rom-com

Ghost Business

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Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca

Ghost Business, an enjoyable read, is the second spooky rom-com by DeLuca, who also has four wonderful romances set at renaissance faires, beginning with Well Met.

Ghost Business is the sequel to Haunted Ever After, and both stories are set in Boneyard Key, somewhere on Florida’s Gulf Coast. I’ve visited Florida several times and never once thought of ghosts or hauntings, but maybe I haven’t visited the right towns. Carol Perry writes a cozy mystery series set in Florida, beginning with Be My Ghost, which are readalikes for Ghost Business. The Spirit Moves is the fourth and most recent. Cedar Key was the inspiration for Boneyard Key.

Tristan moves to Boneyard Key for six months, staying in a condo his dad’s just bought for an investment. He’s there to start up a ghost tour, which he and his college buddy Eric run in several tourist towns across the U.S. Right away he meets Sophie, who also runs a ghost tour in Boneyard Key every weekend. She doesn’t have a website, so Tristan and Eric didn’t know they’d have competition. Sophie, a local, knows that Boneyard Key is truly haunted, and tells the stories of the resident ghosts. Tristan, with Ghouls Night Out, just wants to entertain his customers with familiar ghost stories with no real connection to Boneyard Key. Of course, Tristan doesn’t believe in ghosts, which leads to some funny scenes.

Tristan and Sophie are rivals, though quite attracted to each other, and Tristan has a hard time getting the locals to welcome him. A few months after he’s settled in, a hurricane is headed for the Gulf Coast, and Boneyard Key. No one in town is injured, but it’s pretty intense reading. Tristan needs Sophie’s help, and they fall for each other. Rivals to lovers is a common but pretty good trope, and DeLuca is a very good storyteller. I look forward to her next page-turner, wherever it’s set.

Brenda

Back After This

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Back After This by Linda Holmes

Cecily Foster lives in Washington, D.C., and produces podcasts. When offered the chance to host a show that her friend Julie would produce, she’s excited. Her boss Toby even agrees to let her tape a pilot of a podcast she will write. But the new podcast turns out to be Twenty Dates. Eliza Cassidy, an influencer turned life coach, will set up dates for Cecily with 20 suitable men, including a practice date, then arrange follow up dates.

Cecily does get some awesome meals, advice, and men who are okay, but they aren’t her meet-cute guy, Will. Cecily and Will meet four times by accident in her neighborhood, and the first time she helps him catch a large runaway dog, who isn’t even Will’s dog. Eliza does not think Will would be a good match, and discourages her from dating him. Layoffs are threatened at work, and the advertising revenue for Twenty Dates would really help her company. Cecily’s sister Molly is her lifeline when life gets too hectic.

A third of the way through the book I knew who Cecily would choose and wasn’t looking forward to the bumps in the road the author would be sure to put in her way. But Cecily and her podcasting work are quite interesting and there’s enough humor that I happily read through to the triumphant end, which has as much to do with Cecily’s work as it does her love life.

A feel-good read for fans of Emily Henry, Abbi Waxman, Jennifer Crusie and for readers of Evvie Drake Starts Over and Flying Solo, also by Holmes.

Brenda

The Christmas Crush

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The Christmas Crush by Noelle Douglas

Even as we’re heading into Spring, it can still be enjoyable to listen to a winter holiday romance. This is my favorite from the last couple of years, a first novel by an Illinois author, probably because much of the story is set in a cookie bakery and its new rival. Elena Voss is a vice-president of marketing for Sparkle Cookies. She is very good at her job, but finds it increasingly stressful and would rather be painting, or maybe adopting a cat. Sparkle Cookies has many cookie shops and the cookie dough is mass produced at a central bakery then baked and served by staff. The stores look fabulous, with a lavender color theme, and influencers love the photo ops of the cookies, especially at openings of a new bakery.

Lawrence Higgins, tall and handsome, is fond of his grandma and rather shy. He runs Sweet L’s Bakery in New Hope, Pennsylvania, the location of Sparkle Cookie’s next shop, with a grand opening expected on Christmas Eve. Lawrence’s dog Sugar often comes and hangs out in the office. Lawrence and Elena do not have a meet cute during their first encounter at a town hall meeting, but are soon striking sparks. They meet again at a cookie exchange, and Elena gets to experience a small-town Christmas tree lighting. Elena’s boss is very demanding, though her friend and coworker Priya is great, and she is challenged to make the grand opening a big success.

This is an uplifting and sweet rom-com, not at all a cookie-cutter romance, if you’ll excuse the pun. Lawrence bakes with love, his assistance Carmen is awesome, and the small-town setting is snowy and cozy. Lawrence is a talented baker, as is his grandma, and he can tell that Sparkle cookies don’t use real butter. Is there a way his little bakery can compete with the big chain, and will Elena be a help, or just a rival? Listening to the audiobook narrated by Kim Churchill makes me want to bake lots of cookies or a least visit a local, non-chain bakery to enjoy the wonderful aroma of freshly baked cookies. Pistachio Drop cookies from Sally’s Baking, anyone? Here’s the link: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/pistachio-cookies/ I look forward to another sweet rom-com from Douglas.

Brenda

Birding With Benefits

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Birding With Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb

This is such a fun debut romance, and I really appreciate that the couple on the cover are both around 40. Celeste is a middle school language arts teacher. Her daughter Morgan is an amazing artist and a high school senior, though she keeps putting off her college entrance paperwork. Celeste’s ex-husband, Peter, didn’t appreciate her exuberant personality. Her best friend Maria is a brand-new mom. Always trying new hobbies, Celeste meets Chris at a sip and paint event, decorating little teapots.

Chris, who studies snails, connects Celeste with his best friend John, who needs a partner and a fake date for a birding event. The event turns out to be a six-week birding competition in the Tucson area for experienced birders. John would like to start guiding new birders and winning the competition would really help him jumpstart his business. Currently he’s a part-time woodworker. Improbably (but predictably), they agree to partner for the event, and Celeste gradually learns to be a birder. After sparks fly, they decide to be birders with benefits and make out in a closet during a party.

Later on, there are some steamy sex scenes for Celeste and John, but their arrangement is planned to end with the competition. When one of the pair wants a regular relationship, the other one gets cold feet. Celeste also has some parenting issues to cope with, and John worries that he’s not ambitious enough for Celeste.

Sweet, sexy, and funny, with realistic conflicts and characters. The author lives in Tucson, writes under a pen name, and is a birder and librarian. She’s happily under contract for two more books. A readalike author is Emily Henry.

Brenda

Earls Trip

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Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday

In this Regency era rom-com, two earls and a viscount who have been friends since their days at school take a fortnight’s holiday together every summer. Archie, Simon, and Effie are on their way to a ruined castle in Cumbria in North West England, although it’s been a challenge to get them all together this year. A messenger on horseback finds their carriage and tells them that Sir Albert Morgan needs their help. The Morgans are neighbors of Archie, and Clementine and Olive were his childhood friends. Apparently, Olive is eloping to Scotland with Mr. Bull and Clementine, dressed in men’s clothing, has gone after them. Clementine had recently called off her engagement to Mr. Bull.

The humorous adventure is on, as Archie, Simon, and Effie track down Clementine, Olive, and Mr. Bull at an inn. The rescue does not go smoothly, and Clementine and Olive end up travelling with the three friends to their rented castle. Once there, the sisters keep different hours and take their meals separately from the men, especially as Clementine has become a vegetarian. Of course, Archie finds that he wants to spend more time with Clementine, and there are definite sparks, though Clementine doesn’t want to ever marry. This is a funny and charming romance with an unlikely plot and quirky characters. There is also a racing turtle named Hermes. A sequel is planned for next year: Manic Pixie Dream Earl.

Brenda

Love, Theoretically

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Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

One year after completing her Ph.D., Elsie is an adjunct instructor at three Boston area universities. She has no health insurance, which is especially problematic as she has Type 1 diabetes. Elsie’s also a people pleaser, reluctant to be her authentic self with anyone because she fears rejection. Her roommate, Cece, doesn’t know Elsie’s feelings about artsy movies, Cece’s pet hedgehog, or Twilight. They do have a love of cheese in common, and both go on fake dates for the Faux app.

Elsie can be herself with one person she really dislikes: experimental physicist Jack. Jack works at M.I.T., where Elsie has an interview for the only open physics position on the east coast. Elsie is a theoretical physics, longing for time to do more research on liquid crystals, but knows that an experimental physicist is more likely to get the position. Jack also turns out to be connected to one of Elsie’s regular fake dates, and they met at a family gathering where she said she was a school librarian. Definitely not a meet cute situation! There are sparks between them, and Elsie feels free to react naturally to situations when she’s with Jack.

I learned a bit about the clash between experimental and theoretical physics, and the challenges of being an adjunct instructor. Elsie gets many, many emails from her students asking for extensions, explaining their absences, asking for references, and so much more. Along the way, Elsie and Jack spend more time together, although they don’t so much as kiss until two-thirds of the way through the story. Elsie finally learns to say no to her mother, and the truth about her physics mentor is revealed. There’s tenderness and humor here, along with romance and Elsie’s journey of self-discovery. A remarkable read if you enjoy contemporary rom-coms, especially ones featuring women scientists. Readalike authors include Talia Hibbert, Helen Hoang, and Lucy Parker.

Brenda

Lavender’s Blue

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Lavender’s Blue by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer

It’s been quite a while since her last books, but rom-com readers may remember Jennifer Crusie, whose books include Bet Me and Getting Rid of Bradley. Jenny & Bob also wrote a couple of funny romantic thrillers including Agnes and the Hitman. Jenny’s heroines are often curvy women with curly hair who have, in the recent past, had bad taste in men. Then the women get assertive, make a big change in their life, adopt a dog, and meet a very sexy man who makes them laugh.

I prefer cats, but also like dogs, and I have always enjoyed cheering for Crusie’s heroines as they make good choices, in their careers, homes, men, and pets. These women often need to deal with some serious stuff, but are also very funny, and really learn to enjoy life, and love.

And now, Jenny & Bob are back, with a new series! Rest in Pink is due out later this month. Liz Danger is on her way to Chicago for work, when she gets a note from her Aunt Mary Lou, guilt tripping her into visiting her mother Mary Beth in Burney, Ohio for her birthday. With a giant red stuffed bear in tow, Liz somehow zooms right past the exit for Burney. She’s been gone for 15 years, yet people still think of her as a rebellious teen who got dumped by Cash Porter. Also, they hug too much. Liz promptly gets pulled over by Vince Cooper, who then replaces three missing lug nuts on the right rear tire of her older Toyota Camry.

So, Burney, a small town overlooking the Ohio River not far from Cincinnati, cannot be escaped. Cousin Molly is thrilled to see Liz, and Liz can still work in the Camry’s backseat, ghostwriting celebrity Anemone’s memoir. The Camry needs some work before she can drive to Chicago. But she probably shouldn’t have bought her mom that bear.

Molly shares the news that Cash Porter is marrying Lavender Blue, and Lavender wants Liz to be in her wedding party. Chicago will have to wait a little longer. Then Liz learns that Vince, a former Army Ranger, loves old diners as much as she does, and can kiss really well.

Some old secrets are revealed and a bit of danger creeps into the story, and later a suspicious death. While this book isn’t as steamy as her earlier books, Lavender’s Blue is a very appealing and compelling read. I want to read more about Liz, Vince, Cousin Molly, Anemone and young Peri, so I am looking forward to the next two books in the series.