Review: All You had to do was Stay

 

Two broken hearts. Four years apart. One chance to choose again.

Hannah has built her dream career, planning other people's happy ever afters - with no hope of her own. Not since that day four years ago; the one she never talks about.

Jude is getting on a plane for the first time in four years. He's not happy about it, but at least he'll be back in Sydney before too long - safe from the things he'd prefer to forget.

But when Hannah's twin and Jude's brother make a shock announcement, and appoint a certain wedding planner, the summer stretching ahead of them suddenly looks a whole lot different...

As they're thrown back together, is it possible that first love could get a second chance? - summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I really loved this second chance romance book. I loved how the brother tried to throw Hannah and Jude in each other's paths. The brothers were super cute. I really loved their scenes. I loved the wedding planning. I hated Marc - but his character did add tension to the story. I enjoyed seeing the past relationship between Hannah and Jude unfold - how they got together and why they broke up. 

Source: Netgalley

Library Recommendation: A great second chance romance for your adult collection. 

Review: Every Summer After

 

Percy and Sam have been inseparable since Percy's family moved next door. They haven't talked in years. Charlie, Sam's brother, calls with news of his mother's death. He knows that Sam and Percy haven't talked recently. But Percy loved the boys' mom and they could use her at the funeral. Could this be the right time to heal the rift between Sam and Percy?

My Thoughts: I know I'm late to the party with this book. I've been wanting to read this, but it was nice to finally read it. This was a fun summer read with a dual timeline - as Percy and Sam grew up. I loved that they were best friends from the first moment they met. I wasn't a fan of Percy's best friend from home, but she did grow on me. The twist at the end made me annoyed but I'm curious enough to read Charlie's story. 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect for Summer

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A highly recommended romance book for your public library's collection. 

Review: Finders Keepers Library

 

* Book 1 in the Love in Bloom series * 

For a gardener blessed with a green thumb, Savannah Collins’s life sure seems like it’s all thorns, zero roses. She has no job, no relationship, and no place to live. With nothing but a car full of plants and her new rescue kitten, Savannah heads to Bloom, North Carolina, to spend the summer with her beloved Aunt Eleanor, a retired librarian.

Her aunt shares her love of literature with the Finders Keepers Library, located in her beautiful garden, where anyone can stop by to pick a book or leave a book. When a sudden summer storm destroys the library and many of the roses, it will take a village to get everything ready for the garden wedding that is planned there in just three weeks.

As the entire town joins in to make the necessary repairs, Savannah bonds with their neighbor Evan Sanders over the books that Eleanor has handpicked for each of them, helping them both find healing and self-discovery. Savannah only intends to stay through the summer, but when an unexpected job offer, a sudden health crisis, and a wayward pre-teen push her future in new directions, she has to wonder whether this is the place that she is meant to be—and the family she’s meant to be with. - Summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I loved Aunt Eleanor and her garden library. I loved the bookish moments and the reading lists. I enjoyed the second chance romance with Savannah and Evan. June made for some entertaining moments - I felt badly for her. I wanted to wrap her up in a hug. The social media moments were funny. The secondary characters round out this novel, I can't wait to see who is featured in the next book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute - love the stack of books

Source: My Library

 Why I read this: the author + the 2nd book is a Christmas story

Hand this to: Readers who love Hallmark movies and readers who love books about books

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your romance collection.

Review: Sweet Pea Summer

 

* Book 2 in the Full Bloom Farm Series *

Eight years ago, May decided not to travel the world with Tom after graduation. She never told anyone the truth about that night and let everyone think he left her. Everyone in town turned against him, which wasn't a bad thing because he never came back.

Until his family needed him to come home and run the vineyard. But the vineyard is struggling. Tom needs the Northwest Food and Wine Festival to be a big hit in order to survive. He's willing to do anything to make that happen - including co-organize the event with May.

The more time May spends with Tom, the more she realizes that:

1. She was never brave

2. She should not have kept silent all those years ago

3. She's stuck in a rut

4. She might still have feelings for him.

Could there be room for a second chance?

My Thoughts: I enjoyed the second book in this four book series. Obviously, this is the Persuasion retelling. And I liked that May was the one in the wrong. The tight knit community might be a bit too tight in this one - I felt badly for Tom. He struggled with all the negative comments, but handled it well (much better than I would have.) I liked the moments between May and her father. Looking forward to book 3. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: Book sent for Review

Library Recommendations: Perfect for your Jane Austen fans and your Hallmark movie fans. 

Review: Seashell Harbor

 

Hadley's coming home to spend the summer healing from a heartbreak. She plans to spend time with the grandmother at the family kennel, lounge on the beach, and eat lots of ice cream. But things change. When her parents pick her up, they share that her grandmother fell and broke her hip.

Worse, her high school sweetheart - the one who broke her heart - is back in town. Tony made it to the NFL but an injury sidelined him. Now he's looking to create a restaurant in town. But the space he wants - her grandmother's kennel.

Hadley's not about to let the building go without a fight - especially to him! But fate has a sense of humor and pushing them together. Can they resolve the differences of the past?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this second chance romance. I love the small-town setting. I loved the relationship between Hadley and her grandmother - it was sweet. Her grandmother is feisty. And I do enjoy reading about a famous athlete. A great start to a new series. 

Kit's a single mom living at home but trying to move on. It's time she started standing on her own two feet. Not that it hasn't been great having a live in support system, but sooner of later, life has to move on. And she finally ready. Too bad her parents are in agreement.

Kit's husband died while serving his country. But his best friend just left the military and made it home to check in on Kit and Oliver. Alex has been in love with Kit forever, but his best friend beat him to asking out the girl. Now he's trying to settle for helping her become finically independent by renovating an old Victorian house. Mostly he's trying to stay out of her way because he's having a hard time controlling his feelings.

My Thoughts:  I confess I liked this one a little bit more. I loved Oliver - especially together with Alex. I love a military hero. It was fun watching these two fight their obvious chemistry. I loved the home renovations - from the shopping to the work itself. Lots of funny moments and sweet moments in this book. 

I'm looking forward to Book Three - which I assume is Darcy and Nick's story

Library Recommendations: Highly recommended for your library's romance collection - perfect for those looking for a beach read or Hallmark movie lovers. 

** These books were sent for review

Review: Make Up Break Up

 

Annika believe in the fairy tale romance, which is why her app is all about second chances. She's won a few prestigious awards but her app isn't out yet and her funding has dried up. She needs to win the EPIC pitch in order to survive. 

But her nemesis Hudson Craft moves into the building. His app makes breaking up with someone easy and less personal. 

Annika can't believe the same guy who created the app is the same guy she spent a week in Vegas with. Part of her still adores him, but the other part can't wrap her brain around the guy who created the app in the first place. He's her direct competition, but there's still chemistry sparking between the two of them.

It's a very bad idea...

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this second chance romance. I loved the friendship between Annika and June. I loved the banter and pranks between Hudson and Annika. I really liked the technology aspect - especially the parts where Annika and June inspired other girls who are interested in STEAM. I admire how Annika wanted to create her success on her own terms - through hard work and determination. This was a really fun entertaining read.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My library

Library recommendation: Highly Recommended for your adult romance collection

Fun Fact: Lily Menon writes YA under Sandhya Menon (The Dimpleverse books)

Adult Review: Every Last Breath

* 1st in a trilogy *

Maddox has nothing to lose, making her the perfect operative. An operation goes sideways after it's cut short because she's needed elsewhere does nothing for her self esteem. She's supposed to stop the sale of a deadly virus. And the only person who can help her is someone from her past - someone she thought was dead.

Now she's racing against the clock and trying to keep her emotions in check. The past keeps coming back and she must find a way to deal with it in order to move forward. Can she and Cole save the world and save each other?

My Thoughts: I'm a huge fan of spy novels and movies - so I've been waiting to read this book since I heard about it. It was one of the first books I requested when my library's hold system opened back up. I loved the operations. I loved the team. I'll be happy to read more about them. I enjoyed the emotional struggles between Cole and Maddox and how they worked through things. Lots of action, lots of danger, and lots of emotions in this adventure. I didn't want to put the book down because I had to see how everything would turn out and of course there was a cliff-hanger ending of sorts and now I need the next book in the trilogy!

Cover Thoughts: Awesome
Source: My library
Library Recommendation: A fantastic romantic thriller - highly recommended for public library's romance collections.

Review: Mermaid Inn

* First in a new trilogy *

Eve fled the small town where she spent her summers 10 years ago after a heartbreak and never returned. Her great aunt Lucille died leaving Eve the Mermaid Inn. Eve tries to come into town undercover. She only wants to make a plan with the real estate agent and leave immediately.

She's dumbfounded when the lawyer tells her about the clause in the will - she can't sell the inn for a year. Eve's forced to stay in town and deal with her past heartbreak, the town gossip, and renovating the inn. Will she learn to love this town and Sawyer again?

My Thoughts:  This book was adorable!
I loved this second chance romance in a small town setting. I love how everyone knows everything and how fast the gossip spreads. I loved the bromance between Sawyer and his friends. I loved the moments between Eve and Sawyer as they worked to become friends again - and beyond. I loved their banter and their chemistry. I loved Clara and Eve's interactions. They were really sweet. I loved the friendship between Maya and Eve. I can't wait to read more in this series!

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: My Library
Heard About it: Andi from Andi's ABC was chatting about this book on Twitter.
Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your library's romance section - it's perfect for beach and summer displays. Plus it's perfect for those readers who love Hallmark movies.

Next Book: Paradise Cove

Publishing Date: July 28

Review: Starry Eyes

Zorie and Lennon haven't been the same since the disaster of the homecoming dance. When Zorie agrees to go glam camping with her friend, she has no idea that Lennon (or boys) will be there. And she's not thrilled at the idea either. Her father hates his family and he's not shy about it.

Zorie and Lennon never really hashed out what happened the night that broke their relationship. But when the rest of the party ditches them in the middle of nowhere - they have more than enough time to address it. That is if they can make it out of the woods alive - after storms, wild animals, and getting lost.

Could their relationship be on the mend?

My Thoughts: I adored this book. I loved Lennon's moms. I loved the banter between Zorie and Lennon. I felt terrible for Zorie and learning about her father. I also hated her friends; they were terrible to leave her in the middle of nowhere. But I did love the adventure that came out of it. This book made me long to go hiking and see more of the outdoors, despite all the disasters that happened to them along the way. I loved that Zorie had a passion for the stars. Her astronomy friends were great. I didn't want this to end. I loved the romance, the stars, and the family dynamics. Another fantastic book by Jenn Bennett. I can't wait to read what she writes next!

Cover Thoughts: Love it
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: A must have for public libraries!

Review: My One and Only

Harper's sister calls her with a question, if Harper will be her maid of honor. Harper's horrified to learn that her sister is walking down the aisle for the third time to her ex-husband's brother - especially when her own personal life is a disaster.

Harper reluctant attends the wedding, hoping to talk her sister out of it, but it's no use. Neither is attempting to ignore her ex-husband. She can't help the way she reacts to him, even if she doesn't like it.

When her flight gets delayed, she has no choice but to drive cross country with Nick. The more time she spends with him, the more time she remembers their relationship. She remembers why they were so good together and also why they failed. But they've both changed. Could it be time for second chances?

My Thoughts: I adore Kristan Higgins' books. I've been trying to savor her backlist books because there are days when you just need one of her books. This one was fabulous. I loved Nick and Harper's banter. I loved learning more about their relationship. I loved Harper and Willa and their relationship - how it evolved. I loved her next door neighbor and Coco the puppy was adorable - they added a little humor to the story. I like that Harper was a divorce attorney and a little jaded after her own failed marriage. I liked the small town charm on the island, it made me want to visit the Vineyard. Another winner of a novel. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Kristan Higgins's books should be in all public libraries  - they're just that good.