I thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie and friendships from the Bromance Book Club Members.  They were fun, hilarious, and entertaining.  When things got tough, they were always there for Braden and each other.

I liked the way the author addressed the issues of sexual harassment, woman's rights, and treatment in our society.  She gave women a voice and delivered a strong message about blaming the victim, women supporting women, and people standing up, instead of passively standing by when they witness the abuse and ill treatment of women in our society. 

If you are looking for an entertaining, super fast paced, fun, humorous, and romantic read, check out Undercover Bromance!

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound | Google

About the Author:

Lyssa Kay Adams is the pen name of an award-winning journalist who gave up the world of telling true stories to pen emotional romances. She’s also a diehard Detroit Tigers fan who will occasionally cheer for the Red Sox because her husband is from Boston. Lyssa lives in Michigan with her family and an anxiety-ridden Maltese who steals food and buries it around the house and who will undoubtedly be a character in a future book. Things Lyssa loves: Baseball pants, mashed potatoes, and that little clicking sound that scissors make on the cutting table at fabric stores. Things she doesn’t love: Mean people, melting ice cream cones, and finding food in her underwear drawer. Keep up with Lyssa on Twitter at @LyssaKayAdams. Please note: She mostly tweets about baseball pants and mashed potatoes.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter  

Instagram | Pinterest

Book Reviews: The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

The Bromance Book Club
The Bromance Book Club #1
By: Lyssa Kay Adams
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Release Date: November 5, 2019
Source: eARC from publisher in exchange for a honest review
Add to Goodreads

The first rule of book club: 
You don't talk about book club. 

Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott's marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him. 

Welcome to the Bromance Book Club. 

Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville's top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it'll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.

  

Lindy's Thoughts:

The Bromance Book Club was a story that I wanted to get my hands on from the moment I read the book synopsis. It flowed quickly and seamlessly, and I was able to read it in two sittings. I loved the fact that the story had a unique premise, and was unlike anything that I had ever read before. 

Gavin Scott's marriage fell apart on the same day that he had the biggest accomplishment of his baseball career; a grand slam! His wife of three years admitted that she had never had an orgasm with him, and in fact had been faking it their entire marriage. Gavin and Thea get in to a huge fight and he ends up moving out. After Thea tells him that she wants a divorce Gavin is devastated and doesn't know how to fix his marriage, because no matter what he does or says, he only manages to make things worse. 

Enter his best friend Del who indoctrinates Gavin in to a secret book club where several alpha men use historical romance novels as manuals to fix their relationships; by giving them insight in to what women need and want most! 

The Bromance Book Club was a fun read! I enjoyed the plot, characters, and pearls of wisdom throughout this story. I loved that it was about an already established married couple. The story felt real and was relatable in the aspects of raising children, trying to balance career, family, individual needs, and that of your partner. 

My favorite parts of the story included the interactions between the men in the Bromance Book Club, as well as that of Gavin with his twin daughters and courting his wife Thea. 

I'm looking forward to continuing this series, and hope to see Gavin and Thea, as well as all of the beloved secondary characters in the next story. If you enjoy a story that feels authentic, has fun and entertaining characters, and a unique premise, I recommend checking out The Bromance Book Club!

Ro's Take on This Journey:

When Nashville's legend baseball favorite, Gavin Scott finds out that his wife, Thea, has been faking her climax's, he decides it's the last straw in their already rocky marriage. Gavin decides he is going to join a secret book club that his best friend Del, tells him about. 

This club is filled with the most eligible Alpha males in town! A few historical romances with hot scenes, make Gavin feel like he will have a step by step instruction guide on how to woo his wife back to him, and save his marriage. 

Gavin has bitten off quite a bit, and doesn't realize that it is going to take a lot of male advice, and hard work to accomplish this feat! Gavin thinks he can become the lover his wife dreams of. He doesn't realize how much help he is actually going to need. 

His wife is a piece of work. I didn't feel like she bent enough. When it comes to being a romantic, Gavin really doesn't have a clue, but he is so sweet and really goes all out trying! Then again, I felt that his wife wanted it all, and really didn't want to own up to her part in the breakdown of their love life and marriage. 

The reader goes back and forth, and Gavin is really trying to make up for what went wrong in the relationship. He wants to be the man of Thea's dreams. She never really gives her 100% to fixing the problems, and takes Gavin to the end of his rope, till she finally see's the light. 

The men in the book club gave us moments of laughter that I thoroughly enjoyed. Overall, I liked this book and would like to read the next book in the series about the next marriage on the rocks!!! 

I give this book 3 1/2 Love on the rocks, historical love lessons, how to woo your wife back with romance stars! 

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble 
 IndieBound | Google

About the Author:

Lyssa Kay Adams is the pen name of an award-winning journalist who gave up the world of telling true stories to pen emotional romances. She’s also a diehard Detroit Tigers fan who will occasionally cheer for the Red Sox because her husband is from Boston. 

Lyssa lives in Michigan with her family and an anxiety-ridden Maltese who steals food and buries it around the house and who will undoubtedly be a character in a future book. 

Things Lyssa loves: Baseball pants, mashed potatoes, and that little clicking sound that scissors make on the cutting table at fabric stores. 

Things she doesn’t love: Mean people, melting ice cream cones, and finding food in her underwear drawer. 

Keep up with Lyssa on Twitter at @LyssaKayAdams. Please note: She mostly tweets about baseball pants and mashed potatoes.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Book Review: Natalie Tan's Book of Luck & Fortune by Roselle Lim

Natalie Tan's Book of Luck & Fortune

By: 
Roselle Lim

Release Date:
June 11, 2019

Publisher:
Berkley Books

Add to:
Goodreads 

Source:
Finished Copy in exchange for a honest review

Book Synopsis:
Lush and visual, chock-full of delicious recipes, Roselle Lim's magical debut novel is about food, heritage, and finding family in the most unexpected places. 

At the news of her mother's death, Natalie Tan returns home. The two women hadn't spoken since Natalie left in anger seven years ago, when her mother refused to support her chosen career as a chef. Natalie is shocked to discover the vibrant neighborhood of San Francisco's Chinatown that she remembers from her childhood is fading, with businesses failing and families moving out. She's even more surprised to learn she has inherited her grandmother's restaurant. 

The neighborhood seer reads the restaurant's fortune in the leaves: Natalie must cook three recipes from her grandmother's cookbook to aid her struggling neighbors before the restaurant will succeed. Unfortunately, Natalie has no desire to help them try to turn things around--she resents the local shopkeepers for leaving her alone to take care of her agoraphobic mother when she was growing up. But with the support of a surprising new friend and a budding romance, Natalie starts to realize that maybe her neighbors really have been there for her all along. 

"Vivid and lyrical with a touch of magic."--Helen Hoang, author of The Kiss Quotient

Ro's Take on This Journey:

After 7 year's, Natalie returns to her home town, Chinatown, in San Francisco, upon hearing of her mother's passing.  She is racked with guilt over not reaching out after so much time to fulfill her filial duties.  Others in the town befriended her mother and took the place of Natalie, with her mother's agoraphobia.  

Natalie returns, a failed culinary student, yet the dream still is alive in her heart.  She finds herself at a leaf reader, who tells her what she must do to make amends to make her Grandmother's old restaurant a success, and help the neighborhood once again to thrive.

Natalie's Grandmother, Laoao, was a phenomenal chef, and a pioneer in her day, and was the toast of China Town.  Natalie's desires run deep with the desires they both shared, but which Natalie was never told by her mother.  Natalie carries a lot of resentment towards the store front town that has become a kind of ghost town, because she carries thoughts from her past with her mother that made her feel all alone.  Little did she know how wrong she was.  

Natalie is fiercely independent, and determined to make amends, be a success, and keep her town from disappearing.  There is a great shadow that she must penetrate, and more to the eye than just making phenomenal dishes.  

Ms. Lim's magical novel will take you over.  The succulent recipes sounded wonderful, and made me feel like I was in heaven!  I love Chinese food, and culture.  It was a must read book for me. I could picture each dish, and the beauty of the artful construction.  

I give Natalie Tan's Book of Luck & Fortune, 4 magical Prose, repairing of the soul, mysterious, intriguing, romantic, finding answers to all of Natalie's questions stars!

This novel was pieced together perfectly and was eventually a feel good experience; from sad to happy to fulfilling...A great read!

Quote:  The Chinese custom of swallowing one's misery."

Book Quote:

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | TBD

About the Author:

Roselle Lim was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada as a child. She lived in north Scarborough in a diverse, Asian neighbourhood. 

She found her love of writing by listening to her lola (paternal grandmother's) stories about Filipino folktales. Growing up in a household where Chinese superstition mingled with Filipino Catholicism, she devoured books about mythology, which shaped the fantasies in her novels. 

An artist by nature, she considers writing as "painting with words." 

She is represented by Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram