Scan barcode
emileereadsbooks's reviews
1120 reviews
The Fall Back Plan by Melanie Jacobson
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to Melanie Jacobson for the book to review. All opinions are my own.
When Jolie Shaw's life falls apart, she retreats back to her hometown. But she's not the quiet and shy girl that left all those years ago. She intends to make her presence known by renovating the old dive bar. But when some locals cause a scene at the bar's opening, the sheriff has to intervene. And Jolie is shocked to find that it's former bad boy Lucas Cole. As the high school versions of each other are replaced with the reality of who they have each become, sparks fly. But with Lucas being the guardian of his niece, they have more than just each other to consider.
_____
Melanie Jacobson is cementing herself in my upper echelon of sweet rom com writers. I really enjoyed this sweet love story. But it's more than just a love story. Jolie is on a journey of self discover and having to contend with who she was and who she wants to be. Jacobson reminds me of Katherine Center in that regard. She allows her characters to have room to grow and develop.
I also appreciate that these characters aren't typical rom com middle class characters. They both grew up in poverty. And I appreciate how they have to contend with that part of their past as they confront their futures.
Lastly, there is much bookish and library love found within these pages. I appreciate how books and libraries represent healthy escapes as well as connection points.
_____
This is a closed door romance.
There is a bonus scene available by joining the author's newsletter. Make sure and check that out!
When Jolie Shaw's life falls apart, she retreats back to her hometown. But she's not the quiet and shy girl that left all those years ago. She intends to make her presence known by renovating the old dive bar. But when some locals cause a scene at the bar's opening, the sheriff has to intervene. And Jolie is shocked to find that it's former bad boy Lucas Cole. As the high school versions of each other are replaced with the reality of who they have each become, sparks fly. But with Lucas being the guardian of his niece, they have more than just each other to consider.
_____
Melanie Jacobson is cementing herself in my upper echelon of sweet rom com writers. I really enjoyed this sweet love story. But it's more than just a love story. Jolie is on a journey of self discover and having to contend with who she was and who she wants to be. Jacobson reminds me of Katherine Center in that regard. She allows her characters to have room to grow and develop.
I also appreciate that these characters aren't typical rom com middle class characters. They both grew up in poverty. And I appreciate how they have to contend with that part of their past as they confront their futures.
Lastly, there is much bookish and library love found within these pages. I appreciate how books and libraries represent healthy escapes as well as connection points.
_____
This is a closed door romance.
There is a bonus scene available by joining the author's newsletter. Make sure and check that out!
Just Don't Fall by Emma St. Clair
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thank you to Emma St. Clair for the book to review. All opinions are my own.
Parker is the social media manager for the Appies, a minor league hockey team. And she enjoys planning trendy tik tok videos to get the team in the public eye. But when a major player, Logan Barnes, is bumped down to this team, he says in his first meeting: "I signed a contract to play hockey. Not dance." And Parker knows she's in trouble. Not just because of his dancing resistance, but because he was her brother's best friend growing up and she's had a crush for years. The catch is, he ghosted them when he left town. Too bad her crush didn't leave with him.
_____
What a way to kick off this Sweater Weather series! Emma St Clair excels at not only fleshing out her main characters but giving us just absolute gems of side characters. This book is no different. All the hockey players were so fun and their dynamic felt so true to the personalities that make up a good team.
I also love a protective male lead and Logan does not disappoint. He goes out of his way to care for Parker, even when he doesn't recognize his own feelings.
A bonus in this one is Parker has never been kissed. I was that trope (I just realized I never added that to my trope post about myself and my husband, but you get it here now!) and so I am sensitive to how this is portrayed. And I think she nailed it!
Somehow this author takes tropes and delivers them in a much less formulaic way than other books I read. I believe her character's motivations and can justify their behavior. She will always be a auto-read for me!
_____
This is a closed door romance.
There is a bonus scene available by joining the author's newsletter. Make sure and check that out!
Heart in the Highlands by Heidi Kimball
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Callum finds himself in a situation he never imagined, debating an arranged marriage. But wishing to ensure the well-being of his uncle's family he makes a deal with his father and agrees to proceed in matrimony to a stranger. And when he meet Lady Katherine she further cements that this union may work. But when he discovers the deception of his father, he makes some choices that have consequences beyond his imagination.
Four years later Callum is finally ready to deal with the results of his choices and repair his marriage. But Kate isn't the naive new bride she once was. The years have callused her heart and she isn't interested in letting Callum in. But Callum is determined to gain her trust. However, he doesn't realize all the secrets he has to uncover and what is really at stake.
_____
From the first chapter you are dropped into the moors of Scotland and immersed in this epic love story. This book is about the choices we make and dealing with the consequences of those choices.
I loved the themes of hope and change and forgiveness interwoven into this beautiful narrative. Callum and Kate have such a chemistry that runs deep and they have to deal with all the things it stirs up within them.
There is a faith element that is written so true to life and doesn't feel heavy handed.
This book is a gem and so much is packed into 300 pages, not a second is wasted of your reading time, it is a delight from beginning to end.
_____
This is a closed door, intimacy implied between a married couple off the page, regency romance with Christian faith elements.
Content note: This book deals with fertility struggles, & baby loss. Please guard your heart if that is not something that will be good for you to read at this time.
Four years later Callum is finally ready to deal with the results of his choices and repair his marriage. But Kate isn't the naive new bride she once was. The years have callused her heart and she isn't interested in letting Callum in. But Callum is determined to gain her trust. However, he doesn't realize all the secrets he has to uncover and what is really at stake.
_____
From the first chapter you are dropped into the moors of Scotland and immersed in this epic love story. This book is about the choices we make and dealing with the consequences of those choices.
I loved the themes of hope and change and forgiveness interwoven into this beautiful narrative. Callum and Kate have such a chemistry that runs deep and they have to deal with all the things it stirs up within them.
There is a faith element that is written so true to life and doesn't feel heavy handed.
This book is a gem and so much is packed into 300 pages, not a second is wasted of your reading time, it is a delight from beginning to end.
_____
This is a closed door, intimacy implied between a married couple off the page, regency romance with Christian faith elements.
Content note: This book deals with fertility struggles, & baby loss. Please guard your heart if that is not something that will be good for you to read at this time.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Infertility
When We Had Wings: A Story of the Angels of Bataan by Susan Meissner, Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Muse Books for the audiobook! All opinions are my own.
Based on the true experiences of nurses nicknamed "the Angels of Bataan," this story begins in the Philippines in 1941 at the Army Navy Club in Manila where U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel forge a friendship. They all think they have a cushy assignment on this island paradise, but they soon find themselves enmeshed in the struggle for control of the Philippines between Japan and the U.S.
This story follows them as they flow in and out of each other's lives through combat and imprisonment conditions as their physical strength and mental resolve are pushed to the limits.
_____
I really enjoyed this book. Written by some of my favorite historical fiction authors, it does not miss the mark as it examines the range of experience and emotions these nurses would have faced at this time. You get invested in each of their stories, and are delighted when the story weaves the separate plots together again.
This is a story about the power of friendship and the resiliency of the human spirit.
My only note is although I love Saskia Maarleveld, I would have loved a cast of three voices for this one. It would have helped, especially at the beginning, to set the storylines apart.
Based on the true experiences of nurses nicknamed "the Angels of Bataan," this story begins in the Philippines in 1941 at the Army Navy Club in Manila where U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel forge a friendship. They all think they have a cushy assignment on this island paradise, but they soon find themselves enmeshed in the struggle for control of the Philippines between Japan and the U.S.
This story follows them as they flow in and out of each other's lives through combat and imprisonment conditions as their physical strength and mental resolve are pushed to the limits.
_____
I really enjoyed this book. Written by some of my favorite historical fiction authors, it does not miss the mark as it examines the range of experience and emotions these nurses would have faced at this time. You get invested in each of their stories, and are delighted when the story weaves the separate plots together again.
This is a story about the power of friendship and the resiliency of the human spirit.
My only note is although I love Saskia Maarleveld, I would have loved a cast of three voices for this one. It would have helped, especially at the beginning, to set the storylines apart.
How to Kiss a Movie Star by Jenny Proctor
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thank you to Jenny Proctor for an ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
Flint is a movie star at the height of his powers. But back home all his siblings have settled down in the save town, gotten married, and are raising babies. He is missing out. So he buys a chunk of land and builds himself an oasis to call home near his family. He isn't abandoning his acting career, but he is reorienting his priorities.
Audrey does know who bought the land formerly owned by the university that is the subject of her research, but tracking the migration of the white squirrel is worth a little harmless trespassing. That is until a big beefy bodyguard hauls her in and while in cuffs she finds out just who the new owner of that land is.
Flint and Audrey are opposites. Introvert vs extrovert. Big flashy entertaining life vs quiet focused academic pursuits. But they feel an instant magnetism towards one another. And when he finds himself falling for her, he's willing to ask for a favor that will at least let him experience her as his fake girlfriend. His bargaining chip? Access to the squirrels.
-----
Oooh. I love a nerdy heroine and Audrey fits that description so well. Plus Flint is the best cake pop of a book boyfriend. He is pretty and can take on any appearance on the outside, but squishy and very sweet inside. I may be partial to a "he falls first" trope after this read because it's just so fun! I also appreciate how upfront each of the characters is about their feelings. Once the cast is out of the bag, they don't withhold their emotions. These characters are a fresh and fun addition to the Hawthorne brothers universe.
I am so sad this series is over, but I feel like there is a bit of a teaser for a new series in this one that leaves hope to run into these characters again!
Content Note: This is the sexiest of the How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother books, but is still a kissing only sweet romance.
Flint is a movie star at the height of his powers. But back home all his siblings have settled down in the save town, gotten married, and are raising babies. He is missing out. So he buys a chunk of land and builds himself an oasis to call home near his family. He isn't abandoning his acting career, but he is reorienting his priorities.
Audrey does know who bought the land formerly owned by the university that is the subject of her research, but tracking the migration of the white squirrel is worth a little harmless trespassing. That is until a big beefy bodyguard hauls her in and while in cuffs she finds out just who the new owner of that land is.
Flint and Audrey are opposites. Introvert vs extrovert. Big flashy entertaining life vs quiet focused academic pursuits. But they feel an instant magnetism towards one another. And when he finds himself falling for her, he's willing to ask for a favor that will at least let him experience her as his fake girlfriend. His bargaining chip? Access to the squirrels.
-----
Oooh. I love a nerdy heroine and Audrey fits that description so well. Plus Flint is the best cake pop of a book boyfriend. He is pretty and can take on any appearance on the outside, but squishy and very sweet inside. I may be partial to a "he falls first" trope after this read because it's just so fun! I also appreciate how upfront each of the characters is about their feelings. Once the cast is out of the bag, they don't withhold their emotions. These characters are a fresh and fun addition to the Hawthorne brothers universe.
I am so sad this series is over, but I feel like there is a bit of a teaser for a new series in this one that leaves hope to run into these characters again!
Content Note: This is the sexiest of the How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother books, but is still a kissing only sweet romance.
Are We There Yet? by Savannah Scott
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to Savannah Scott for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Riley and Cameron both grew up in a small town in Ohio. Riley is best friends with Cameron's younger sister Madeline, and their parents are friends. So they have been in each other's orbits for a long time. And Riley wishes they would stop orbiting and occupy the same planet, but as far as Cameron is concerned, they are light-years apart.
But, when they they need to head back to California, Riley and Madeline for college, and Cameron and his best friend Ben for this first jobs post college, they decide to road trip in Riley's new to get vintage VW van to get there.
Will this forced proximity quell the crush Riley has or will it fan the flames? And how will type-A Cameron react to Riley's penchant for fun along the way? Will they arrive to their destination with a new outlook on life and maybe each other?
-----
I am a fan of Savannah Scott's Shipped Series so I was excited for this one. But as much as I enjoyed the Shipped books, this one was even better. Which is saying something because college aged kids could lean too angsty. But even though this has a big coming of age through line, I enjoyed these characters and didn't want to force them to get their lives together. Their struggles felt true to 20 somethings without feeling overwrought. Plus the road trip element was so enjoyable. A road trip can easily be drawn out, but this one had the correct balance of stops that enhanced the plot while not over emphasizing the length of the drive. It made me want to take my own Route 66 road trip.
Bonus: the first kiss in this one is maybe the most memorable first kiss scene of any rom com I have read. It makes me want to go to <location redacted for spoiler reasons> and kiss my husband there (again๐)๐.
This is a closed door sweet romance.
Riley and Cameron both grew up in a small town in Ohio. Riley is best friends with Cameron's younger sister Madeline, and their parents are friends. So they have been in each other's orbits for a long time. And Riley wishes they would stop orbiting and occupy the same planet, but as far as Cameron is concerned, they are light-years apart.
But, when they they need to head back to California, Riley and Madeline for college, and Cameron and his best friend Ben for this first jobs post college, they decide to road trip in Riley's new to get vintage VW van to get there.
Will this forced proximity quell the crush Riley has or will it fan the flames? And how will type-A Cameron react to Riley's penchant for fun along the way? Will they arrive to their destination with a new outlook on life and maybe each other?
-----
I am a fan of Savannah Scott's Shipped Series so I was excited for this one. But as much as I enjoyed the Shipped books, this one was even better. Which is saying something because college aged kids could lean too angsty. But even though this has a big coming of age through line, I enjoyed these characters and didn't want to force them to get their lives together. Their struggles felt true to 20 somethings without feeling overwrought. Plus the road trip element was so enjoyable. A road trip can easily be drawn out, but this one had the correct balance of stops that enhanced the plot while not over emphasizing the length of the drive. It made me want to take my own Route 66 road trip.
Bonus: the first kiss in this one is maybe the most memorable first kiss scene of any rom com I have read. It makes me want to go to <location redacted for spoiler reasons> and kiss my husband there (again๐)๐.
This is a closed door sweet romance.
Betting on the Best Friend's Brother: a Sweet Romantic Comedy by Melanie Jacobson
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Melanie Jacobson for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
Ava is self described geek. Brilliant and obsessive. And she has been in love with her best friend's brother for as long as she can remember. She grew up next door and always was drawn to Joey like a moth to a flame.
Joey is the suave, charming marketing professional who is recruited by his sister Ruby to help "coach" Ava on dating as she engages in blind dates as part of a roommate bet. But maybe this will make him look at Ava in a new light.
---
If you trust my taste in sweet rom coms, please go get this book immediately. I really like the first in this series (Betting on the Boy Next Door), but I adored this one.
Ava and Joey have so much chemistry. And I love Ava as a character. I love a woman who speaks her mind! Ava learned to stick up for what is important to her and to draw healthy boundaries. Plus Joey has so much swag that you get what Ava is drawn to him. Their banter and interactions as just so good! And... their first kiss is proof that romances don't need open door scenes, you get all the feels you need without anything you don't want to know.
This has a makeover plot in it, but I love that the makeover isn't to change Ava, but to enhance who she is and help her be her best self. This could have been clunky but I thought it was so beautifully done.
*This is a sweet rom com, meaning it's closed door with little to no foul language.
Ava is self described geek. Brilliant and obsessive. And she has been in love with her best friend's brother for as long as she can remember. She grew up next door and always was drawn to Joey like a moth to a flame.
Joey is the suave, charming marketing professional who is recruited by his sister Ruby to help "coach" Ava on dating as she engages in blind dates as part of a roommate bet. But maybe this will make him look at Ava in a new light.
---
If you trust my taste in sweet rom coms, please go get this book immediately. I really like the first in this series (Betting on the Boy Next Door), but I adored this one.
Ava and Joey have so much chemistry. And I love Ava as a character. I love a woman who speaks her mind! Ava learned to stick up for what is important to her and to draw healthy boundaries. Plus Joey has so much swag that you get what Ava is drawn to him. Their banter and interactions as just so good! And... their first kiss is proof that romances don't need open door scenes, you get all the feels you need without anything you don't want to know.
This has a makeover plot in it, but I love that the makeover isn't to change Ava, but to enhance who she is and help her be her best self. This could have been clunky but I thought it was so beautifully done.
*This is a sweet rom com, meaning it's closed door with little to no foul language.
Upping the Ante by Emma St. Clair
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Deacon is a former NFL player, grumpy and set in his ways. At least he was a grump until Kalli, his assistant, quits. Now he's going out of his way to try and make sure Kalli isn't out of his life for good. The professional lines they have always drawn are now getting a bit blurry...
-----
What a fun novella. I think a one bed trope in the hands of a skillful sweet romance author can be one of the best things. You feel all the tension without having to skim. Deacon and Kalli had such a good rapport as employee and employer, so when their relationship changes and leaves them both baffled, it makes for some interesting internal musings. I flew through this.
Set in the Sheet Cake universe, this book works as a stand alone, but it's more fun when you already know the characters who show up as side characters here.
This is a novella just for subscribers to Emma St Clair's newsletter! Sign up and get this goodness today.
Merritt and Her Childhood Crush by Jenny Proctor, Emma St. Clair
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Thank you to the authors for a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
Merritt broke Hunter's heart years ago when she left Oakley Island and him behind. But she also broke her own in the process. And now her life has imploded and she's back on Oakley as a condition of her grandmother's will, fixing up her old house. But NO ONE told her that Hunter was the contractor!
Of course sparks fly when these two old loves are reunited. But Hunter has built a life and has a daughter on Oakley, and Merritt can't see herself landing there. They each have to wade through their life dreams and see what fulfilling those will really look like.
-----
I enjoyed the depth of conversation and how these characters had a lot to wade through as they came together as adults after being high school sweethearts. There is still plenty of the hilarity that I have come to expect from St. Clair and Proctor, but this book deals with some more serious issues like self expectations, what love means, and what a successful life really looks like.
But don't worry, the excellently written kissing scenes are not absent and of course there are some fun animal characters as well.
*This is a sweet rom com, meaning it's closed door with little to no foul language.
Merritt broke Hunter's heart years ago when she left Oakley Island and him behind. But she also broke her own in the process. And now her life has imploded and she's back on Oakley as a condition of her grandmother's will, fixing up her old house. But NO ONE told her that Hunter was the contractor!
Of course sparks fly when these two old loves are reunited. But Hunter has built a life and has a daughter on Oakley, and Merritt can't see herself landing there. They each have to wade through their life dreams and see what fulfilling those will really look like.
-----
I enjoyed the depth of conversation and how these characters had a lot to wade through as they came together as adults after being high school sweethearts. There is still plenty of the hilarity that I have come to expect from St. Clair and Proctor, but this book deals with some more serious issues like self expectations, what love means, and what a successful life really looks like.
But don't worry, the excellently written kissing scenes are not absent and of course there are some fun animal characters as well.
*This is a sweet rom com, meaning it's closed door with little to no foul language.
Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Thank you Libro.fm and Thomas Nelson for the gifted book! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Cat Cranwell's life is picture perfect. She's Insta-famous and on the cusp of launching a new business venture that will open even more doors for her. Until her business partner is accused of serious financial crimes, bringing her down with him. To get out from under the microscope of the public's attention, Cat accepts her uncle's offer to work with him in Kannery National Park, Montana.
Now Cat is off grid, almost literally. And she is having to learn to live in the moment instead of staging each moment. Along the way she makes new friends, discovers new parts of herself, and begins falling for the old school park ranger with the handsome face. Will she fall in love with a life and a man opposite of all she has been working for?
-----
This cover and release date are deceiving. This book is set during the winter, not summer. And that's not the only thing deceiving about it. This was marketed as a rom com but it is a women's fiction book with a romance side story.
Those two failings aside, I think if you go into this book with the correct expectations it has an interesting premise and fun characters that make it an enjoyable read. I really appreciated how the topic of social media addiction was handled and how it wasn't a black and white issue because it's not in real life either. The side characters in this one make the book for me. They are quirky and charming and oh so endearing. I wouldn't mind a spin off for a few of them. All in all a good read.
Cat Cranwell's life is picture perfect. She's Insta-famous and on the cusp of launching a new business venture that will open even more doors for her. Until her business partner is accused of serious financial crimes, bringing her down with him. To get out from under the microscope of the public's attention, Cat accepts her uncle's offer to work with him in Kannery National Park, Montana.
Now Cat is off grid, almost literally. And she is having to learn to live in the moment instead of staging each moment. Along the way she makes new friends, discovers new parts of herself, and begins falling for the old school park ranger with the handsome face. Will she fall in love with a life and a man opposite of all she has been working for?
-----
This cover and release date are deceiving. This book is set during the winter, not summer. And that's not the only thing deceiving about it. This was marketed as a rom com but it is a women's fiction book with a romance side story.
Those two failings aside, I think if you go into this book with the correct expectations it has an interesting premise and fun characters that make it an enjoyable read. I really appreciated how the topic of social media addiction was handled and how it wasn't a black and white issue because it's not in real life either. The side characters in this one make the book for me. They are quirky and charming and oh so endearing. I wouldn't mind a spin off for a few of them. All in all a good read.