Book Review: Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington

Meet Me at Midnight
By: Jessica Pennington
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Publisher: Tor Teen
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Source: eARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review

Book Summary:

They have a love-hate relationship with summer.

Sidney and Asher should have clicked. Two star swimmers forced to spend their summers on a lake together sounds like the perfect match. But it’s the same every year—in between cookouts and boat rides and family-imposed bonfires, Sidney and Asher spend the dog days of summer finding the ultimate ways to prank each other. And now, after their senior year, they’re determined to make it the most epic summer yet.

But their plans are thrown in sudden jeopardy when their feud causes their families to be kicked out of their beloved lake houses. Once in their new accommodations, Sidney expects the prank war to continue as usual. But then she gets a note—Meet me at midnight. And Asher has a proposition for her: join forces for one last summer of epic pranks, against a shared enemy—the woman who kicked them out.

Their truce should make things simpler, but six years of tormenting one another isn’t so easy to ignore. Kind of like the undeniable attraction growing between them.

My Thoughts:

Meet Me at Midnight was such a fun reading adventure.  It took me to the lake, and I was enjoying summer, the refreshing water, and the interesting dynamic between Sidney and Asher.

Readers are rewarded with an entertaining story narrated by both Sidney and Asher in first person.  These two have been vacationing together every summer for eight weeks, since they were thirteen, and this is the summer before they go off to college..  Their mothers are best of friends, and their families are extremely close.  Sidney goes through boyfriends really quickly, and they never seem to make it past ten days, because she finds something wrong with them, and gets easily bored.

Sidney and Asher have an epic prank war every summer, that they look forward to and start to make plans for all year long.  It was fun seeing them trying to always one up each other!  When Sidney goes too far with one of her pranks, she gets both of their families kicked out of their rentals. Asher proposes that the two of them join forces, by pranking the landlord that kicked their families out.  This along with their families being forced to share a rental, becomes the catalyst for the two of them growing closer.to one another.  

Asher embraces his feelings for Sidney, but she is scared of getting her heart broken.  They agree to go on four dates with one another to see if they are meant to be together, or should go their separate ways.  However, Sidney overthinks everything, and every time they start to get close, or share a special moment, she panics, backs away, and avoids him.  Can Asher push past her walls, and in to her heart, or will he be the one left behind with a broken heart?

Meet Me at Midnight was the perfect book for me to read at such a chaotic and stressful time in my life.  It was fun, light, entertaining, and enjoyable, I loved how caring, thoughtful and sweet Asher was to Sidney. He made me swoon with how he treated Sidney, and I loved getting the history between the two of them.  I liked Sidney too.  I felt bad for her, and the way she demanded perfection from herself.  She was a planner, list maker, and over thinker like me.  Asher acted more on impulse, and wasn't overly serious like Sidney was.  They balanced each other out.  I got frustrated with the way Sidney repeatedly pushed Asher away, and was so quick to give up on him, or believe the worst about him.  However, as the story progressed, we saw her grow and mature.

I enjoyed Sidney and Asher's romance, how they knew each other so well, and fit together perfectly.  If you are looking for an easy going, fun, light, and entertaining read, look no further!  Meet Me at Midnight is a great read!

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Google | TBD

About the Author:

Jessica Pennington is no stranger to the combination of love and drama. She’s a wedding planner, after all. A writer since the age of ten—when she sought publication for her poem about a tree—Jessica likes the challenge of finding the humor in a sad situation or highlighting the awkwardness in a romantic one. She lives in a Michigan beach town suspiciously similar to the one in her novel, with her husband Josh and their son, Rory. She is the author of Love Songs & Other Lies, and When Summer Ends (April 2019). Find Jessica on twitter at @jessnpennington and IG @jessicapennington

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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
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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.

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Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon: The Magical Christmas Cat & 10 Blind Dates

The Magical Christmas Cat
By: Lora Leigh, Erin McCarthy, Nalini Singh, and Linda Winstead Jones
Published: October 7, 2008
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Purchased on Amazon
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Put a little meow in your stocking with these tales of Christmas romance from four New York Times bestselling authors.

Lora Leigh, Nalini Singh, Erin McCarthy, and Linda Winstead Jones have a special gift for readers: heartwarming holiday stories featuring passionate romance, paranormal adventure, and a distinctly alluring feline touch. 

With four thrilling stories—including one featuring Lora Leigh's genetically altered Feline Breeds—this is a collection packed with more surprises than Christmas morning, and more chills than the snowiest winter night...

 

My Thoughts:

For the Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon, I wanted to read a variety of Christmas reads. So for my first pick I chose an anthology in the adult paranormal genre, and for my second choice, I picked a young adult, full length contemporary. However, as all of you know, I love the romance genre, so both of my reads are full off, swoons, feels, and the romantic vibe! 

The Magical Christmas Cat called to me when I saw the large fluffy white cat on the cover. My Nana loved cats, and I'm coming up on the second year of her passing, and missing her so very much. When I saw this book, it made me think of her, because she use to have a cat that was the light of her life, and looked just like the cat on the cover! It made me feel connected to her, and I needed that. 

The Magical Christmas Cat had four short stories, and each of these stories featured a cat in one way or another. My favorite stories hands down were Christmas Heat by Lora Leigh and Stroke of Enticement by Nalini Singh. They were both part of a larger series, but I had no problem following along. I read both of these stories very fast, and love a good shape-shifter romance. I'm going to need to begin the Breeds and Psy-Changeling books! 

Christmas Bree was a fun story and I enjoyed the dynamic between the three sisters who were witches. Sweet Dreams was the slowest story for me, and my least favorite. It had a paranormal horror feel, and lacked romance. I felt like it didn't vibe with the other three stories in the anthology, but it was still entertaining. 

Most of the stories in this anthology were very sexy, entertaining, romantic, and mesmerizing. If you enjoy paranormal romance, with more explicit sexual content, and a variety of authors and short stories, you should definitely pick up this holiday anthology!

10 Blind Dates
By: Ashley Elston
Published: October 1, 2019
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Purchased on Amazon
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Sophie wants one thing for Christmas—a little freedom from her overprotective parents. So when they decide to spend Christmas in South Louisiana with her very pregnant older sister, Sophie is looking forward to some much needed private (read: make-out) time with her long-term boyfriend, Griffin. Except it turns out that Griffin wants a little freedom from their relationship. Cue devastation. 

Heartbroken, Sophie flees to her grandparents' house, where the rest of her boisterous extended family is gathered for the holiday. That's when her nonna devises a (not so) brilliant plan: Over the next ten days, Sophie will be set up on ten different blind dates by different family members. Like her sweet cousin Sara, who sets her up with a hot guy at an exclusive underground party. Or her crazy aunt Patrice, who signs Sophie up for a lead role in a living nativity. With a boy who barely reaches her shoulder. And a screaming baby. 

When Griffin turns up unexpectedly and begs for a second chance, Sophie feels more confused than ever. Because maybe, just maybe, she's started to have feelings for someone else . . . Someone who is definitely not available. 

This is going to be the worst Christmas break ever . . . or is it?

My Thoughts:

10 Blind Dates was such a fun, cute, and heartwarming read!  I breezed right through this fantastic story with a smile on my face, and lots of giggles and laughs.  It was the perfect holiday read, filled with family, fun, friendship, and of course a very sweet romance!

Sophie's family kept me laughing and entertained with the way they meddled, (all from a place of love,) supported one another, bickered, had fun, and were always there for one another.  This story had the, My Big Fat Greek Wedding vibe, except that Sophie's family was Sicilian, instead of Greek.  The descriptions of Nonna's food and deserts had me salivating, and the pairing of food and family is always a win for me.  

I loved watching Sophie's relationships blossom.  It made my heart happy to see her reconnecting with her grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles; and I could relate to how close she was to her sister.  I thought it was wonderful seeing Sophie come into her own, and discovering who she was and who she wanted to become.

I adored this story, and can't recommend it enough!

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
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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.

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Book Review: Handle With Care (Shacking Up #5) by Helena Hunting

Handle With Care (Shacking Up #5)
By: Helena Hunting
Release Date: August 27, 21019
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Source: eARC from publisher in exchange for a honest review
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HE WANTS TO LOSE CONTROL. Between his parents’ messed up marriage and his narcissistic younger brother, Lincoln Moorehead has spent the majority of his life avoiding his family. After the death of his father, Lincoln finds himself in the middle of the drama. To top it all off, he’s been named CEO of Moorehead Media, much to his brother’s chagrin. But Lincoln’s bad attitude softens when he meets the no-nonsense, gorgeous woman who has been given the task of transforming him from the gruff, wilderness guy to a suave businessman 

SHE’S TRYING TO HOLD IT TOGETHER. Wren Sterling has been working double time to keep the indiscretions at Moorehead Media at bay, so when she’s presented with a new contract, with new responsibilities and additional incentives, she agrees. Working with the reclusive oldest son of a ridiculously entitled family is worth the hassle if it means she’s that much closer to pursuing her own dreams. What Wren doesn’t expect is to find herself attracted to him, or for it to be mutual. And she certainly doesn’t expect to fall for Lincoln. But when a shocking new Moorehead scandal comes to light, she’s forced to choose between her own family and the broody, cynical CEO.

My Thoughts:

I was thrilled to finally get Lincoln's story and is was such a fun and fabulous reading escape. We got a lot of his character in the previous book, Making Up, because it was his cousin/best friend Griffin's story, and the two of them are like brothers. 

Lincoln "Linc" Moorehead comes from a wealthy and powerful family.  However, he is not close to his parents or his younger brother, Armstrong.  Lincoln attended boarding school since he was ten years old, his father was a workaholic who never really participated with the family, his mother was cold and pretentious, and his younger bother was not a good person.  The only one that he could count on was his grandma "G Mom," and cousin Griffin.  

Lincoln had his MBA from Harvard, but spent all of his time going to impoverished countries and building homes, wells so the people could have fresh water, and doing all sorts of humanitarian work.  He was dedicated to his passion, and enjoyed the backbreaking hands-on hard work.  When Linc's father dies of a heart attack, he is called back to New York for the reading of his father's will.  He is shocked to discover that he has been named as CEO of Moorehead Media.  Linc's G Mom guilts him in to staying on as CEO of the company for six months, until they can find and train someone else to take his place.  

Enter the gorgeous and fearless "Wren Sterling." Wren was hired by Linc's mom, Penelope Moorehead, as a P.R. Handler to clean up indiscretions and bad press for Armstrong.  She took the position as a favor to her mother. Penelope asks Wren to stay on and handle Linc for the next six months, and she'll double her pay for working with both sons.  At the end of that time period, she'll give Wren a glowing reference so that she can get her dream job. While Wren would rather move on an d pursue her passion, she agree's because it is a good deal and she is trying to mend the fractured relationship that she has with her mom.  However, between suit and tux fittings, charity events, and press conferences, Wren and Linc never expect to fall in love.  How can these two navigate their sizzling chemistry, and growing feelings for one another, between business, and family pressures?

I love how strong Ms. Hunting's female characters are.  Wren is one of the strongest to date.  I enjoyed her confidence, assertiveness, strong moral compass, and her ability to not only verbally put people in place when they needed it, but utilize her strong verbal tongue lashings when needed, as well as her excellent self defense skills.  She could even bring Armstrong to his knees by putting him in a headlock when he stepped out of line! She was such a strong female role model and I couldn't have possibly loved her more!

Lincoln was gorgeous, brooding, loyal, (to those who deserved it,) down to earth, and had strong ethics.  He was a manly man, and I enjoyed his gruff, rugged nature!  It was so much fun watching Linc and Wren interact with one another.  The beginning of their story was hilarious!  I loved Wren's bossiness when she dug her heels in to do her job, and I loved the way that Linc pushed back and could expertly push her buttons.  Together these two were hilarious at times, combustible at other times, and adorable once they figured things out.

Handle With Care was another win for readers.  It balanced Hunting's usual humor and light heartedness, with a little bit of drama, and a whole lot of sizzle!  Romance readers, you are in for a delightful treat with this new addition to the Shaking Up Series, and don't worry if you haven't been following along, because each of these books can easily be read as a standalone.

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound 

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She's writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

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