Captivating Catch-Up | Contemporary Romance Edition

As I read some last year, but took a break for “maternity leave”, I have many reviews to catch up on. Because of that, and until I can catch up, I decided to start a bulk review post–hence, “Captivating Catch-Up”. The reviews will be quick, to-the-point, but also give my complete, honest opinion.

My Roommate Is a Vampire Published by Berkley by Jenna Levine
on August 29, 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Paranormal, Vampires, Romance
Pages: 341
Source: Purchased
Format: eBook
Find the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

ISBN: 0593548914
Rating:

True love is at stake in this charming, debut romantic comedy.
Cassie Greenberg loves being an artist, but it’s a tough way to make a living. On the brink of eviction, she’s desperate when she finds a too-good-to-be-true apartment in a beautiful Chicago neighborhood. Cassie knows there has to be a catch—only someone with a secret to hide would rent out a room for that price.
Of course, her new roommate Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is far from normal. He sleeps all day, is out at night on business, and talks like he walked out of a regency romance novel. He also leaves Cassie heart-melting notes around the apartment, cares about her art, and asks about her day. And he doesn’t look half bad shirtless, on the rare occasions they’re both home and awake. But when Cassie finds bags of blood in the fridge that definitely weren’t there earlier, Frederick has to come clean...
Cassie’s sexy new roommate is a vampire. And he has a proposition for her.

I love a good vampire book. I mean, I’ve read vampire horror, romance, all kinds… I don’t think it ever gets old for me. So, of course, I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw it.

It was incredibly unique and witty. Both main characters were especially unlike what you see in most contemporary romance.

I wasn’t as in love with the vampire part of this vampire story–but the romance made up for it in the end.

Icebreaker Published by Simon Schuster by Hannah Grace
Series: Maple Hills #1
on August 23, 2022
Genres: Contemporary, Hockey, New Adult, Romance, Sports
Pages: 433
Source: Purchased
Format: eBook
Find the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

ISBN: 1398525685
Rating:

Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA.
A competitive figure skater since she was five years old, a full college scholarship thanks to her place on the Maple Hills skating team, and a schedule that would make even the most driven person weep, Stassie comes to win.
No exceptions.
Nathan Hawkins has never had a problem he couldn’t solve. As captain of the Maple Hills Titans, he knows the responsibility of keeping the hockey team on the ice rests on his shoulders.
When a misunderstanding results in the two teams sharing a rink, and Anastasia’s partner gets hurt in the aftermath, Nate finds himself swapping his stick for tights, and one scary coach for an even scarier one.
The pair find themselves stuck together in more ways than one, but it’s fine, because Anastasia doesn’t even like hockey players…right?

This one straight up gave me The Deal by Elle Kennedy vibes… But it wasn’t as good. Honestly with all the hype I expected to love this one. The romance was okay. At times their relationship felt a little forced. Like I wasn’t quite sure what they saw in each other.

Not an awful read, but I’m not in a hurry to keep going with the series, either.

The Love Wager Published by Berkley by Lynn Painter
Series: Mr. Wrong Number #2
on March 14, 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Chick-Lit
Pages: 320
Source: Purchased
Format: eBook
Find the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

ISBN: 0593437284
Rating:

Hallie Piper is turning over a new leaf. After belly-crawling out of a hotel room (hello, rock bottom), she decides it's time to become a full-on adult. She gets a new apartment, a new haircut, and a new wardrobe, but when she logs onto the dating app that she has determined will find her new love, she sees none other than Jack, the guy whose room she snuck out of.
After the joint agreement that they are absolutely not interested in each other, Jack and Hallie become partners in their respective searches for The One. They text each other about their dates, often scheduling them at the same restaurant so that if things don't go well, the two of them can get tacos afterward.
Spoiler: they get a lot of tacos together.
Discouraged by the lack of prospects, Jack and Hallie make a wager to see who can find true love first, but when they agree to be fake dates for a weekend wedding, all bets are off. As they pretend to be a couple, lines become blurred and they each struggle to remember why the other was a bad idea to begin with.

Two people make a wager on who can find love first, not realizing what they should be betting on is each other, in this new romantic comedy by Lynn Painter, author of Mr. Wrong Number.

My first read by Lynn Painter and I’m so glad I have more from her to dive into!

Hallie and Jack’s relationship from the start was one I just wanted to delve more into. Their chemistry was strong, the banter and fun between them was absolutely addicting. This is more a lovers-to-friends-to-lovers… And I loved every moment!

The Seven Year Slip Published by Berkley by Ashley Poston
on October 27, 2023
Genres: Contemporary, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Romance, Time Travel
Pages: 352
Source: Purchased
Format: eBook
Find the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

ISBN: 059333650X
Rating:

Sometimes, the worst day of your life happens, and you have to figure out how to live after it.
So Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: stay busy, work hard, find someone decent to love, and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is silly and obviously metaphorical, but her aunt always told her that you needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that plan has gone off without a hitch. Mostly. The love part is hard because she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone—she isn’t sure her heart can take it.
And then she finds a strange man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again.
Except, he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future.
Her aunt always said the apartment was a pinch in time, a place where moments blended together like watercolors. And Clementine knows that if she lets her heart fall, she’ll be doomed.
After all, love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.
An overworked book publicist with a perfectly planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary roommate…only to discover he lives seven years in the past, in this witty and wise new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics.

My second book from Ashley Poston and this one is one I won’t forget! The whole magical realism genre gets me every time. I love when a story uses it because it allows the story to go to places that they normally can’t with just a contemporary story. For instance, an apartment that transports you back into the past? Ummm… I love this! That’s the only “magical” part of the story, as the rest is a story that explores the topics of grief, finding oneself, and realizing that it’s never too late to make a change.

 

 

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