Review: Trivialized Pursuit (Love & Games #2) by Mia Heintzelman

Trivia (n.) 1) little-known facts. 2) a quiz game that has Roxanne Sloane questioning everything.

Roxanne Sloane’s life runs on checklists. As co-owner of a game store fresh off the brink of closing, she’s focused on spreadsheets, market research, and keeping Love & Games in the public eye. When Rox agrees to a televised interview, she doesn’t expect to learn the store’s crowd-funding account was compromised or that the news station has arranged a complimentary audit. She definitely doesn’t expect comfort from her co-owner’s player brother.

Murphy Sikes is many things—a handsome doctor, an overprotective brother, and a serial dater. Beyond casual hookups, he can’t separate settling from settling down. So, when he visits the store and finds Rox with a smooth-talking auditor, Murph's confused—his inconvenient attraction for his sister’s friend is joined by a not-at-all-brotherly tenderness. It’s definitely not jealousy when he invites her to trivia night...

With each battle of wits, their undeniable chemistry weakens their willpower to remain platonic. But Murph’s unconvinced he’ll check all her boxes, and Rox questions if he’ll ever settle down. Can they overcome their trivial hang-ups and finally win at love?

 

My Review:

Fun, romantic and entertaining.

I loved the first book in this series, Monopolove, and knew I wanted to read this book too.  The series features the owners of Love & Games, a game store based in San Diego.  Each book is based on a classic board game.

This book features Rox’s story.  It’s fun and emotional with Rox being in love with Murph, the brother of her business partner/sister’s best friend, and the things she does to get her man.  Rox and Murph are destined to be together, but their journey to love is not an easy one.  Rox wants commitment and Murph doesn’t do commitments.  But maybe, he just hasn’t found the right woman.  I was so happy when they finally worked through their differences and got there happily ever after.  There are some tear-jerking moments in this book, so get your tissues ready.  I also liked the fun trivia that was at the beginning of each chapter.  This book is a great addition to the Love & Games series.

 

 

 

Review: A Match Made in Montana (The Millers of Marietta Book 2) by Elsa Winckler

 

She’s never forgotten the way the sun lit up Copper Mountain…

Seeking a new beginning after the death of her parents, Annie Miller impulsively moves to Marietta and sets up a bed-and-breakfast in picturesque Bramble Lane. With her brother and sister by her side, it's a place to heal and forget the fiancé who left her just weeks before their wedding day. Now all she really needs are some customers...

Marketing whiz Craig O’Sullivan is wedded to his work in Portland, but with the cousin he sees as a brother getting married soon, he heads to Marietta for a two-week vacation. As long as his beloved Aunt Janice doesn't decide to play matchmaker on his behalf he'll be fine. But when Janice sets him up to help sweet Annie Miller market her B&B, he doesn't mind at all. There's something about Annie that makes him want to sell her on the idea of happily ever after. With him.

Craig's life is in Portland, Annie is bound to Marietta. Can they trust themselves and each other enough to open their hearts and let love in?

 

My Review:

An unplanned relationship leads to true love.

This is one of those books that I found myself cheering the characters on as I read their story.  Neither, Annie or Craig wanted a relationship, but they couldn’t quit thinking about each other.  Both had been hurt in the past, so they didn’t want anything serious.  And marriage was definitely out of the question.  They only planned to see each other while Craig was in town for the wedding of his cousin and Annie’s sister.  What happened next not only surprised them, but everyone else. 

I love the small fictional town of Marietta, Montana, and its residents and I feel these characters are a great addition to the town.  This author really knows how to bring her words to life.  I look forward to seeing what happens in the next addition to this series.

 

Review: Can’t Stand the Heat (Romance in the City Book 2) by Season Vining

He’s ready to cook his heart out.

When amateur chef Ryan Tate earns a spot on the cooking competition show, The Heat, he drops everything and heads west. His grandma needs to revamp her restaurant and he’s confident he has what it takes to win the prize money to make that happen. Little does he know, the one that got away could be the one to ruin his chances.

Assistant chef Miguel Moreno has already established a name for himself in the culinary world, but he’s tired of operating in the shadows of the greats. With the prize money from The Heat, he can finally open his own restaurant. Victory seems imminent when he learns the show has a twist this season—six pros will face off against six amateurs. But he’s thrown when a familiar face stands temptingly in his path.

Their love affair a year ago was scorching, but it’s nothing compared to the heat they generate battling their way through each challenge. For Ryan and Miguel, cooking and passion have always been linked, but protecting their hearts might be their biggest obstacle yet.

 

My Review: 

A fun reality show romance.

This is a really good book.  I got into it pretty easily.  I loved Ryan’s character.  He is funny and sarcastic and very goal oriented.  He wants to win The Heat, a reality cooking show, to help keep his grandmother’s restaurant open.  But when Ryan sees Miguel is also a contestant on the show, he starts remembering the brief affair they had the previous summer.  And that just might be a problem especially when it’s obvious Miguel still has feelings for Ryan as well. 

I had a hard time putting this book down.  I couldn’t wait to see how it would end.  I’ll just say, I was pleasantly surprised.  There are lots of great secondary characters that make this book even more fun.  This is the first book that I have read, by this author, and I will definitely won’t be the last.