Book Review: "Annie Knows Everything" by Rachel Wood

Rom-coms are all too often the cure for what ails me emotionally. Even when the main characters are in turmoil, I’m right there supporting them and tearing up when they realize they’re meant to be together.

Rachel Wood’s debut is sweet, fun, steamy, and so enjoyable. Annie is shocked when she gets laid off from her job in the middle of the week. (People usually get let go on Mondays or Fridays.) Luckily, her best friend works in HR, so Annie gets reassigned to the Data Strategy Team.

Annie’s reassignment is a surprise to the interim team lead, Connor, seeing as he never interviewed or signed off on her joining the team. Oh, and there’s also the issue that Annie really has no idea what data strategy is, and can’t write code to save her life. But somehow, she wins Connor over with her take-no-prisoners attitude and quickly becomes a valuable member of the team.

As she’s winning over Connor and her coworkers, she’s also dealing with some family tension. Her sister is engaged to the worst man in the world (or at least Canada) after they broke up once before. Can Annie keep her feelings about her soon-to-be brother-in-law to herself this time?

Amidst lots of adorable banter and some real wins, Annie and Connor fall for each other. Of course, boss/subordinate relationships aren’t the best idea, but just looking at the two of them, you know how they feel about each other. But Annie’s tendency to go for the nuclear option first proves hazardous both to her job and her relationship. Can she salvage either?

I honestly don’t care that rom-coms are predictable. The chemistry and the banter between Connor and Annie was absolutely wonderful, and I enjoyed the other guys on the Data Strategy team, too. This was just one of those books that put a smile on my face.

Book Review: "The Shots You Take" by Rachel Reid

This was so fantastic! Thanks so much to Carina Adores and NetGalley for the advance copy of the book.⁣⁣

⁣⁣ The last person Riley was expecting to show up at his father’s funeral was Adam, his former best friend and hockey teammate. Twelve years had passed since they’d seen each other, and the last time they spoke, Riley told Adam he wanted him out of his life.⁣⁣

⁣ What they had was so much more than a friendship. Yes, they shared an immense love for hockey, but their relationship was a physical one as well. And while Riley knew he was in love with Adam, Adam was afraid to acknowledge his feelings. It was easier to pretend it only happened when they were drunk or in the heat of the moment following a game.⁣⁣

⁣⁣ Adam’s arrival in the small town of Avery River, Nova Scotia causes quite a stir. Even though he retired from hockey, he’s still favored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. But his career achievements aren’t nearly as important as trying to help Riley through his grief—and letting him know how much he regretted denying his true feelings when they were younger.⁣⁣

⁣⁣ Not only does Riley have to deal with his grief about his father’s death, but Adam’s return reminds him of the anger and sadness he had tried to put behind him. But he’s never stopped loving Adam, although he tries everything not to allow himself to be vulnerable again.⁣⁣

⁣⁣ I love Rachel Reid and the way her books are fun, emotional, steamy, and heartfelt. What was fantastic about this book was that the main characters are more mature—in their late 30s or early 40s—so there was a gravity to the story that really worked. I loved it!⁣⁣

⁣⁣ The book will publish 3/4/2025.⁣⁣

Book Review: "This Summer Will Be Different" by Carley Fortune

Even though I’ve read other “summer” books, for some reason I feel like the season has arrived now that I’ve read Carley Fortune’s new book, This Summer Will Be Different. And not just that, but I’ve officially added Prince Edward Island to my travel bucket list!

Lucy and Bridget are former roommates and inseparable best friends. When Lucy goes to visit Bridget’s childhood home on PEI, she arrives alone because Bridget was delayed. On a whim she goes to an oyster bar, where in addition to some fantastic food, she meets Felix, a sexy local. They spend an incredible night together, and then she realizes Felix is Bridget’s younger brother, so he is off-limits.

But every time Lucy and Bridget travel from Toronto to PEI, they take in the beauty of the island, spend time walking on the beach and drinking by the fire, and acting like tourists. And every time, Lucy winds up sleeping with Felix, and they both promise not to let it happen again, and to keep it a secret from Bridget.

A week before Bridget’s wedding, she mysteriously flees Toronto and goes home without telling anyone. Then she calls Lucy and asks her to come to PEI, but doesn’t explain why. Lucy is determined to help Bridget weather whatever crisis she is dealing with, but Bridget isn’t ready to share why she came home. And at the same time, Lucy still cannot resist Felix, but this summer it feels like more than just a fling. But will this hurt her friendship with Bridget?

This is a romance, complete with some serious steam and the push-and-pull of two people who want each other but are deathly afraid of truly letting their hearts go. Yet it’s also a story about true friendship. As Bridget says, “It’s how I learned that the greatest loves are not always romances.”

Fortune not only weaves beautiful stories, but she creates such vivid, evocative imagery that touches all of your senses. I have my passport ready and know all the words to “O Canada”!