Category: ARC

ARC Review – Heartbreaker

~ Tej ~ Leave a comment

Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Historical Romance

Series: Hell’s Belles

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: August 23, 2022

Publisher: Avon

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean follows her highly acclaimed Bombshell with Heartbreaker, featuring a fierce, fearless heroine on a mission to steal a duke’s secrets…and his heart.

A Princess of Thieves

Raised among London’s most notorious criminals, a twist of fate landed Adelaide Frampton in the bright ballrooms of Mayfair, where she masquerades as a quiet wallflower—so plain and unassuming that no one realizes she’s the Matchbreaker…using her superior skills as a thief to help brides avoid the altar.

A King of Reputation

Henry, Duke of Clayborn, has spent a lifetime living in perfection. He has no time for the salacious gossip that arises every time the Matchbreaker ends another groom. His own reputation is impeccable—and the last thing he needs is a frustrating, fascinating woman discovering the truth of his past, or the secrets he holds close.

A Royal Match

When the two find themselves on a breakneck journey across Britain to stop a wedding, it’s impossible for Clayborn to resist this woman who both frustrates and fascinates him. But late-night carriage rides make for delicious danger…and soon Adelaide is uncovering Clayborn’s truths, throwing his well-laid plans into chaos…and threatening to steal his heavily guarded heart.

REVIEW

Adelaide Frampton didn’t have an easy childhood. Growing up as the daughter of a prominent gang leader – she made her escape and hasn’t looked back. Now a part of the Hell’s Belles, Adelaide is also known as the Matchbreaker – the one that London society comes to when the bride wants to avoid the alter.

Henry, Duke Clayborn is hiding a secret. Turns out secrets are worth quite a bit and none other than the Matchbreaker is in possession of his secret. Worse still is that she has some information not only on Henry, but also his brother. Henry will go to any length to protect his family. When Henry finds that his brother has eloped with a woman who Adelaide is trying to stop at the alter – they are in a race to see who will get there first. Henry knows that his brother loves his betrothed and Adelaide wants only whats best for young misses who might be pushed into marriage against their will. In this race across Britain – who will end up winning and at what cost?

Oh, how I loved Adelaide and Duke Clayborn in Heartbreaker. These two had so much sizzling chemistry and the banter was – chef’s kiss! I seriously had a silly grin on my face anytime these two were on the same page. I don’t know how Sarah MacLean manages to make me laugh in what should be a serious situation but she totally does it.

Duke Clayborn might very well be my favorite hero that Sarah MacLean has written and that says something because there are quite a few of her heroes that are favorites. He was the perfect hero to pair with badass Adelaide.

I am seriously falling in love with the Hell’s Belles. These women are so strong and don’t take anyone’s BS and I LOVE that. I loved the first book in the series – Bombshell, but Heartbreaker was even better somehow! I can’t wait to read more of the Belles!

ARC Review – The Godparent Trap

~ Tej ~ 2 Comments

The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥

Release Date: July 19, 2022

Publisher: Forever

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

Life’s Too Short meets The Unhoneymooners in this sparkling, steamy, and swoon-worthy novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken, in which two sworn enemies must share house, home—and maybe their hearts—when they become co-parents after a sudden loss.

Colby’s living her best life: as a popular food blogger, she gets to fulfill her dreams of exploring the globe. But her world comes crashing down when a tragic accident leaves her co-guardian of her best friend’s two adorable children. Not only does she need to put down roots—fast—but she’ll be sharing custody with the one man she can’t stand sharing a continent with, let alone a house.  

Accountant-extraordinaire Rip values rules and plans. But when he loses his sister and his best friend and becomes an insta-guardian all in one night, Rip sees his organized life imploding. What he really doesn’t need is his sister’s irresponsible, flighty—albeit kind and gorgeous—best friend making it worse.

Rip doesn’t trust Colby to take their new responsibilities seriously, while Colby can’t believe Rip thinks children will thrive under his rigid control. Yet soon Rip and Colby discover they need each other more than they hate each other. Could it be possible that following their hearts is just what their new little family needs?

REVIEW

Colby is living her best life. She gets to travel to exotic locations and try the most delicious food and then blog about it! She loves her best friend and their two young kids and is constantly hanging out with them. So what if her best friends brother – Rip – is a thorn in her side. He’s annoying, controlling and the one date they went on ended up as a disaster. Colby tries her best to keep her distance from Rip.

Rip is orderly, likes thing done a certain way and doesn’t like change. He loves his sister something fierce. Which is why he has a hard time letting in Colby – his sister’s best friend. Colby is wild, unruly and drives him to distraction. They don’t always see eye to eye, but are often in each others orbit.

When their worlds turn upside down and Rip and Colby end up godparents to young kids and end up living in the same house – will they find a way to make their living arrangement work without fighting all the time?

The Godparent Trap was such a sweet romance. I ended up binging this book in less than a day. While it was a bit predictable – think Life as We Know It a movie that came out ~2010 – it was still a good romance. The The Godparent Trap deals with the heavy issue of grief, but it still managed to make me laugh!

I really loved the sexual tension and banter between Rip and Colby. Right from the beginning – whenever these two characters were on the page I had a huge grin on my face. They had great chemistry and I loved how they complimented each other. Where Colby was carefree and fun, Rip was rigid and orderly – but they need both of their traits to make their precarious situation work.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Godparent Trap and highly recommend this book!

CW: death of loved ones (car accident – off page), grief

ARC Review – The Devil You Know

~ Tej ~ 1 Comment

The Devil You Know by Elizabeth O’Roark

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: Devil #3

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥

Release Date: June 23, 2022

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Valentine PR

SYNOPSIS

There’s a devil on my shoulder, and every Monday morning she announces herself. She’s this delicious flame in my chest, a flurry of whispered suggestions in my ear. Suggestions I ignore…because every single one of them is about Ben Tate.

Ben—Stealer of Clients, Evicter of Homeless Women, Nemesis. Sitting across from me every damn Monday with his lovely, smug smile and his too-perfect teeth, the living symbol of everything I hate.

It’s been my policy to avoid him, but when a case comes into the firm—one that could change his career and mine—I make an exception. It means weekends and evenings by his side. It means enduring his smirk and his smart mouth and never taking the bait.

Until the night Ben says, “Beg.”
And that devil on my shoulder decides to make a few demands of her own.

REVIEW

Gemma is one one singular goal – to make partner in her firm. She’s sick of the all boys club and is willing to put in her time until she makes partner. Except this time she has to put in time with the one partner that annoys her the most – Ben Tate. Ben the person who stole her client as soon as he came on with the firm, the one who is constantly teasing her and pushing all her buttons. But the more time they spend together the harder it is to ignore their growing attraction. Will Gemma be able to prove that she’s willing to make partner at the firm and have a relationship with Ben?

Gah, how I loved The Devil You Know. After getting glimpses of Ben in the previous books in this series I was so excited to finally get his story. But I have to be honest – I totally fell in love with Gemma. Gemma who’s prickly on the outside, but soft and gooey on the inside. Gemma who has been burned so many times before that she doesn’t know who to trust and definitely not sure if she can trust the one person she wants to trust the most – Ben.

These two had so much chemistry together and I loved every single moment they had together. The banter was exceptional and there was SO MUCH ANGST. The angst had butterflies in my stomach and tears streaming down my face. I’ve already read and re-read my favorite parts.

I highly recommend this entire series and this book was everything I want in a romance book. If you’re looking for a forced proximity, angsty, workplace enemies to lovers romance – I highly recommend The Devil You Know.

CW: workplace harassment, cheating (past character), depression (secondary character), parental neglect.

ARC Review – The Bride Goes Rogue

~ Tej ~ 2 Comments

The Bride Goes Rogue by Joanna Shupe

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Historical Romance

Series: The Fifth Avenue Rebels #3

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥

Release Date: May 24, 2022

Publisher: Avon

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

By beloved USA Today bestselling author Joanna Shupe, the third installment in the Fifth Avenue Rebels series about an arranged engagement destined for disaster.

A hard-hearted tycoon.

A romantic dreamer.

An engagement set up to fail.

The charismatic and vivacious Katherine Delafield should be married by now. Her father arranged an engagement to the much sought-after tycoon Preston Clarke ages ago. The only problem is Preston refuses to acknowledge it. But this isn’t going to stop Katherine from living life to the fullest as she ditches all silly notions of love and marriage and sets out to sample all the excitement New York City has to offer . . . the more scandalous the better. Because no matter what happens, she and Preston will never marry.

After a tormented childhood, Preston is done letting his father control his life–including choosing his bride. But when a mysterious lover at a masquerade turns out to be his would-be fianc�e, Preston’s resolve begins to crumble. He hadn’t expected Katherine to be so charming. Or beautiful. Or passionate. And seeing her out on the town with other men is driving him crazy.

What happens when the wrong bride turns out to be the right woman after all?

REVIEW

Katherine Delafield has been waiting a full year for her betrothed to propose marriage to her. Only problem – Preston Clarke has no intention of ever marrying a Delafield. Preston and Katherine’s fathers may have been good friends once – even going so far as proposing a marriage for their children – but Preston will have none of it.

Katherine is done waiting. Waiting for a proposal, waiting living in the shadows, waiting to live her life. She’s ready to conquer and go rogue. When Katherine agrees to go to a masquerade ball with her friend, she never imagines that the person she ends up spending the evening intimately with would be Preston.

Soon these two end up spending more and more time together. Do they still hate each other as fiercely as they once did or have their walls come crumbling down. Does Preston still hate Katherine because she’s a Delafield, or are they ready to move past that?

The Bride Goes Rogue was swoony, angsty and so sexy. Joanna Shupe has such a way with words and once I started reading The Bride Goes Rogue, I had a hard time putting it down. Katherine and Clarke’s relationship wasn’t always easy. These characters were never black and white – and the scenarios they found themselves in had my heart breaking on their behalf on more than one occasion.

If you’re looking for a sexy, angsty and swoony historical romance I highly recommend The Bride Goes Rogue.

ARC Review – Starry Eyed Love

~ Tej ~ Leave a comment

Starry Eyed Love by Helena Hunting

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: Spark House #2

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: May 10, 2022

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

Charming, hilarious, and emotional, Starry-Eyed Love is Helena Hunting at her very best!

Having just broken up with her boyfriend, London Spark is not in the mood to be hit on. Especially not when she’s out celebrating her single status with her sisters. So when a very attractive man pays for their drinks and then slips her his number, she passes it right back to him with a ‘thanks, but no thanks’. As the business administrator for their family’s event hotel, the Spark House, London has more important things to worry about, like bringing in new clientele.

As luck would have it, a multi-million-dollar company calls a few months later asking for a meeting to discuss a potential partnership, and London is eager to prove to her sisters, and herself, that she can land this deal. Just when she thinks she has nailed her presentation, the company’s CEO, Jackson Holt, walks in and inserts himself into the meeting. Not only that, but he also happens to be the same guy she turned down at the bar a few months ago.

As they begin to spend more time together, their working relationship blossoms into something more. It isn’t until their professional entanglements are finally over, that London and Jackson are finally ready to take the next step in their relationship. But between Jackson’s secretive past and London’s struggle with her sisters, London must question where she really stands – not just with Jackson, but with the Spark House, too.

REVIEW

London Spark is busy managing Spark House with her two sisters. Having just come off of a serious relationship, London isn’t looking for her next boyfriend. So when she gets hit on at the bar by a handsome stranger, London politely declines.

Jackson Holt is a multi-millionaire and too busy currently to think about anything besides growing his business. He was fascinated by the woman at the bar a few months ago, but expects to never see her again. So he is equally shocked when he finds London pitching her event hotel to partner with his business. Sparks fly between these two almost immediately. Will they be able to keep their hands to themselves while they work together in a more official business capacity?

Starry-Eyed Love was a cute romance that I ended up enjoying. I liked the bond that London had with her sisters and how they always had each others back. I’ll be honest – Avery was getting super annoying, but I think that was the intention here.

I enjoyed the romance between London and Jackson. I liked their second chance “meet cute” and their awkwardness around one another. While I did enjoy their relationship – I do feel like it was a really slow start to warm up to them. But once the book picked up speed, I was flying through it.

If you’re looking for a cute romance with a strong sense of family ties woven throughout I would suggest picking up Starry-Eyed Love! I am so looking forward to Harley’s story.

ARC Review – Go Hex Yourself

~ Tej ~ 2 Comments

Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Fantasy Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: April 19, 2022

Publisher: Berkley

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

It’s one hex of an attraction in this romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Jessica Clare.

When Reggie Johnson answers a job ad in the paper, she’s astonished to find that she’s not applying to work at her favorite card game, Spellcraft: The Magicking. Instead, she’s applying to be an actual familiar for an actual witch. As in, real magic.

The new job has a few perks – great room and board, excellent pay, and she’s apprenticing to a powerful witch. Sure, the witch is a bit eccentric. And sure, there was that issue with the black cat Reggie would prefer to forget about. The biggest problem, however, is warlock Ben Magnus, her employer’s nephew and the most arrogant, insufferable, maddening man to ever cast a spell.

Reggie absolutely hates him. He’s handsome, but he’s also bossy and irritating and orders her around. Ben’s butt might look great in a crystal ball vision, but that’s as far as it goes. But when someone with a vendetta targets the household, she finds herself working with Ben to break a deadly curse. Apparently, when they’re not fighting like cats and dogs, things get downright…bewitching

REVIEW

When Reggie answers an ad in the local paper to work as an assistant for one of her favorite card games, she’s ecstatic to get a callback! Only when she goes to meet her future employer – she’s not quite sure what to make of the bizarre nature of everyone in the Magnus household.

Reggie soon finds out that she’ll be creating actual magic with Drusilla Magnus – a which who wants to share her craft with Reggie. Reggie is still on the fence about the position, but the pay is too good to pass up so she agrees! What Reggie doesn’t plan on is being around Dru’s nephew Ben all the time. Ben is overbearing, rude and generally a grumpy person. Worse – he doesn’t want Reggie around at all. Guess she’ll just have to show him how willing she is to learn magic and witch craft!

When Ben and Reggie have to work together to break a hex, they soon find themselves in close proximity to one another. And that’s not all – their attraction to one another only starts growing. Will they be able to break the curse and find a way to be together?

Gah! How much did I love Go Hex Yourself. I will be honest – a lot of fantasy/paranormal romance featuring witches and magic just falls flat for me. So I was a bit weary going in to Go Hex Yourself, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I adored this book and the characters in it.

All of the secondary characters from Lisa, Nick and Maurice to Dru had me laughing! There was such a great cast of characters in this book. Each one of them was essential to the story and I never felt bored with their story arcs or wanting them to get off the page.

But clearly the stars of this book were Ben and Reggie 😍. These two had so much chemistry together and I wanted more of them from their very first interaction. Ben was the grump to Reggie’s sunshine and these two were completely perfect for one another. Their relationship was slow growing and I really enjoyed the way that they begin to trust each other before deciding to move their relationship along. And YES, Jessica Clare totally brought the 🔥🔥🔥.

I loved this quirky, funny and sweet romance! Once I started it I had a hard time putting it down. I hope we get more books set in this world!!

ARC Review – Book Lovers

~ Tej ~ 1 Comment

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: May 3, 2022

Publisher: Berkley

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…

Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

REVIEW

Nora Stephens loves her job as an agent in the publishing world. She works hard for her clients and is always in their corner when they need her. While Nora is happy in her professional career, she feels like the bond between her sister is not as strong as it used to be. With two little children and a third on the way, Nora’s sister Libby decides that they need some alone time together before the newest baby arrives. Libby suggest a month (!) away and Nora isn’t quite sure she can be away from work for so long. But in the end she decides to take the time off to get some girl time in with her younger sister. They decide to journey out to Sunshine Falls – an idyllic small town that one of Nora’s authors centered a previous book on.

Libby has a list of items she wants them to do together. A few including Nora going on a date with someone in the small town and helping to reform a failing business. Nora isn’t quite sure of all the things on the list, but she goes along with it anyway. This is where Nora runs into Charlie Lastra. The editor whom Nora met once and turned down a book because he didn’t think it was good enough. Every checklist that Nora tries to complete ends up with Charlie running into her. Soon they find themselves working together on a book. The more time they spend together the stronger their feelings grow. Will they be able to stay away from one another? With both of them not looking for a relationship, their convictions start to waver the longer they are in each others orbit.

Book Lovers is a story about love, family, the bonds of sisterhood and grief. I will admit that this book started off slowly for me. I wasn’t quite sure what the point of going to Sunshine Falls was and how the relationship between Nora and Libby felt so off. But the more I read the book the more I realized, that’s the way I was supposed to feel. Because when you love someone and they hide things from you – it feels stilted and you feel that hurt deep.

I loved loved loved Charlie Lastra so much! He was funny (so funny), sarcastic, a little bit jaded – but always so sweet. The chemistry between him and Nora was always so evident from the very first time they met and I was always looking forward to when these two were on the page together. I loved Charlie’s background and what made him him. In a lot of ways his grief was also similar to Nora’s and they shared the same love for publishing and big city living in New York. While their families tried to push them to the charming small town life – deep down these two knew that they’d never be happy living a life just to make their families happy.

Emily Henry has a way with words and there’s no denying that she did it again in Book Lovers. I have so many passages highlighted that either made me laugh or brought tears to my eyes. While Book Lovers started off slowly for me it picked up momentum and I couldn’t stop reading the book when I got more invested in the characters. Overall I’d give Book Lovers 4.5, but round to 5 stars because these characters will stay with me for a long time to come.

ARC Review – In a New York Minute

~ Tej ~ Leave a comment

In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥

Release Date: March 15, 2022

Publisher: Forever

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

A clever, tender, and romantic novel for readers of Christina Lauren, Jasmine Guillory, and Sophie Cousens, this laugh-out-loud debut is a perceptive reminder that fate can have a sense of humor, and that love can happen…In a New York Minute.

Franny Doyle is having the worst day. She’s been laid off from her (admittedly mediocre) job, the subway doors ripped her favorite silk dress to ruins, and now she’s flashed her unmentionables to half of lower Manhattan. On the plus side, a dashing stranger came to her rescue with his (Gucci!) suit jacket. On the not-so-plus side, he can’t get away from her fast enough.

Worse yet? Someone posted their (entirely not) meet-cute online. Suddenly Franny and her knight-in-couture, Hayes Montgomery III, are the newest social media sensation, and all of New York is shipping #SubwayQTs.

Only Franny and Hayes couldn’t be a more disastrous match. She’s fanciful, talkative, and creative. He’s serious, shy, and all about numbers. Luckily, in a city of eight million people, they never have to meet again. Yet somehow, Hayes and Franny keep running into each other—and much to their surprise, they enjoy each other’s company. A lot. But when Franny’s whole world is turned upside down (again!), can she find the courage to trust in herself and finally have the life—and love—she’s always wanted?

REVIEW

Franny is having a total crapshoot of a day. She thinks she’s getting a promotion, but actually gets let go. And if that isn’t bad enough – her favorite dress rips right down her back on the subway. But as luck has it a kind stranger offers his jacket. The two have a connection, but think they’ll never see each other again. Except…as fate would have it – they’re an internet sensation and go viral on Instagram! When they finally meet – will that chemistry still be present or are they better off as strangers?

The meet cute in In A New York Minute was so cute! I was immediately sucked into the storyline between Hayes and Franny. These two were so opposite, and yet they hit it off in a busy subway in New York. The lead up to them finally meeting again was so much fun. I loved the friendship between Franny, Cleo and Lola! Their text messages, impromptu meetings and how they were always there for one another was such a wonderful part of the book.

I do feel like the second half of the book was a little bit slower moving than the first half. I did enjoy the slow progression of friends to lovers between Franny and Hayes. Their friendship felt true and the way they showed little bits and pieces of themselves to one another was so charming.

If you’re looking for a sweet romance with a group of friends at its core – grab your copy of In A New York Minute when it releases!

ARC Review – The Wedding Crasher

~ Tej ~ 1 Comment

The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: April 5, 2022

Publisher: Avon

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

The USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man is back with another hilarious rom-com about two strangers who get trapped in a lie and have to fake date their way out of it…

Just weeks away from ditching DC for greener pastures, Solange Pereira is roped into helping her wedding planner cousin on a random couple’s big day. It’s an easy gig… until she stumbles upon a situation that convinces her the pair isn’t meant to be. What’s a true-blue romantic to do? Crash the wedding, of course. And ensure the unsuspecting groom doesn’t make the biggest mistake of his life.

Dean Chapman had his future all mapped out. He was about to check off “start a family” and on track to “make partner” when his modern day marriage of convenience went up in smoke. Then he learns he might not land an assignment that could be his ticket to a promotion unless he has a significant other and, in a moment of panic, Dean claims to be in love with the woman who crashed his wedding. Oops.

Now Dean has a whole new item on his to-do list: beg Solange to be his pretend girlfriend. Solange feels a tiny bit bad about ruining Dean’s wedding, so she agrees to play along. Yet as they fake-date their way around town, what started as a performance for Dean’s colleagues turns into a connection that neither he nor Solange can deny. Their entire romance is a sham… there’s no way these polar opposites could fall in love for real, right?

REVIEW

When Solange decided to help her cousin with her wedding planning, she never expected to run into the bride declaring her love for another person on the day of the wedding. What’s a girl to do when that happens? The only right thing would be to stand up in front of everyone and say yes, she objects to the wedding.

Solange is devastated that she broke up the wedding. But groom, Dean doesn’t seem to torn up about it and an unlikely friendship forms between the two. When Dean has a huge favor to ask of Solange, she doesn’t even hesitate. Fake date for the sake of getting Dean a promotion – she’s in! But when the fake dating starts to feel real will Dean and Solange make a move to make it a real relationship or go their respective ways.

The Wedding Crasher was such a great fake dating rom-com. I truly enjoyed the interactions between Dean and Solange and was literally laughing out loud on more than one occasion. But I also enjoyed the sweet and tender moments between Dean and Solange when they were their most vulnerable and sharing their hopes and dreams.

I really enjoyed all of the secondary characters in The Wedding Crasher. Everyone from Lina and Max (the previous couple from The Worst Best Man) to the Tia’s and cousins. Their family dynamic was a huge part of the story and I enjoyed their machinations to get Dean and Solange together for real.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Wedding Crasher and hope we get Jaslene’s story soon!

ARC Review – Part of Your World

~ Tej ~ Leave a comment

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction

Heat Level: 🔥

Release Date: April 19, 2022

Publisher: Forever

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

The New York Times bestselling author of Life’s Too Short delivers a refreshingly modern fairy tale perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Emily Henry.

After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable.

While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere” ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people.

Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?

REVIEW

Alexis Montgomery has her life mapped out in front of her. Coming from a family of physicians she is the last one left to carry on the Legacy. Daniel Grant runs his family’s bed & breakfast which has been passed down from generations. He loves the memories attached to the old home and will do anything to keep the house in the family. What happens when a chance encounter between these two turns their lives upside down?

Part of Your World was such an angsty/swoony romance. I loved both Alexis and Daniel and their chemistry was undeniable from the very first time they met. I will admit that while I’m not a usual fan of age gap, the age gap between Daniel and Alexis (he’s younger) was addressed and woven throughout the book well. It definitely did not make me love Alexis and Daniel any less. This couple was pulling on my heart strings hard and definitely had me crying on more than one occasion.

Abby always does a wonderful job with serious and tough topics. Not only does Abby tackle the topic of an age gap, but also the very difficult topics of abusive relationships, depression and childhood trauma. The secondary characters in Part of Your World were so important to the story and I loved that I felt like by the end of the book I knew each and every one of them.

I highly highly recommend Part of Your World – definitely worth a pre-order!