Tag: romance

This Chick Read: Once Smitten, Twice Shy (Wilmot Sisters #3) by Chloe Liese

Once a hopeless romantic, Juliet Wilmot has sworn off love. Burned by her previous relationship she doesn’t trust her heart and doesn’t want to take any more chances with it. Will Orsino knows romance isn’t in his future but for the sake of his family business he knows he needs a partner to help out and he’s open to a marriage of convenience. When they keep running into each other Juliet and will strike up a bargain. They’ll practice with each other to help build up trust to go out into the world and find their person, but what happens when practice makes perfect?

The characters in Chloe Liese’s novels are always so interesting with real life issues that give their story more depth. Will is neuro-divergent and is on the autism scale and Chloe has a debilitating form of joint disease that makes movement painful. As someone who suffers from arthritis I found it really interesting to read about a character who suffers similarly. How does her pain affect her relationship with Will? How do they both help navigate each others problems and emotions? It certainly adds to the story in a very realistic way.

I’ve enjoyed the Wilmot sisters novels because these ladies are straight shooters and don’t take lip from anyone. Juliet seemed to be the most romantic in nature and her heartbreak could’ve caused more than a few small trust issues. Thankfully the author didn’t keep us waiting too long before the characters realized where their emotions were leading them. Maybe because of this there was a little lack in tension which gave the other two novels more of a conclusive feel to the two partners coming together. I think that would be my only criticism for this novel. They were both just so nice and there wasn’t a whole lot of conflict. Other than that it was an enjoyable story! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Once Smitten, Twice Shy

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Better Than Revenge by Kasie West

Finley has only ever had one goal in life, to become a famous podcaster. The first step is to audition and land the job on her high school’s podcast team. She has come up with the perfect pitch but her plans are waylaid when her football obsessed boyfriends decides to try out last minute, uses her idea, and takes her place on the team. Finley and her friends come up with the perfect plan for revenge but needs the help of her ex’s nemesis, Theo, to pull it off. What she doesn’t count on is the connection she starts to build with Theo.

I can always count on Kasie West for great characters, a good story, and a surprising theme. In this novel it was the sweet story that Finley’s grandmother tells about her first love, captured on Finley’s personal podcast. That story provided the heart, while Finley, Theo, and Jensen provided the conflict and resolution. While the story was pretty simple, I thought it was entertaining and provided the warm fuzzies I needed.

The high school story arc was pretty simple, young love, betrayal, and redemption but despite those themes the characters were pretty unique. Finley’s group of friends were diverse and eclectic, Theo was multi-layered, and Finley’s podcasting unique. It was truly only Jensen that fell into that stereotypical obtuse jock, but as he was set up as the villain I wasn’t really bothered by his simplicity. Finley’s future was on podcasting and Theo and those two had more depth and held my interest. The author did a great job of building the tension in the story so that the resolution felt impactful and satisfying. I really liked how this story played out!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* Better Than Revenge

Copyright 2025 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: When Stars Collide (Dallas Stars #9) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Dallas Stars backup quarterback Thad Owens and international Opera star Olivia Shore are traveling together to help promote an international luxury watch brand. He has little tolerance for divas and she has little tolerance for lowbrow jocks. When she starts receiving threatening letters and haunting photographs about her ex-fiancé’s death Thad steps in as emotional and physical support. Their month-long journey to help promote a watch brand turns into a supportive friendship that they don’t want to give up when their traveling ends. This emotional journey of a brilliant woman whose career is everything and a talented man who will never happy with second place proves that anything can happen when two stars collide.

What a fun novel! Olivia was a very layered character. The death of her fiancé and the threatening letters about her death has created a psychological issue that may affect her being able to perform. When she meets Thad she is hiding what’s wrong with her so yeah, she definitely looks like a diva. In truth she’s very down to earth and a wonderful person. Thad is also multi-layered. He’s a serial back-up quarterback who helps troubleshoot the issues with the player he’s hoping to replace. He has the eye, skill, and intelligence to excel, yet has a depth perception issue that keeps him from being a superstar himself. Both of these characters are looking to be #1, and don’t have the time or need for someone who can’t be in a supportive role in their relationship. Their issue is how to solve that problem while still remaining together.

I loved how Thad and Olivia’s story evolved. Even though I will never be either a pro quarterback or international opera star, their story connection and problems felt real. The only exception being the mystery of who is trying to hurt Olivia. That part felt a little contrived, but man, I really enjoyed this novel!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* When Stars Collide

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: All Folked Up (Good Folk #3) by Penny Reid

Isaac Sylvester is back in town. Brother of the beloved Banana Queen, Jennifer Sylvester, and once a member of the Iron Wraiths, his return has people talking. Hannah Townsend is retiring as an exotic dancer to become manager of the Pink Pony. When Isaac shows up at her retirement party she figures he’s been gifted to her by the other dancers, after all he’s her “stand in”, the person she imagines as she dances. Isaac isn’t there as a gift, he’s an undercover investigator and he needs her help with an assignment. Hannah isn’t thrilled that she miscalled his intentions but agrees to help and “hires” him to be a bouncer until his investigation is completed.

Isaac has been a side character in quite a few of the novels in both the Good Folk series but also the Winston Bros series. If you’ve read all of Penny Reid’s novels you realize that all is not as it seems with Isaac, but Hannah only knows what she’s heard around town and that information is exactly what Isaac wants known. The start of their working relationship is kind of rocky, but once their misunderstanding is cleaned up their relationship is on another level. Isaac’s undercover story is not who he is at all and as his true intentions are revealed he becomes everything Hannah could ever want.

I thought this was a really sweet story. Hannah was smart and savvy, and Isaac in some ways was socially innocent but also very smart. The two of them together made for a really interesting couple and their story fascinating to read. Penny Reid also filled this novel with great dialogue and side characters, as she does with all of her stories and I enjoyed every moment as I read it.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* All Folked Up

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This Chick Read: Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens

Anna Appleby writes a column in a local magazine about love, but she’s not really feeling it since she’s gone through a divorce. She’s enjoying being single, raising her two kids, and not having to fight over what to watch on tv that night. When her magazine gets bought she’s told she needs to spice up her column. She gets pit against her co-worker Will who pitches an idea for them to write two dating columns from both of their perspectives. The catch is that her dates are the choices of her two children, and will has to match the theme. Anna gamely puts herself out there asking out a waiter, her mail man, and next door neighbor, but she finds love where she least expects it.

I love novels that mix humor with a great plot and this one had both in spades. Anna’s gone through a rough divorce and is not interested in swiping right. When she feels threatened for her job at work she throws out this crazy idea about her kids picking her dates and hilarity ensues. I loved how the kids views on what constitutes a good date comes down to “he hates bikes too”. These dates made for some great storytelling, but really it was her frenemy at work, Will, that added some romantic tension and heat to the story.

I’ve read quite a few of Sophie Cousens novels and I have to say that I haven’t yet been disappointed by something that she’s written. She understands the romance formula and always creates a bit of a twist that catches the reader by surprise. Sometimes these twists provide a little magic to the tale, but in this case, the magic was the friendships that Anna developed while going on this journey of self-discovery and renewal. What a fun story and a great romance. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* Is She Really Going Out With Him?

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: The Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles of London #4) by Mimi Matthews

Stella Hobhouse is a skilled rider, stalwart friend, and decent sketch artist. She’s also overlooked in London society. Her gray hair makes her invisible and her pious brother’s restrictions and dwindling inheritance means that things are becoming desperate. She must find someone to marry. Edward “Teddy” Hayes is an aspiring artist and knows true beauty when he sees it. After a bout of scarlet fever left him in a wheelchair, Teddy knows good fortune when he finds it. He’s determined to make Stella his muse and is willing to offer marriage to make it happen.

I’ve appreciated Mimi Matthews novels about the “Belles of London” for various reasons but mostly because her heroines buck society’s expectations. Stella’s story is a little bit different because she is both a pariah because of her unusual hair color but she’s also close to impoverished and reliant upon her brother’s good nature, of which he has none. When she has to make a difficult decision about her future she is brave enough to try to make things happen on her own.

Teddy also has his own difficulties. As a man in a wheelchair, his family tends to coddle him and try to make decisions for him. His “marriage of convenience” that he offers to Stella helps his independence, but isn’t the only reason for his offer. He truly is attracted to and wants to be with Stella. I loved that these two people who had difficulties in their lives found each other and a way to be in love together. For me, their stories made for a more emotional book which made it different than the others. I liked it!

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Muse of Maiden Lane

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chicks Audio Review: Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

Video game designer Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime to design a game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only downfall is that she’ll have to work with her arch-nemesis Jesse Andrews.When their two companies both win the bid to co-design the game their bosses think a wintry retreat is just the answer to get their teams to bond together. Viola has tried to befriend Jesse before but has been snubbed repeatedly and she is not looking forward to this retreat, but in order to be part of this dream job she’s willing to suck it up. Unfortunately she doesn’t count on their chemistry making a bad situation…..better?

Narrated by Kelsey Navarro Foster who gave these characters life, this novella was just the right fit to get an Ali Hazelwood fix. The audio book is about 4 1/2 hours but there’s a lot packed into this five day retreat. Great back stories for our two main characters, lots of anxiety, great dialog, and a resolution that packs an emotional punch. This enemies to lovers romance brought the gaming world to life, but even better, this author created three dimensional characters in a very short timeframe. Something a lot of authors struggle with when writing novella’s but this author excels. If you have the time, I’d add this audiobook to your TBR and when you find that 4 1/2 hours of downtime, give it a go. I think you’ll find it a fun story!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click this link to purchase this audiobook!* Two Can Play

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: Mr. Nice Spy (My Spy #2) by Tiana Smith

After fireworks designer, Andee Paxton takes an online DNA test she finds out that her biological father is none other than Holt, an international arms dealer. The CIA shows up at her door where she meets very handsome CIA analyst officer Adam Chan. When Chan lingers over coffee they find themselves knocked out and kidnapped by her father’s men. Waking up in a bunker as boyfriend and girlfriend Andee and Chan play their parts while her very scary father tries to get to know her and sell her on the family business as well as get her help in creating a very nasty bio weapon. Chan and Andee’s fake relationship is the only thing keeping her sane as they try to figure out their escape plan and save the world.

What a fun rom-com/spy novel! Tiana Smith has a very easy style of writing that made this story a joy to read. Lots of action, great dialogue, and a few scary bits for conflict made for a complete escape from reality and an enjoyable weekend of reading. I haven’t read the first novel in this series but I’ve found it at the library and have it on my TBR.

Besides the great action series, Andee and Chan were both really interesting characters and their immediate chemistry gave the romance some heat. Andee is one of those smart heroine’s that I love to read about- go STEM romance leads! her degree in chemical engineering makes her a great sidekick for a spy. She didn’t let her emotions get the better of her and was doing her part to find a way out. Chan, too, was an interesting guy. Yes, he was a CIA analyst, but he is also hearing impaired. I liked how his “weakness” became a strength in the story. The fact that the descriptions of him as well as Andee’s immediate attraction made him eye candy for my imagination didn’t hurt either. Really, this story was just 100% enjoyable and I can’t recommend it enough.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Mr. Nice Spy

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: a bunch of Nora Roberts!

You know when you are sick and you just want some comfort food? For me that food is usually a grilled cheese sandwich or a frozen chicken pot pie. These things just make my heart warm and help me feel just that small bit better. Well, Nora Roberts books are grilled cheese sandwiches for my spirit. I needed a hit of comfort food and happened upon her backlog of books when I was surfing my digital library. She has been so prolific that there are some books from 20 years ago that I know I read when they came out but honestly didn’t remember and thought, why not? I was surprised at how much I loved this venture down memory lane (or lack of memory as the case may be).

The book I read had a much older cover than this newer version, but as the book came out in 2001 I’d imagine it’s had a few variations. As noted by this cover, this book centers around the Giambelli family and Sophie, specifically. Her grandmother in a rather machiavellian way maneuvers, she and her step-son into swapping positions in the family business. Tyler MacMillan runs his grandfather’s vineyard and when he’s told Giambelli is merging with MacMillan and he has to give up running the vineyard to learn marketing and promotions, he is not pleased at all. Especially as he’s paired with the energetic and very attractive Sophie. Attraction ensues and when you add a little danger in the form of someone using their wine to poison people, voilâ! You get a wonderfully written romantic suspense novel that still holds well over time. I’ll admit that I did look up what cell phones looked like in 2001 for entertainment value, but that’s neither here nor there. The story held my interest and gave me that comfort I needed. Plus I liked Sophie and Tyler’s unusual and kind of begrudging love story. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Next up!

Yeah, I couldn’t just read one book I had to read one of the Irish trilogy’s! I didn’t remember this series at all and was immediately drawn into the magic of Ireland and the beloved Gallagher family. Jewels of the Sun was written in 1999, so it’s an oldie but goodie, but again since these novels had a bit of fantasy in the story my mind wasn’t diverted by technology and I easily fell into the story. This first novel follows Aidan Gallagher, who runs the local pub with his brother and sister. Gallaghers is filled with light, love, and a bunch of Irish characters who add a lot to the plot and give the story some charm. Jude Murray is the heroine, has some Irish heritage, and moves into her great aunt’s (I think?) fairie cottage, which is right above Prince Carrick of the fairies castle (as in below the earth). Her cottage is haunted by the love of Prince Carrick’s life and their story is the reason for the trilogy. They need three couples to find true love to have their curse broken so they can be together. The other two couple being Shawn and Brenna, and then Darcy and Trevor. The thing I love about these trilogy’s is that when they are good, you get lost in them and you just want to keep reading. The great thing about reading books this old is that they are all available to read!

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Some Nora Roberts books are better than others, of course, but all four of these were pretty solid! If you are like me and read too many books in a year to remember the plots of books you’ve read over 20 years ago, then you may want to go to your nearest library and pick up a virtual copy! Or you can purchase your copy at the links below.

Click this link to purchase The Villa!*

Click this link to purchase The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy!*

*Amazon Associate- if you purchase a book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: Somewhere Along the Line by Mallory Thomas

Piper Paulson and James Newhouse ride the same train in to work every day. He’s in a suit, she’s in retro t’s and jeans. They are complete opposites, yet their eyes connect, then look away until one day when the Elvis convention is in town and the only seat available is next to each other and they take a chance and talk. One conversation that leads to their being connected during a freak incident on that train. Neither one of them is looking for a relationship but circumstance and chemistry keeps bringing them together. Will this connection turn into something more?

I liked this opposites attract romance. Piper and James are drawn to each other in large part because they remind each other of their past. She reminds him of his mother and he reminds her of a previous relationship. Both add conflict to their reaching their happily ever after and make for some interesting story arc’s that held my interest and kept me reading. Were there problematic moments? Yes, but the positive outweighed the negative and these problems didn’t slow the story down or take me out of the story so I was able to stay “in the moment” and move past those brief moments.

I looked up the author and didn’t see any other books in her bio so I believe this is her debut novel. In this reviewers humble opinion I think she did a solid job, gave us interesting characters to read about, and created a plot that was simple but had some dynamics that were unexpected and gave the reader that element of surprise that keeps us reading. Nice job! ❤️❤️❤️❣️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it is honest!

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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