Blog Tour: Smart Move by Amanda Pennington

Smart Move, an all-new grumpy sunshine sweet romance by Amanda Pennington, is now available in Kindle Unlimited!

Ivy Lunden is Team Keep Things Casual…

I am Toby Azumah’s opposite in every way. I’m a pessimist; he’s an optimist. I’m into art; he’s into sports. Still, I’m highly entertained by our flirtationship. 

When he finally talks me into a date, everything goes wrong. Chaos descends on my orderly life when my mother falls and needs nearly round-the-clock care. Add in my nosy neighbor, and my peace of mind has been turned inside out.

When Toby, Mr. Best-Case Scenario himself, offers to help, I’m skeptical. A relationship with him would only make things more chaotic, right? Or maybe Toby is the real deal, and giving him a chance is a smart move after all.

Toby Azumah is Team Happily Ever After…

I’ve wanted to take the mysterious, beautiful Ivy Lunden to dinner ever since we met, and I’m confident she just needs a little time to warm up to the idea of us. But nothing goes according to my daydreams. 

Despite a no-show date, some flirty texts, and the fierce ways she protects herself and her mom, I see through the chaos and smoke to the real Ivy. The Ivy she rarely shows to the world. 

How can I convince her I’m making the smart move and playing for keeps?

‘Smart Move’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #7 in the Work For It series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Grab your copy TODAY!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3XPjatd

Amazon UK: https://bit.ly/41hroxh

Amazon CA: https://bit.ly/3Kt3wAN

Amazon AU: https://bit.ly/3Z6K9SR

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3SSMCOb

Excerpt

I glanced over to make sure Clarice, my lazy coworker who was never happier than when she was pointing out others’ mistakes, was on the other side of the room, sitting at her desk and staring at her phone. Then I let myself look at him. 

As usual, he stepped close and leaned his elbows on the counter. His forearms edged the boundary of professionalism, the sleeves of his coat landing a few inches short of the middle of the counter. He always gave me just enough space to let me know that I was still the one in control of our flirtationship. 

That’s right. I, Ivy Lunden, have a flirtationship with Toby Azumah, the man whose voice draws more colorful images in my head than any other sound ever has. 

For the last few semesters, he leaned across the registrar counter, and he flirted with me, and I flirted back, and then we parted ways until the next time the university opened registration for physical therapy CEs. 

Toby always came just after noon on opening day. Always. 

Not that I kept track. And not that I wore my best red lipstick and sexy heels for the occasion. 

This, whatever it was, was all just a game. My favorite kind of game.  

“Hey.” 

More bright splashes. More beautiful colors. 

I smiled. “Hey.”

“How are you?” 

From anyone else, this was a pat question expecting a pat answer. But not from Toby. This was all part of our routine, and it never bored me. 

I pursed my lips and pretended to think, not missing when his eyes flicked to my mouth for a moment. Yep. Still got it. “I’m feeling about a seven right now.” I definitely felt worse than a seven, but our flirtationship was my escape, and I wanted to pretend for a few precious moments.

He nodded like this was the most interesting statement he’d heard all day—and his interest didn’t feel artificial. In a world of fake dating profiles and pretended sincerity, I reveled in his focused attention. 

“What’ll it take to get to ten?” A grin teased the right corner of his lips.

My answer was instant. “A box of wine that lasts until I clock out at five.”

He laughed. “A whole box? Your day must be much worse than a seven.”

That kind of openness wasn’t part of my game, so I shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a simple woman.”

“I doubt it,” he whispered, and the sound put a delightful haze in my head. 

“What about you?” Now I leaned across the counter, our forearms mere inches apart. “How’s your day?”

He pretended to think about it before saying, “Nine.”

Of course. He never rated his day any lower than an eight. 

“Don’t you ever have a bad day?” I picked up the catalog from my desk, turning to the CE page. 

“Never when you’re around.”

My eyes widened.

He winced. “That was pretty awful.”

“Maybe your bad day is showing after all.” Smiling, I handed him the catalog. 

“I don’t believe in bad days.”

About Amanda Pennington

Amanda Pennington lives outside Louisville, Kentucky with her husband in their fixer-upper house. When she’s not writing, Amanda loves traveling, running, and reading anything within reach. More information is available at www.amandacpennington.com.

Find Amanda online

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Blog Tour: Look Smart by Aly Stiles

“Aly Stiles delivers the perfect romantic comedy with Look Smart. I found myself laughing throughout and wondering what the secondary characters would do next. The connection between Nate & Nat filled my heart with pure joy and was immediately rooting for their HEA.” -Author Andrea Johnston 

Look Smart, an all-new star-crossed lovers workplace romantic comedy from Aly Stiles, is now available in Kindle Unlimited!

Nate Hanover’s future was set. The perfect girlfriend, the perfect career… He’s the perfect man with the perfect life—until he lost it all this summer. Now he’s not sure about anything, except that no one can know the truth lurking behind his “perfect” facade. Especially not at this week’s high-stakes corporate circus known as Tele-Con.

Natalie McAllister has no time for games. After working nonstop since… ever, she’s one win away from the dream promotion she’s been chasing for years. All she has to do is land the Sandeke Telecom account at this week’s telecom conference and life will be perfect.

But when a chance encounter leads these strangers to an incredible night of intimate soul-searching, “perfect” might look different than they thought. With so much on the line, it’s a good thing they’ll never see each other again. Well, not until the following morning when they learn they’re competing for the same account, their firms despise each other, and a nut-obsessed enigma named Chad Smith is the key to their success. Oh, plus their forbidden connection is still fully charged and more off-limits than ever.

What could go wrong when the perfect night explodes into the perfect storm?

‘Look Smart’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #6 in the Work For It series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Grab your copy today!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3EtS8B3

Amazon UK: https://bit.ly/3EsHQ48

Amazon CA: https://bit.ly/3Eu71mV

Amazon AU: https://bit.ly/418lgr4

Audible: https://bit.ly/3OlIean

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3IRdMQP

Excerpt

He grins, and I push the button for the eighth floor.

“What floor?” I ask him.

“Eight,” he says, his eyes flashing with humor.

Oh.

Damn.

“We’re not in the same room, are we? Because that would be awkward,” I say.

“I’m thinking we’d probably know that by now.”

“True. You look like a guy who uses a lot of closet space.”

He raises his brows, and I shrug.

“Do I? What do those guys look like?”

“I don’t know… Put together?”

I thought that answer would be safe, but maybe not when he frowns. With another tight smile, he faces the door. Guess we’re back to watching numbers do literally the only thing numbers can do.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Say something, Nat. You’re about to part ways forever.

“You could come check out my closet if you want.”

Not that!!

He fires what I count as his fifth confused look of the encounter, and I offer a conciliatory cringe.

“Sorry. That was not what it sounded like.”

“What did it sound like?”

The elevator dings, and the door opens. Floor eight. Thank the heavens.

I step out with relief, then remember it’s time for him to step out too.

Should have followed the wheat crystal debate up the stairs.

“Oh, uh. Well, I guess it sounded like I was inviting you back for sex.”

What?!

He just about chokes on air, and I OMG myself for that one.

“I wasn’t,” I rush out. “That’s my point. I was just… making conversation.”

He hesitates, and I squirm beneath his curious gaze. He doesn’t look upset, though. Or offended. Or even embarrassed. He looks… intrigued. By me? Most people aren’t a fan of my no-nonsense approach to, well, everything. And when I’m drinking? All filters are off.

“I see. So in this ‘making conversation scenario,’ how would a person respond to a question like that?” he asks.

“Like what?”

“Like an invitation for sex that isn’t.”

I bite back a smile and shrug.

“However that person would want to respond, I suppose.”

“Is it a nice closet?” he asks.

“Probably the same as yours.”

“A little presumptuous, no? What if I have a suite? My closet would be very different.”

“Okay, but now you’re being presumptuous. What if I also have a suite?”

“Do you?”

“No. Do you?”

“No.”

That breathtaking grin slips out, and suddenly I’m not sure I was just making conversation. My gaze drops to a dark button-down shirt stretched over a body that has seen plenty of action in a gym. His rolled-up sleeves reveal several tattoos that clash beautifully with the business-casual attire. Gosh, is there also a modeling convention going on at the resort? He could be the hot stock-photo dude in all those “Look how cool it is to work here!” photos on the Careers page of every company website.

My door looms ahead, which ushers in corresponding disappointment. Even worse, Cautious Brain is now berating me through the margarita mist.

You can’t take a stranger back to your hotel room! This is the opening scene of every true crime show ever. You want your polaroid thumbtacked to a wall with a red string wrapped around it?!

Wait. Who uses the red string again? Is that a serial killer thing or more of a spy-conspiracy-theory thing? Do they still use polaroids for crime-solving? That seems inefficient.

“This is me,” I lie, stopping at a random room.

Smart, Nat. Good work.

“Yeah?” he asks.

He leans against the wall on the other side of the door to face me. Brown eyes scan me with amusement and something else. Something that triggers all kinds of tiny bubbles in my stomach. Yep, I’m now a walking champagne flute. Fantastic. Why did he have to be smart and funny in addition to being achingly beautiful? Ugh. What an unfair combination in a stranger you can’t have.

Well, shouldn’t have. Because, I shouldn’t, right?

Right. Because what you do have is a big day tomorrow.

The biggest.

“So, um, have a great night,” I say.

He doesn’t budge, and I start to panic. What if he is a creepy stalker? Aren’t the worst ones charming and attractive? Or maybe he’s considerate on top of everything else and is waiting for me to get safely into my room before going to his?

Or…

I mean…

He’s not… actually interested in staying?

Not safe! Not safe!

Maybe, but I’m not getting a creepy vibe from him. I watched him with his friends all night and nothing about his demeanor screamed FUTURE THUMBTACKED POLAROID.

“Okay, well, I won’t keep you,” he says, straightening from the wall.

The disappointment is real when he pulls a keycard from his pocket, but it’s for the best. I’ve spent months preparing for this conference. It’s bad enough I had one too many drinks tonight. The last thing I need is an even bigger mistake.

No! It’s not! Come on. Break one simple rule. Just a small dose of “wild.” You don’t even risk the occasional rolling stop at a stop sign.

It’s true. Stop means stop. But fine.

“Wait. Would you maybe want to see my closet after all?” I blurt out. “Not for sex. Just to hang out. Maybe a drink or two?”

The corner of his perfect mouth tips up in a smirk. “You want to hang out in your closet?”

“Sure. It might be a tight fit, but if we move the luggage stand, we could make it work.”

His smile grows—and wow. Maybe I’m actually nailing this hookup thing.

“Sure. Why not?” he says. “It’s been a while since I’ve spent time in a closet. My room or yours?”

He studies the door beside us that is very much not my door.

“Yours,” I say.

He nods and slides his keycard into the slot.

Oh no.

“It’s so weird that they put us in the same room, isn’t it?” he says.

About Aly Stiles

From angsty and dark to snort-laugh funny, Aly writes romance from her soul to yours.

Find Aly Stiles online

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Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Out of This World Edition

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes (2022)

An interstellar salvage crew comes across the Aurora, a luxury space liner that disappeared during its first voyage, and they soon find out that something terrible happened to the crew and passengers.  This was a fun read!  Books that take place in space always freak me out a little bit, and this was no exception.  The story is told in a now-and-then format, with part taking place as Claire and her crew investigate the ship and part taking place in present day, after Claire is recovered from the "wreckage."  It does get a bit gory at times, as Claire describes her findings, but the author definitely paints a very vivid picture of the luxury ship.  When we finally discover the reason behind what happened, at first I was a little disappointed, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked it and actually thought it was disturbingly plausible.  Claire is a bit of an unreliable narrator, and the many callbacks to her childhood got a bit dull.  Overall, though, a creepy, very tense sci-fi story!  4 stars

An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Col. Chris Hadfield (2015)

 

After watching the first lunar landing as a child, Chris Hadfield knew he wanted to be an astronaut.  Although he knew it was a near-impossible dream, Col. Hadfield's drive and determination led him to space three times, and in this memoir, he recounts what it took to get there and what he learned along the way.  This was a really interesting read!  If you have even a passing interest in space and astronauts, you'll probably enjoy this one.  Hadfield describes his training and missions in a way that is easily understandable while never being dismissive of the intensity of either.  For example, Hadfield would practice for months on Earth to complete one particular task in space.  He has a unique perspective on life and lives by certain mantras that may seem counterintuitive to most people - it's important to worry about the small things (be prepared) and don't let your success always be determined by the end product (he wanted to be an astronaut but knowing how slim the chances of actually making it to space are, he wouldn't let it affect his self-worth).  4 stars

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Michele's Monday Picks #16

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with a new little series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

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Marrying Off Morgan McBride

By Amy Barry

Expected Publication Date: May 30, 2023

From Goodreads:

The McBride brothers are in for a matrimonial surprise when an enterprising woman answers their little sister's mail order bride advertisement in this laugh-out-loud historical romance.

As the oldest of the McBride siblings, Morgan had to be protector and shepherd since Ma died and Pa ran off. It hasn't always been easy, especially when his heart longs to roam on the trail. But now that his brother Kit is married and settled, the time is right for Morgan to leave Buck's Creek. Little does he know that his hellcat of a little sister Junebug is dead set on keeping him at home and getting more help around the house - all with one honest advertisement in The Matrimonial News.

Epiphany Hopgood has always had a gift for doing the exact wrong thing. She's too tall, too loud, too opinionated, and too contrary for her family and community. Staring down the barrel of spinsterhood, she and her grandmother answer a seemingly straightforward ad for a bride.

But when Pip shows up to Buck's Creek, she finds that Morgan McBride is not the husband she expected. In fact, he doesn't even want to be a husband. But maybe there's a way to make everyone happy out on the Montana frontier...

I can’t wait to be back in Buck’s Creek with Junebug meddling in her brothers’ lives - do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Little Free Library Sightings: The Jersey Shore Edition

It's always fun to see a Little Free Library "out in the wild!"  It's fun to spot them, browse their selection, leave a book if possible, and then look them up on the official website, because sometimes they have fun stories to go along with them!  There's also an app you can download to find local Little Free Libraries - you can even "check in" to keep track of the ones you've visited.  We recently visited Cape May, New Jersey, for a long weekend, and I found that there were MANY Little Free Libraries in the area!  I wasn't able to visit all of them, but here are the ones we came across!

#58847 - It took us a little bit to find it, but this LFL is located right near City Hall.  According to the website, "The design was specific to match the 1730 Colonial House saved in the great fire of 1878. A major portion of the town burned and was rebuilt in the Victorian Style. We are the oldest structure on Cape Island open to the public."  I didn't take a book, but there were plenty in it.

#126503 - Dubbed Happy House Books for Kids, this library is dedicated to children's books.  The owner was a teacher for 30 years and the collection of books they built up over that time now stocks the library and promotes early literacy.  It's hard to tell from this picture, but the LFL is a mini replica of the owner's home.  I took a book for Henry!

#134664 - The Eat a Peach LFL had a few books in it, but also had a sign that said it would reopen Memorial Day weekend and a note that it will be restocked.  I didn't take a book, but it's fun to know that this LFL will be ready for summer visitors!

#163829 - This LFL was the only one located near Cape May Point, so after our walk around the park/lighthouse area, we stopped quickly by it.

#91084 - One morning we were out for a walk, so I convinced Tom to meander down to this LFL, located at The Capri hotel.  Unfortunately, it looked they were doing some construction and the LFL had moved on the site and was not currently functioning.  Womp, womp!  I hope it reopens someday because it has a really fun story - "The library box was reconstructed from an old box that Dad built to house a fire extinguisher on the outside of the building and Mom was an avid reader sometimes having three books going at one time. This is a tribute to our folks who helped make the Capri the special place that it is today."

#48217 - While we spent most of our vacation in Cape May, we also drove over to Wildwood for an afternoon because it's where I spent a lot of time as a kid.  On our way out, we stopped at the only LFL on the island!  According to the owner, "We thought this would be a wonderful thing for people walking to the beach and Atlantic Ocean about three blocks away. So, we set to building two little libraries; one for my son to put outside his tutoring agency in Ardmore, PA and one for the path to the beach in New Jersey."  So fun for people to be able to grab a book to read on the beach!  I took an old Julia Quinn book.

Top Ten Tuesday: Things Getting in the Way of Reading

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.  This week's topic is things getting in the way of reading.  This is a fun topic, because it helps us get to know each other better, and I'm sure all of us can relate to the fact that although we might want to be reading 24/7, there are other things that need to be done, too!

1. Being a mom.  It's not a bad thing, but being a parent obviously takes up a lot of time!  Because he's still so little, Henry needs a lot of supervision, so it's hard to get reading done around him (although sometimes I do try to sneak in a few pages - it's good that he sees me reading, too, right?).
2. Work.  I'm extremely lucky that my "full-time" status is only 30 hours a week, and since I work from home most of the time, I don't have a commute, but work definitely takes up most of my Monday through Friday!
3. Being a wife.  Spending time with my husband is important and usually consists of us having lunch together during the week or watching a favorite show in the evening.
4. Taking care of the house.  Other than cooking, most of the indoor household chores fall to me.  It's not so much that each one individually takes a long time, but they all need to be done, all the time!
5. Real Housewives.  Tom and I have certain shows we watch together, but Real Housewives episodes are definitely just a solo guilty pleasure, so I have to watch them after my guys have gone to bed, which definitely cuts into my reading time.
6. Puzzles.  I'm kind of obsessed with jigsaw puzzles, and when I start one, I can't help but ignore most things until I finish it!
7. Blogging.  It might seem a little weird, but yes, blogging can get in the way of reading.  I used to have so many pre-planned posts, but I just have less time these days.  On weekend afternoons when Henry is napping, I have about 2 hours to get anything done I need to, and sometimes I have to choose between reading or prepping some posts for the upcoming days.
8. Exercise.  I'll be honest, I don't exercise that much, but I do try to get in walks when I can.  I could listen to audiobooks, but I generally listen to podcasts because they're so much shorter and more manageable.  
9. Sleep.  My sleep has never been stellar as an adult, and of course it's only gotten worse since I've become a parent, so most nights I try to be in bed by 9:30pm.
10. Indecision.  I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to make decisions (just ask my sister, who I call to discuss even the most mundane things).  It ranges from little things (what coffee pods should I buy this week) to more important things (what should I pack for Henry's lunch that is healthy, tasty, and something he will actually not throw on the floor) to the inevitable, what should I read next?  Sometimes I just sit down to think about these things, and boom, I've wasted a lot of time.

What is getting in the way of your reading lately?

Michele's Monday Picks #15

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with a new little series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

 ******************************************************************

A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife

By Kendall Kulper

Expected Publication Date: May 23, 2023

From Goodreads:

A budding starlet and her handsome-but-moody co-star go from bitter enemies to reluctant partners when they get tangled up in the disappearance of a beautiful young actress in 1930s Hollywood.

Eighteen-year-old Henrietta arrives in Los Angeles in 1934 with dreams of trading her boring life for stardom. 

She’s determined to make it as an actress, despite her family’s doubts and rumors of would-be starlets gone missing. And by the skin of her teeth, she pulls it off! A serendipitous job offer arrives and Henrietta finds herself on a whirlwind publicity tour for a major film role—with a vexingly unpleasant actor tapped by the studio to be her fake boyfriend.

But fierce Henrietta has more in common with brooding Declan than she realizes. They both have gifts that they are hiding, for fear of being labeled strange: he is immune to injury and she can speak to ghosts. Together, they might be the only people in Hollywood who can do something about these poor missing girls. And in doing so . . . they might just fall in love for real.

This whip smart, seductive caper by the author of Murder for the Modern Girl has the perfect combination of romance, vengeance, and a hint of the supernatural, set in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Hand to fans of These Violent Delights and My Lady Jane.

This sounds so unique and look at that cover - do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Review: Smart Move

Smart Move

Amanda Pennington

Expected publication date: May 18, 2023 (Kindle Unlimited)

Ivy Lunden is Team Keep Things Casual...

I am Toby Azumah's opposite in every way. I'm a pessimist; he's an optimist. I'm into art; he's into sports. Still, I'm highly entertained by our flirtationship. 

When he finally talks me into a date, everything goes wrong. Chaos descends on my orderly life when my mother falls and needs nearly round-the-clock care. Add in my nosy neighbor, and my peace of mind has been turned inside out.

When Toby, Mr. Best-Case Scenario himself, offers to help, I'm skeptical. A relationship with him would only make things more chaotic, right? Or maybe Toby is the real deal, and giving him a chance is a smart move after all.

Toby Azumah is Team Happily Ever After...

I've wanted to take the mysterious, beautiful Ivy Lunden to dinner ever since we met, and I'm confident she just needs a little time to warm up to the idea of us. But nothing goes according to my daydreams.

Despite a no-show date, some flirty texts, and the fierce ways she protects herself and her mom, I see through the chaos and smoke to the real Ivy. The Ivy she rarely shows to the world.

How can I convince her I'm making the smart move and playing for keeps?

'Smart Move' is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #7 in the Work For It series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe. - from Bookshop.org

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review - thank you to the author!

Having been hurt in the past (and having her elderly mother to care for), Ivy isn't looking for a relationship, but Toby is convinced the two of them are perfect for each other.  Despite the chaos that life throws at them, Toby continues to show up for her, and against all odds, Ivy finds herself slowly opening up to Toby - will she finally be able to take a chance on love?

In her second novel, Amanda Pennington has again crafted a sweet, contemporary rom-com.  Although a bit heavier than her last book, there are still moments of levity and humor (I especially love the text messages that start each chapter!).  There's just something about her writing style that is so cozy and enveloping, combined with the realistic and relatable plot and well-rounded characters.

Ivy is a burned-out artist, working a not-so-dream day job.  She is also neurodivergent, adding layers to her personality.  She is the grumpy to Toby's sunshine, a fun take on the trope.  Toby is someone you are definitely going to fall in love with - he's the eternal optimist, kind, funny, handsome... you name it.  He sees so much potential for him and Ivy - it was refreshing to see a man not shy away from his feelings and be open about what he wants, while still being respectful of Ivy's feelings.  When Ivy's mother gets injured and has to move in with her daughter, Toby doesn't see it as a roadblock to their budding relationship, but rather an opportunity to show Ivy who he is.

In addition to the romance (which is totally clean, by the way, no spicy scenes), there are also wonderful friendships, a meddling neighbor, and an intimate look at the loving but complicated relationship between Ivy and her mother.  

4 stars

*This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you.

Top Ten Tuesday: My Most Recommended Books

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.  This week's topic is books we recommend to others the most.  I thought this was an interesting topic because no matter how many books I read or how old they get, I often fall back on the same recommendations.  Here are a few of my go-to recommendations:

Nonfiction

 

Science Fiction

Fantasy

Romance/Women's Fiction

Historical Fiction

 

Mystery/Thriller

  

What are some of your most recommended books?

Michele's Monday Picks #14

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with a new little series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

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The True Love Experiment

By Christina Lauren

Expected Publication Date: May 16, 2023

From Goodreads:

Sparks fly when a romance novelist and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the perfect Hollywood love story and take both of their careers to the next level—but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script—from the New York Times bestselling authors of The Soulmate Equation and The Unhoneymooners.

Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached.

Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie?

Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter. But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.

The True Love Experiment is the book fans have been waiting for ever since Fizzy’s debut in the New York Times bestselling The Soulmate Equation. But when the lights come on and all eyes are on her, it turns out the happily ever after Fizzy had all but given up on might lie just behind the camera. 

Christina Lauren is one of my all time favorite author duos - do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Quick Reviews

Off to the Races by Elsie Silver (2022)

Vaughn is trying to save his family's ranch after his grandfather's passing and a scandal about fixing horse races.  He hires Billie to train the ranch's horses.  The two can't stay away from each other, but will Vaughn decide that the ranch or Billie is more important to him?  I liked Billie at first - she's feisty and sassy and not afraid to say what's on her mind, however inappropriate.  I was a little disappointed that at times she was relegated to stereotypical female character roles - cooking for Vaughn and spending the second half of the story always in tears, despite how strong she seemed earlier.  I liked the ranch setting and learning more about horse racing/horse training.  I'm not really an animal person, but DD the horse really captured my heart!  So, what does it say about the romance when I'm talking more about a horse than the relationship?  It was ok, with some spice, but nothing really new or super interesting to me.  3 stars

Anne of Manhattan by Brina Starler (2021)

A modern adaption of Anne of Green Gables, set in New York City as Anne finishes up her master's degree and comes back into contact with Gil Blythe after five years (and a disastrous kiss) apart.  I wanted to love this so much - I read the original just a couple years ago, for the first time, and fell thoroughly in love with Anne, plus I love a good retelling.  But I don't know, something was missing for me.  Maybe it's because she's older, but I didn't feel the same charm from Anne.  She seemed bland, almost a side character in her own life.  The slow-burn (but not really) romance between her and Gil felt natural; of course you want these two to end up together.  However, the third-act events that break them apart for a time had me rolling my eyes a bit.  I did enjoy seeing how the author incorporated all the original characters, though.  3 stars

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Can't-Wait Wednesday: Royally in Trouble

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Royally in Trouble (Royal #2)

Meghan Quinn

Expected publication date: June 6, 2023

From USA Today and Amazon Charts bestselling author Meghan Quinn, comes the much anticipated sequel to the bestselling royal romance, ROYALLY NOT READY. Full of sweltering heat, suspense, and mystery, Quinn surprises you with some twists and turns while also delivering a perfect happily ever after.

I have two responsibilities as the new heir to the throne:

1. Get married.
2. Have babies.

Sure, becoming queen one day is part of those new responsibilities, but as long as King Theo is in charge, I don't have to add a coronation to my list.

That's why I find myself in the throes of wedding planning, pre-wedding classes with my broody, over-protective fiancé, and counting down the days until we can finally say I do.

But with every day we grow closer to our wedding, we seem to grow apart.

Our commonalities are tested.
Our faith in each other is questioned.
And our safety is threatened.
The only thing working? The command he has over me in the bedroom.

I keep telling myself, it’ll all work out. We just need to make it to the wedding day. Except, when the day finally comes, everything falls apart.

We might have made it through the last few months together, but now I'm not sure we're going to make it out of this alive. - from author's website

Month in Review: April 2023

 

April was a very busy month!  My birthday was at the beginning of April, and it was just a quiet day for me.  My mom came for a week-long visit from Oklahoma, which was great because we hadn't seen her in person since early December.  She was here for Easter and stayed at my sister's house, mostly to watch my niece who was on spring break from school while my sister finished up tax season.  Tom, Henry, and I took a day off to go to the zoo with her, and I spent another day with her, doing some shopping and just hanging out.  We had a couple days of crazy hot weather which I really did not enjoy.  Tax season finally ended, so work should be picking up again soon.  My in-laws came over for a belated Easter.  Also, this little blog turned 7 years old and I almost totally missed it!

The Books

Our Last Days in Barcelona // Heard It In A Love Song // Daisy Darker // The Cartiers

What Once Was Mine // Off to the Races // Anne of Manhattan // Romancing Mister Bridgerton

The Posts and Reviews

Top Ten Tuesday: Indie Authors

Quick Reviews

Michele's Monday Picks #12

Top Ten Tuesday: I Love You Beary Much

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Bling Edition

Top Ten Tuesday: Jigsaw Puzzles

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Spectacular

Quick Reviews

Michele's Monday Picks #13

Little Free Library Sightings

How are you doing?

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.