romance

Bright Lights, Big Christmas

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Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

Kerry, a freelance graphic artist, very reluctantly agrees to spend a month with her brother Murphy in New York City to sell the Christmas trees Murphy and their father Jock grow in the mountains of North Carolina. Jock is recovering from a heart attack, and her mother Birdie, thinks she needs to get out more since her job was eliminated in a corporate merger. A change of scene does sound good, and Kerry has fond memories of past Decembers in New York. But driving her dad’s old Ford truck to New York City while towing a vintage camper has her uneasy, and the camper’s plumbing doesn’t even work.

The Tollivers have been selling Frasier fir trees in Greenwich Village for over 35 years, and local business owners and residents help with setup, electricity, hot coffee, and bathroom breaks. And Murphy’s dog Queenie is a sweetie, though it turns out that Murphy snores, loudly. After the opposite of a meet-cute, Kerry is charmed by local Patrick and his young son Austin. Also welcoming are a mom of toddler twins, a restaurant hostess who gets Murphy to smile, and an older man who brings Queenie treats and gives Kerry advice on improving her sketches for an illustrated winter story she’s making with young Austin.

The hours are long, the weather gets colder, Kerry’s decorated wreaths keep her very busy, and showers and meals are as regular as she’d like. But the hospitality of the neighborhood is awesome, apart from rival Christmas tree sellers. Charming, funny, and heartwarming; a delightful holiday read even on a beautiful fall day.

Brenda

The Neighbor Favor

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The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

This enjoyable contemporary romance is set in New York City. The first part of the book is all emails from Lily, an editorial assistant, to her favorite Black British fantasy author. Lily has a very demanding boss and two sisters who keep setting her up on dates, a cute young niece, and a cat. Author Strick now works as a travel journalist and writes emails from his assignments in several different countries.

Several months later, Lily is staying with her sister Violet, saving up money to rent a studio apartment, when she meets a handsome book-loving neighbor names Nick, who has a sparsely furnished apartment on the same floor. Lily and Nick become friends, and there are definitely sparks between them. It’s hard not to root for them to get together. The world of a writer and a woman who longs to edit children’s books make for very appealing reading.

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.  

The Homewreckers

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The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews

A very good summer read that includes romance, some humor, and a mystery. Readalikes include Maggie Moves on by Lucy Score, and books by Sarah Graves, Jennifer Crusie, and Tessa Bailey.

Hattie is a young widow in Savannah who works with her father-in-law Tug and best friend Cass rehabbing houses. When Hattie falls in love with the wrong dilapidated but promising house, she needs to recoup her losses quickly. Mo Lopez persuades her to film a pilot for a reality show he’ll call Saving Savannah. There’s not a lot of affordable housing inventory in the area, but Hattie hears about an auction for a condemned waterfront house on Tybee Island, in a historic district.

Trae is brought in a a designer for the tv show, and possible love interest, but Hattie isn’t sure she can trust him. A wallet is found in the wall belonging to Lanier Ragan, who’s been missing for 17 years. She was Cass and Hattie’s favorite English teacher, and they never thought she’d leave a young daughter behind.

The filming scheduled is incredibly tight, there’s a very picky inspector, and then some vandalism occurs on the property, including possible arson. The descriptions of the house remodeling sound charming, even without pictures, and I enjoyed the combination of themes in this charming page-turner. Even though this is a standalone novel, I wish Andrews would write more about Hattie and Cass.

Georgie, All Along

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Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn

Georgie, Levi, and Hank, his large dog, connect in their Virginia hometown after her parents ask Levi to house and plant sit for them. Georgie’s job as a personal assistant in Hollywood abruptly ends when her boss Nadia decides to retreat to the desert. Georgie comes home to help her friend Bel, who has just moved from Washington, D. C. to a large house nearby with her husband Harry and needs help organizing the house before their baby arrives. Georgie finds the notebook she and Bel made in 8th grade with their plans to take on high school and hopes it will help her reinvent herself. Bel has always been a high achiever, but Georgie has drifted along, skipping college to take the first job that interested her, then eventually becoming a successful PA. The notebook had a lot of fun plans that the teens somehow never completed, such as dancing at a local bar. Bel and Levi agree to help Georgie complete some of her teenage plans, which leads to some funny scenes. Levi’s dog Hank is also entertaining, as well as endearing.

Levi owns a small local business, but is estranged from his wealthy family, although he misses his brother Evan and sister Olivia. He was the family black sheep, and still has some issues to work through. Georgie’s parents are more easygoing free spirits, and love Georgie without giving her a lot of guidance, except after she has an argument with Levi. Of course, Levi and Georgie reconnect, leading to a charming ending. This tender romance is a compelling read, though this is definitely not a rom-com.

Readalike authors include Lucy Score, Emily Henry, Jen DeLuca, and Jennifer Crusie.

Brenda

Maggie Finds Her Muse

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Maggie Finds Her Muse by Dee Ernst

Maggie Bliss, 48, has writer’s block. The second book in her romantic adventure Delania trilogy is to be published soon, and she is completely stuck on the final book. Her boyfriend Greg is completely unsupportive, even when Maggie misses a deadline. Her agent Lee and his partner Martin have an apartment in the Marais section of Paris, and invite her to stay there and write. Maggie gets to spend time with her daughter Nicole, who’s living in Rennes, and Nicole’s father Alan, who’s just retired. They tour the Musée d’Orsay together, and visit Versailles. Lee and Martin have a live-in housekeeper Solange, whose son Max often travels to Paris on business. There’s also a cute dog Jules, who keeps Maggie company when Solange is out of town. Handsome Max becomes Maggie’s muse, and she has trouble writing when he’s out of town, leading to a desperate Maggie lying about trouble between Nicole and her boyfriend Louis. The descriptions of life in Paris, especially the wonderful meals, make for perfect armchair travel, and the possibility of romance between Maggie and Max, or Maggie and Alan, make for very entertaining reading.

I really enjoyed the author’s newest book, Lucy Checks In, set in Rennes, in northwest France.

Brenda