Book Review: "A Gorgeous Excitement" by Cynthia Weiner

Powerful and moving, Cynthia Weiner’s debut novel captures the boredom and impatience that occurs in the summer before college. Inspired by her own coming of age, it felt so authentic to its setting, NYC in 1986.

Nina is so ready to leave NYC and attend college at Vanderbilt. Her mother’s manic depression leaves her and her father constantly walking on eggshells, and she can’t wait to be away from not knowing what mood her mother will be in. She’s also Jewish in a sea of blue-eyed blondes.

Before she leaves for college, however, she’s determined to lose her virginity. Her drunken encounters with guys she knows have all been disasters, and she hates feeling like she’s the only one left who hasn’t had sex. She wants to go to college as a totally different person.

She spends the summer after high school graduation cycling in and out of temp jobs, and she and her friends spend most of their time at Flanagan’s, the bar where the preppy kids hang out. Nina starts falling for Gardner—handsome, preppy, and enigmatic—but with a self-destructive edge.

As they grow closer, and Nina discovers cocaine, things become more tumultuous. There are fights with friends, her mother seems to recover thanks to a new drug, and it all culminates with a shocking murder—inspired by the actual “Preppy Murder.”

Having been in high school in 1986, I remember this time all too well. Nina isn’t always the most likable but her story is compelling, and Weiner using her own experiences definitely added weight to the story.

Book Review: "Poetry on Ice" by Jesse H Reign

Even though I feel like suddenly hockey romances are EVERYWHERE (I was reading them before they were cool), I need to have my fix. And holy hell, this book was S-T-E-A-M-Y!! (Not that I’m complaining, but…)

Robbie has been traded to the Seattle Vipers. He’s happy to be playing for the team he grew up rooting for, although they’re not as good as his last team. He’s also a bit intimidated by one of his new teammates, Ant. Ant is one of hockey’s bad boys, and for some reason, he’s always had it out for Robbie.

Ant has always felt competitive with Robbie, has always compared his stats to Robbie’s to ensure he is stronger, faster, better. As soon as Robbie joins the team, there is friction between them which instigates fistfights. Not the best look for two of the Vipers’ hottest players, but Ant loves getting a rise out of Robbie.

As the tension grows between them and the team suffers, the coach makes them practice together for hours on end so they can be in sync. He also makes them share hotel rooms when the team is on the road. And it is there where things turn from fighting to, well, you know.

Ant is the dominant one in their encounters and that suits Robbie just fine. While he does everything he can to discourage Robbie from catching feelings, as Ant doesn’t do relationships, it’s not long before Ant realizes he’s fallen for Robbie. And that scares him. A lot.

This was my first book by Jesse H Reign, and it definitely won’t be my last! I enjoyed the character development, the emotion, and the banter as much as the serious heat.

Book Review: "Wedding Dashers" by Heather McBreen

This book was exactly what I needed! What a fun, sexy, and surprisingly emotional debut this was.

Whenever her sister Allison was sad or in trouble, Ada fixed it. She was there to pick up the pieces every time Allison’s relationships would go bad. But when Allison gets engaged after only knowing her fiancé for a short time, Ada keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop. And she might have told Allison that marrying Collin wasn’t the best idea.

The relationship between the sisters is definitely strained, which is why Ada is taking a budget airline to Allison’s fantasy wedding at a castle in Belfast. Of course, the travel gods are not on her side—her flight is canceled and there’s not another one for at least several days, which means she’ll miss the wedding.

As her travel karma goes from bad to worse, a meet-cute with a handsome man helps ease the pain. It turns out this stranger, Jack, happens to be the best man at Allison’s wedding, so the two plan to travel together—a plan that is fraught with roadblock after roadblock. They can’t deny their obvious attraction to one another, but Ada and her boyfriend of 8 years are on a break, and Jack has a reputation for being a bit of a player.

“I wish there was a word for it. The space between longing for someone but not quite loving them.”

Wedding Dashers is definitely a slow burn, and Ada’s early indecision is a little irksome, but the chemistry between her and Jack is excellent. Are there surprises? Not really. Did it matter? Not with the banter, the steam, and the emotion, not to mention the setting!!

Book Review: "Every Tom, Dick & Harry" by Elinor Lipman

What a fun, bighearted book this was! I think I might have had a smile on my face from start to finish.

“I’ve been estate-sale adjacent since I could add and give change, spending weekends at a table, wrapping and bagging purchases.”

Emma moved back to her small hometown of Harrow, Massachusetts, where her parents still live. She helps out with their estate-sale business, and when they decide to retire to Cape Cod, Emma takes over the business (which she renames “Estate of Mind”) and their house.

She hears about a large house being put on the market, so she quickly reaches out to see if the owners would let her handle the estate sale. It turns out that this wasn’t just any house—it was a bed and breakfast as well as a brothel. (The customers used different sets of stairs.) Given all of the furnishings and other tchotchkes in the house, Emma expects quite a windfall, but she doesn’t count on the stress that dealing with the madam, her ex-husband, and their daughter will bring.

There are many other things going on in Harrow. Emma begins a secret romance with Luke, the chief of police, whom she went to high school with. Her boarder, Frank, a retired high school teacher, begins dating Luke’s widowed mother. And then there’s all the craziness related to Frank’s late wife…

Elinor Lipman’s books always have complex and memorable characters, and often are quite humorous. There’s a lot going on here but it’s just such a sweet, fun read. And boy, given all that’s going on in the U.S., it’s exactly what I needed!

The book will publish 2/11/2025.

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: "Moody's Grumpy Holiday" by Lane Hayes

Yes, I know that the holidays are over. That doesn’t mean I’m done with my holiday reads! There’s still snow on the ground here, so I’m good.

Hudson’s engagement ended and he’s honestly not that heartbroken. After spending some time at the fancy California beach resort where his honeymoon was supposed to be, he’s ready for a fresh start. And investing in the Oak Ridge Ranch seems to be the solution.

On the way to the ranch, Hudson decides to do a little sightseeing in nearby Christmas Town, known for their year-round tree and apparently some of the best chicken noodle soup you’ve ever tasted.

While waiting for some soup, Hudson visits Moody’s Marvelous Bah Humbug Bookshop and is immediately intrigued by Moody, the store’s adorable, nerdy owner. Moody is no dummy; he can’t take his eyes off the handsome cowboy that walked into his store. But there’s no way he could be interested in someone like him, right?

Not only is Hudson attracted to Moody, who uses phrases like “two shakes of a lamb’s tale,” but the more he gets to know him, the more he realizes what his heart has been missing. But strangely enough, even though Moody lives and works in Christmas Town, the month of December is his least favorite. He truly embodies the “bah humbug” in his store’s name. Can Hudson help change that?

This was sweet, funny, and romantic, and boy howdy, it was super HOT!! I love how both characters grew through the book and the way they interacted with the supporting characters. All in all, quite a festive story!

Book Review: "Truly, Madly, Deeply" by Alexandria Bellefleur

“If some relationships were doomed from the start, why ever put your heart on the line? Why risk it?”

Truly (her actual name) is a bestselling author of queer historical romances. When she is invited to give relationship advice on a popular podcast, she’s reeling: her 6-year relationship just ended when she found her fiancé with another woman.

Her cohost for the podcast is Colin, the incredibly sexy brother of the podcast creator. Colin is a divorce lawyer, and his views on romance completely contradict Truly’s, and infuriate her, too. She’s so irritated by Colin that she walks out on the podcast in the middle of recording.

Imagine her surprise when Colin reaches out to apologize and ask for a second chance. She enjoys making him beg, plus she can’t help but fantasize more than a little about him, so she agrees. As they get to know each other better, their insults turn into playful flirting, and the sexual tension grows more intense.

Truly is attracted to Colin, but she’s not in the right headspace for a relationship, especially when she learns her parents are on a trial separation. But Colin breaks down every argument, and she realizes how good it feels to have someone care about her this strongly, and to feel the same way. Is it too good to be true?

Y’all, this book is S-T-E-A-M-Y!! I really enjoyed the characters—Truly’s parents and her best friend cracked me up—and the banter is both hysterical and hot. I’ve been a fan of Alexandria Bellefleur’s books for a while, and this was another good one.

Book Review: "How to Sleep at Night" by Elizabeth Harris

At a time where the tiniest thought of politics is enough to make me cringe, I chose to read a book that had a political campaign at its core. And I really enjoyed it, so, yay me!

Ethan and Gabe have been together for years, since Gabe was a senior in college and Ethan was a few years older. They’re happily married, raising a young daughter named Chloe. Politically, Ethan has becoming more conservative, while Gabe has remained progressive all these years.

One night, Ethan tells Gabe he’d like to run for Congress—as a Republican. He believes that being gay, married, a former Democrat, makes him an even more appealing candidate. But he’ll only run if Gabe agrees, so of course, Gabe supports his husband’s ambitions.

Meanwhile, Ethan’s sister Kate—a political reporter for a newspaper—longs to regain the passion for, and fulfillment with, her job. But two things—her brother’s nascent political campaign and the return of Nicole, a woman she loved in college—threaten to upend her. And Nicole, bored with her suburban life and her passionless marriage, tempts Kate with a second chance at romance.

As Ethan’s campaign gains momentum, Gabe starts feeling more and more out of sync with his husband’s ideas. He hates the fact that everyone seems to assume he feels the same way as Ethan about the issues of the day. This cognitive dissonance causes more tension in their marriage and the campaign.

This was tremendously compelling from the very start. I’ll admit I didn’t find any of the characters all that sympathetic, but I was completely invested in their lives, and wondered just how Elizabeth Harris would tie everything up. What a great debut novel!!

Book Review: "Sea Change" by Gina Chung

One of my goals for 2025 is to read more books I own. Like many of you, I’m sure, I have lots of books at home that often get passed over for shiny new things, so I’m definitely going to try and shop from my stacks a bit more.

When I bought Sea Change, I’ll admit I was drawn in by the octopus on the cover. I was still riding the high of loving Remarkably Bright Creatures, so I was looking forward to another story about a relationship between the main character and an octopus.

I was wrong.

Ro’s life isn’t going the way she thought it would as she entered her 30s. Her boyfriend broke up with her to train for a space mission to Mars, her always-prickly relationship with her mother has grown into estrangement, and she probably has a drinking problem. The one thing that brings her solace is her job at an aquarium in the mall.

Ro enjoys spending time with Dolores, a giant Pacific octopus. She feels that Dolores gets her, plus the octopus was one of the last things her marine biologist father found before he disappeared on a trip when Ro was in high school.

When the aquarium sells Dolores to a wealthy private investor, Ro goes into emotional freefall. She misses her boyfriend even though she wasn’t the best girlfriend, she barely speaks to her childhood best friend, and she doesn’t know how to pick herself up and pull her life together.

This was a depressing book, and Ro isn’t the most sympathetic of characters. The book jumps around in time a lot, and other than Ro’s brief time with Dolores, there wasn’t much in the book that really grabbed me.

Book Review: "Something Close to Nothing" by Tom Pyun

“Adulthood isn’t a fairy tale; long-term relationships don’t play out like a Hallmark movie. Relationships are primarily about having shared goals, like creating a family. You have to be in it for the long haul.”

Winston (Wynn) and Jared have been together for a number of years now. Jared is the responsible one; Wynn recently quit his corporate job to become a hip-hop dancer. But they’re about to take a major step: flying to Cambodia for the birth of their baby girl via a surrogate.

The thing is, Wynn isn’t so sure he wants to be a father. Jared may already be planning for their second child, but Wynn can’t imagine being tied down, forced to take care of a baby and give up his dreams. As they get ready to board the plane, Wynn flees, leaving Jared alone with no explanation.

Jared can’t believe that Wynn didn’t tell him sooner that he didn’t want a baby. But Jared desperately wants to be a father, so he makes the trip on his own and his mother meets him in Cambodia, where they await the birth of his daughter.

As Jared deals with the rigmarole of surrogacy in a foreign country and then settles in back at home in San Francisco with his new daughter, Wynn is trying to find himself and get started on his new dance career. Jared devotes himself to fatherhood while Wynn auditions for a singer’s comeback tour and teaches dance in different countries. Both think the other is self-centered and wonder if they made a mistake, but try to get on with their lives.

Neither character is entirely likable, but you can see how they are both right and completely wrong for one another. This is a book about what it feels like to realize you need to grow up, and how you don’t have to give yourself up to be with someone else. It’s both a funny and sad story, and very thought-provoking.

Book Review: "Deck the Fire Halls" by N.R. Walker

One indie author I’ve become a huge fan of over the last 12-18 months is N.R. Walker. She writes lots of fantastic MM romances, and I think I’ve read at least 2-3 of her books this year alone.

Rob’s constant work as a doctor has burnt him out and left him with little opportunity for a life away from his job. It’s gotten so bad, he’s considering walking away from medicine completely. But a friend suggests he move to the small town of Hartbridge, Montana, to work as a general practitioner.

Hartbridge is one of those picture-perfect small towns where everyone is incredibly friendly. He meets his next door neighbor, Soren, who happens to be a muscular, sexy firefighter. Even though the last thing Rob wants is to jump into a relationship so soon, he wouldn’t mind jumping on Soren either!

Soren has never been attracted to a (slightly) older man before, but Rob drives him crazy. He has lived in town for two years and loves that there is an actual gay community, but there hasn’t been anyone for him. Until Rob’s arrival, that is.

The more time Rob spends in town, the more he falls in love with it. The sparks between him and Soren intensify as well, and while each wants to take it slowly to see if something real can develop, it’s becoming impossible to resist giving into their passion. What else can they do?

I loved the setting of this book and all of the characters. The banter was pretty great and the circle of friends cracked me up. This is one steamy book, but it’s also a romantic one!!

Book Review: "The Close-Up" by Pip Drysdale

“Am I the unreliable narrator of my own life?”

Zoe moved to Los Angeles after her first novel was sold and plans were made for its adaptation into a movie. But her best intentions of revising the book went awry, so she lost momentum and another aspiring author got the break that was supposed to be hers. And with one flop to her name, the pressure on her to knock her second book out of the park is definitely intense.

As she tries to come up with an idea for her second book, she works at a florist’s shop. And much to her surprise, she encounters Zach, a guy who ghosted her three years ago, just before he got his big break as an action movie star. She attempts to convince herself not to fall for Zach again, but shortly after pictures of the two appear online, he dumps her again.

“Because everything dangerous starts with warmth: fire, hope, love. Even hypothermia feels warm before it kills you.”

The pressure from her agent mounts, and to top it off, she apparently has a stalker, who is replicating incidents from her first book. She knows the book doesn’t end well for her protagonist, and doesn’t want the same thing to happen to her. But Zach and his security chief say they’ll get to the bottom of everything, and that she’s safe. Yeah, okay…

This started slowly but before I knew it, the tension ratcheted up, the suspense grew, and the book raced toward its conclusion. I have been waiting to read this for a few weeks, and I thought it was absolutely excellent!!

Book Review: "One Night, Two Holidays" by Ali Brady

While Christmas is held on the same day every year, Hanukkah moves around based on the Hebrew calendar. Some years it happens in late November or early December, some years it’s much later. But this year both Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah were celebrated on the same day.

Given the “Chrismukkah” celebrations, discovering Ali Brady’s novella was perfect timing.

It’s Christmas Eve. Jack is a medical resident, ready to release some of his stress by spending a few days with his family in Denver. The last thing he was counting on was an epic snowstorm that cancels all flights out of Chicago. He is sad, frustrated, and lonely.

Nessa is alone for Hanukkah, since her roommates both had other plans and her parents are traveling. When she witnesses Jack’s frustration, she tries to coax a smile out of him. After all, she and her roommates have been intrigued by him for a while.

When the power goes out in their building, Jack is caught completely unaware. He finds Nessa’s apartment and the two plan to wait the storm out together. They talk about each other’s holiday traditions, their hopes and fears, and of course, start to draw closer. (The game of strip dreidel didn’t hurt.)

I love how Ali Brady gave equal weight to both holidays and both characters. They had terrific banter and sizzling chemistry, but I loved how they took their time before anything heated up physically. This was really a sweet story.

Book Review: "12 Dates of Christmas" by Brigham Vaughn

“It suddenly feels a little crazy to realize I totally uprooted my life in Chicago to move to some Christmas-themed small town on the off chance of finding love.”

Leo likes living in Chicago, but dating there drives him crazy. He’s tried it all—apps, bars, blind dates—but he can’t seem to find the right person. He’s even gotten scammed because he’s too naive.

His best friend Hayden had moved to the small town of Christmas Falls a year or so ago—reluctantly—but he ultimately found true love and decided to stay. With his job as a web developer, he can work from anywhere, so he decides to give Christmas Falls a try.

He already has a client in town he’s been working with—Nick, who runs a matchmaking service. When he meets Nick face-to-face for the first time, Leo is instantly smitten. But Nick is not only a widower, he’s straight. So when Nick offers to set Leo up on some dates as a way to thank him, Leo agrees.

Each date turns out to be a total flop. And after every date, Leo and Nick debrief, which Leo starts enjoying more than anything. When Nick tells Leo that he’s actually bisexual, Leo is filled with hope that they might get together. But Nick needs to be sure that his heart is ready to take a chance on love again. Will Leo be willing to wait?

This was my second trip to Christmas Falls, and I absolutely love this series. There were so many themes at play here that I loved, and the characters were just so appealing. I’m thankful that there are so many books in this series still to read!

Book Review: "Exposure" by Ava Dellaira

More than 10 years ago, I read Ava Dellaira’s debut novel, a YA book called Love Letters to the Dead. It was an absolutely beautiful, powerful story. Exposure is Dellaira’s first adult novel, and it is equally powerful, moving, and thought-provoking.

In 2004, Juliette, a student at the University of Chicago, runs into Noah, a high school senior who was in a poetry class she taught as a volunteer project. Juliette is white and Noah is Black, but the two have grief in common. They hook up twice in Juliette’s dorm room.

In 2016, after years of struggling and trying not to lose hope, Noah realizes his dream of becoming a filmmaker. His movie is about to be released, and he and his wife, Jesse, a bestselling novelist, have recently had a baby. On the cusp of this life-changing opportunity, Annie, who was Juliette’s best friend, shares a bombshell about Noah that she recently discovered, and it threatens to upend everything he and Jesse have worked for.

“‘You wanna be able to say she’s good and he’s bad,’ Jesse says, ‘and it would be easier if it worked that way. We all want to be one of the good guys. But we have to live inside of the same story, and it gets messy.’”

The book is narrated by Noah, Jesse, Juliette, and Annie, and shifts back and forth between 1999 and 2016. Each character has their own issues to deal with, but all four are greatly affected by grief, and the book demonstrates how thoroughly it can affect a person.

I’ll admit I didn’t love everything these characters did, but I devoured this book. I’m definitely going to be thinking about Exposure for a long time.

Book Review: "Scrooge You" by Brigham Vaughn

It’s the holiday season all year long in the small town of Christmas Falls, but residents really go all out when the holidays actually come along. Joel owns Ginger’s Breads, a bakery that he bought from his aunt and uncle. Everyone loves his baked goods, both sweet and savory.

Living in a small town means you pretty much know everyone. But Joel doesn’t recognize the handsome young runner who passes by the bakery early each morning. Thanks to a patch of ice in the street, Joel meets Hayden, who has moved to town from Chicago to stay with his mother and stepfather.

Hayden is grumpy because his life isn’t going the way he planned. His post-college job evaporated before he started, and no one seems to be hiring web designers right now. Given that he absolutely loathes Christmas, being stuck in a town called Christmas Falls is truly the seventh circle of hell.

But while Hayden seethes inwardly (and not always quietly), he is intrigued by the handsome, bearish baker whose pumpkin cinnamon rolls are pretty fantastic. Joel, whose life pretty much revolves around the bakery and town events, is attracted to Hayden as well, even though he’s probably 10-11 years younger than Joel.

Flirtation turns to friendship and sex, and it’s not long before both want to spend as much time together as they can. Hayden definitely wants out of Christmas Falls, however, and is hoping he’ll find a job back in Chicago soon. But as their feelings for one another intensify, what does this mean for their future?

This is the kind of rom-com I love, full of small town charm, steamy scenes, romance, humor, and emotion. It’s apparently the 9th book in a series written by different authors, and while I got the sense that certain characters probably were from previous books, this was fine to read as a standalone. How can you resist when a Scrooge regains their love for the holidays?

Book Review: "Deck the Palms" by Annabeth Albert

I’ve been loving the holiday books I’ve read so far, but given it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a white Christmas, it’s always fun to read about a less-traditional celebration. And what better place than Hawaii?

Nolan has been in love with the theater since he was young, and he’s been lucky to perform both on and off Broadway. He loves NYC, but when his sister-in-law has complications with her pregnancy and his brother is in the middle of his deployment, he drops everything and heads to Oahu to help.

Once his nephew gets out of the NICU, Nolan plans to stay in Oahu for the fall season, and takes a short-term job as the music teacher and choir director at a middle school. His responsibilities include directing the school’s holiday festival, for which he’s teamed with the school’s hunky shop teacher, Merry.

Merry, a single dad to twin boys who happen to be in Nolan’s class, comes across as a giant surfing curmudgeon. It’s not that he doesn’t like Nolan (although it seems that way), it’s just that he’s learned not to get attached to people who are in Hawaii for a short time. And despite their attraction to one another, Merry is determined to keep things professional with Nolan.

Of course, their collaboration and friendship includes lots of flirting and even a little matchmaking on the part of Merry’s kids. But what happens when Nolan’s job ends and he heads back to NYC? Is the possibility of love worth the risk of pain?

Hawaii is one of my favorite places, and so it’s the perfect setting for this rom-com. I really enjoyed both of the main characters and their banter (not to mention the steam) and I found many of the supporting characters to be a lot of fun, too.

Book Review: "I Might Be in Trouble" by Daniel Aleman

“…people talk about dreams coming true as if it were a point of arrival—a final destination, and once you’ve reached it, there should be no going back….Nobody talks about what it’s like to get everything you ever wanted…and then lose it.”

David knows what it’s like to have it all. A few years ago, his first novel was a huge success and he was on the cusp of a smashing literary career. But much to his surprise, his second book didn’t make the splash he was expecting—it was a colossal flop.

Now he’s nearly broke, desperately trying to come up with an idea for a third book, and he is still pining for his ex-boyfriend. He spends time on Grindr, and while he knows it’s doubtful he’ll find anyone worthwhile, at least it’ll make him feel less alone.

One night he connects with Robert, a handsome man who is staying at the Plaza Hotel. There’s something magnetic about him, and while the sex is incredible, it feels like so much more than that. They hit a number of bars and clubs throughout NYC, and the more time they spend together, the more there seems to be a genuine connection between them. Late at night they wind up back at David’s apartment, and in the morning, David wakes up to find Robert dead.

How could this have happened? The thought of calling the police and opening his life up to scrutiny doesn’t appeal to him, so he calls the one person he can think of: his unflappable literary agent, Stacey. Stacey has a number of ideas about what to do with Robert’s body, and how David might use this to his advantage.

This book is a bit dark, a bit introspective, and utterly wacky at times. I was expecting something a bit different but I still enjoyed this, no matter how far-fetched it seemed.

Book Review: "Jump to Recipe" by Jena Wade

I love finding recipes online and am always in awe of the work people put into their food blogs. I will admit, though, that when I’m in a rush I love the “Jump to Recipe” link, which is why the title of this book caught my eye.

Sam is an amazing baker. His bakery and his blog, both called “Whisk Me Away,” are tremendously popular. In addition to sharing his recipes, he shares a bit of himself and life in the town he grew up in.

One secret that Sam hasn’t shared with his customers or followers is that he’s in love with Graham, his brother’s best friend and business partner. Well, he hasn’t shared it until now, as his confessing his love for Graham amidst a recipe—inspired by too much wine—has just been published. And now the secret is out.

Graham is a travel writer whose blog is also quite popular. In fact, he and Sam often fight to be the first person to comment on each other’s posts. He loves Sam’s baking, and he loves how Sam always has cookies waiting for him when he comes home from a trip. But even with all that, Graham is surprised—and very pleased—to read Sam’s confession.

The whole town is abuzz with gossip and they all are rooting for Sam and Graham to end up together. Sam is embarrassed and worries that Graham isn’t interested in him. He quickly finds that’s not an issue!

This was all kinds of fun and adorable, and sweeter than a bakery confection. I hope Jena Wade will give us more of these characters and this town!!

Book Review: "Unromance" by Erin Connor

This was excellent!! I love how authors can take familiar elements and weave them together into something that feels new and fresh. Erin Connor definitely did that with her debut rom-com, Unromance.

Sawyer is a bestselling romance author who has been dealing with writer’s block since her girlfriend left her. Ironically, she’s also sworn off love, as it only seems to bring complications and pain.

One snowy night, she has a meet-cute with a handsome man in an elevator. Unbeknownst to her, the man is Mason West, a soap opera actor known for his love life as much as his talent. They flirt up a storm and Sawyer decides to go home with him. A one-night stand should do the trick, or it would if they could stop running into each other!

For Mason, running into Sawyer repeatedly is a sign, a sign that they can help each other. He can help Sawyer find inspiration that will lead to her next book, and she can help hopeless romantic Mason become desensitized and stop falling in love with the slightest romantic gesture. And all they have to do is follow two rules: they can’t fall in love with one another, and they can’t have sex. Super easy, no?

Of course, the decision to avoid having sex and/or falling in love never quite goes according to plan. They might not be able to outrun their feelings, and do they really want to?

The chemistry between Sawyer and Mason is off the charts, and so is the steam! I loved the way he treated her in particular, and Sawyer’s take-no- no prisoners attitude was awesome.

Thanks so much to Forever and NetGalley for the advance copy. The book will publish 1/14/2025.