Book Review: "The Perfect Home" by Daniel Kenitz

Wyatt and Dawn Decker are reality TV darlings. Their home renovation show, The Perfect Home,” is a cable favorite, and viewers love the way the two balance each other out—Wyatt’s handsomeness and goofy Southern charm, and Dawn’s sensibility and nurturing instincts.

Dawn would gladly trade her pseudo-celebrity status for motherhood. When tests reveal that their problems conceiving are related to Wyatt’s low sperm count, he tries an experimental fertility drug. Dawn gets pregnant with twins fairly quickly, and while Wyatt supposedly weans himself off the drug, he starts having mood swings, anger issues, and periods of unpredictability.

When Dawn uncovers Wyatt’s horrifying plan to create a tragedy which will raise their ratings and increase their celebrity, the only thing she can think to do is take the twins and flee. But Wyatt, the more popular member of the couple, turns the public against her and paints himself as the victim. Even her closest friends are convinced by Wyatt’s allegations.

With nowhere to turn and no one to count on for support, Dawn must find new allies if she has any chance of holding on to her children. But it’s going to require dredging up the past—both hers and Wyatt’s—and finding help in the unlikeliest of places.

What do you do when the person you loved turns into a monster, someone you don’t even know? How can you convince everyone that they’re being manipulated to believe you’re the problem? How do you know whom you can trust?

I liked the set-up of the story and enjoyed the reality show aspects. I found Wyatt’s about-face really disappointing and once the book focused more on his manipulating people to believe Dawn was a danger, I lost interest in the book. Given that I didn’t like the book version of Gone Girl (but loved the film adaptation), I should’ve known to avoid a book marketed as "Fixer Upper meets Gone Girl”!

Book Review: "Holiday Tides" by Laura Langa

I was looking for a little bit of joy to brighten up the craziness of the last week. And then I found it: an enemies to lovers, second chance holiday romance? In a beach town? Ho Ho Ho, indeed!!

It’s been a long time since Summer was back in Wilks Beach, but it’s finally her turn to live in her grandmother’s cottage—being the youngest of six kids means you have to wait a while. It’s not long before she discovers that Nick, her high school rival, is back in town, too. He made her teenage years miserable, and Summer is determined not to let his handsome charm win her over.

Nick is thrilled to see Summer, and is saddened that the feeling is far from mutual. But seeing as he works for his adopted brother’s renovation company, and Summer’s cottage is old and in desperate need of repair, Nick is more than happy to help her out. And then she’ll owe him.

When they graduated high school, they were both headed to college and then medical school. Summer is a pediatrician now, but why is Nick back in town working construction? Why does he smell so darn good? And why is he all she thinks about, although the memories of their rivalry still stick in her craw?

Ironically, Summer loves Christmas more than anyone. Can her first Christmas back in Wilks Beach be made holly jolly by the handsome surfer in a Santa wetsuit? And are his feelings for real this time?

This was all kinds of adorable. I’m a sucker for banter, and this book has it at full-strength. I really loved the setting and the characters, and I’ll be waiting for Laura Langa’s first full-length Wilks Beach romance this summer!

Book Review: "Rehearsed to Death" by Frank Anthony Polito

I’ve been meaning to get back to this fun cozy mystery series for a while, and I’m glad I finally did! The marketing blurb called this book “Hart to Hart via HGTV,” and of course, it made me think about how I used to love that show! (You youngsters reading this review, the 80s were fun years of TV.)

Peter (PJ) and JP return, but their home renovation show, Domestic Partners, is on hiatus. Instead, they’re focused on the theater. Peter’s first play, Blue Tuesday, is going to be produced, and JP will be the star.

There are hopes that the play might even make it to Broadway, so a big-deal director is brought in to up the ante. And Xander Sherwood Deva is the biggest of big deals—especially in his own mind. It’s not long before this overly affected, egotistical, spiteful, scarf-wearing tyrant drives everyone to anger. Given all of the enemies he’s made in his career, it’s not entirely surprising when he’s found dead, but who sent Xander for his final curtain call?

JP and Peter are determined that Blue Tuesday will go on as planned, regardless of Xander’s murder. But before the curtain can rise, they’ll need to slip into their detective roles and figure out who killed their director.

Will they unmask the killer before it’s too late? Will the show go on? Will anyone else wind up in danger? And will the play be a success? So much is riding on the couple, including the realization of their own dreams.

I think this series really is a delight. The characters make me laugh and the whole plot had a fun, farcical tone to it. I loved seeing them solving crimes together. I’ll definitely pick up the third book in the series a bit quicker!

Book Review: "Built to Last" by Erin Hahn

One of my favorite YA romance writers releases her first adult romance…and it’s so good!!

Shelby was a popular child star and pop singer, starring on a hit television show. When her relationship with her costar, Lyle, ends badly, she has a bit of a public meltdown and then retreats to her childhood home in Michigan, where she recognizes her talent for restoring and improving vintage furniture.

Whenever Shelby has had a problem, her other costar, Cameron, has come running. But whenever they get close enough to act on their feelings for one another, Cameron runs again, pursuing a successful career as a nature photographer and documentarian around the world.

Five years later, Lyle tries to get Shelby and Cameron together to film the pilot of a home renovation show. Shelby is interested in showing the world that she’s moved past her messy phase and is a grown woman with real talent. Cameron is tired of running, and as much as the idea of giving in to his feelings for Shelby appeals, he doesn’t know how long he can stay. And of course, Lyle is just interested in causing trouble for the both of them.

I love second-chance romance and I’m a sucker for home renovation shows, so this was such a winner for me. As always with Erin Hahn’s books, the supporting cast is fantastic—there could be books about so many of them. There’s chemistry and banter and romance and even some steam, and I was there for all of it!

Book Review: "The Beach Trap" by Ali Brady

Romance, family drama, house renovations, and a beautiful beach setting—could you ask for more? If this sounds up your alley, check out The Beach Trap.

Kat and Blake became inseparable best friends at camp the summer they were 12 years old. But as the summer ends they make a shocking discovery: they’re half-sisters, and Blake hasn’t seen their father in years. Devastated by this betrayal, Kat breaks off all contact with Blake.

Fifteen years later, their father dies and leaves both of them the family’s beach house in Destin, Florida. Blake wants to sell it as soon as possible because she needs the money to care for her grandfather, but Kat wants to hang onto the place that held so many memories for her.

The house is run down, so the sisters—in a rare moment of agreement—decide that they will renovate it and at the end of the summer, Kat will buy Blake out. But while Blake does most of the work, Kat, a popular social media influencer, wants complete creative control, which causes more friction between the former friends.

Meanwhile, both embark on summer romances, although Blake finds a man with family secrets of his own. Can the happiness they’ve found last more than the summer? Will the sisters be able to find their way through their past resentments and hurt in order to rebuild their relationship? And what will happen to the house?

This was such an enjoyable read. It had everything I love in a book—even an adorable dog—and I was immersed from start to finish. It’s definitely a bit steamy, but it’s also poignant, funny, and sweet.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review!