Review: Flipping the Script (Matched #2) by Amy Kathryn Jones

After an unexpected season finale, the future of the hit reality show Matched is in jeopardy.

Field producer Kat Kramer needs a bold, last-ditch idea to save her job and the show she loves. Her boss and former lover dangles an overseas promotion, but Kat knows he’s really trying to get rid of her to appease his estranged wife. Kat wants to stay in L.A—she doesn’t want to live in a city where her best friend, coworker, and secret love isn’t.

Matt Corrado has enough drama. Next season’s intended star won’t commit, the show’s relationship expert wants to quit, and his sullen teenage daughter has taken over his sofa, determined to reunite her divorced parents. While Matt will do almost anything for his kid—like staying in a loveless marriage for years, even as he secretly pined for Kat—he’s determined to finally move forward.

Kat’s solution to the show’s problem is bold: produce a winter wedding special featuring last season’s controversial match. The solution to Matt and Kat’s personal drama is even bolder: fake a relationship to convince everyone that they’re in love.

 

My Review: 

A great addition to the Matched series.

I fell in love with this series and characters when I read the first book in the Matched series.  I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book and learn more about Kat and Matt.  Their relationship wasn’t ideal by any means.  They had a lot of struggles to get through in order to achieve their happily ever after.  The author took this friends to lovers/work place romance story to a whole new level of enjoyment with the spicy scenes, sweet and tender moments, and lots of family drama.  I would recommend reading the Matched series in order of release so you get to know the characters better and don’t miss anything important.  

 

 

 

 

 

Review: The Casterglass Heir (Keeping Up with the Penryns #3) by Kate Hewitt

 

Meet the Penryns…an eccentric family determined to keep hold of their castle in the wilds of Cumbria.

Sam Penryn, the only son and heir, has returned to Casterglass with deep reluctance. After dedicating his life to far-flung adventures to forget his past, the last thing he wants is to come home and take the reins of his family’s crumbling estate. But he knows his duty, and his sisters are doing their best to turn their ancestral ruin into an interactive tourist attraction. He can surely do the same, even if he dreads every moment…

Rose Lacey has spent her life as a nomad, adopting a carefree attitude to protect her fragile heart, which worked until she met—and then left—Sam. Their goodbye becomes hello when she shows up on his doorstep months after their fling, pregnant and uncertain what she wants from him, yet believing he needs to know he’s going to be a father.

Sam is gobsmacked by Rose’s return—and he remembers just how hard he fell for her. Despite his own hurts and hard memories, can Sam be brave enough to convince Rose to fall in love with him all over again, this time for keeps?

 

My Review: 

A reunion and a big surprise.

Sam Penryn and Rose Lacey met while Sam was in New Zealand where Sam had been doing charity work.  Rose had been traveling the world for the past five years, working odd jobs to pay her way.  They had a fling that lasted until it was time for Sam to go home to Cumbria to help his family’s new venture, turning Casterglass Castle into a tourist destination.

Sam had been home for two months when Rose showed up at the castle with news, she was pregnant and Sam was the father.  It wasn’t without doubts and speculation from the Penryns.  But as Sam and Rose got reacquainted, they shared their fears, insecurities and secrets and soon found themselves falling in love and Rose finding her place within the family.  A family that Rose didn’t think she could ever be part of. 

After reading the previous Keeping up with the Penryns book, I had a lot of questions about Sam.  I was so happy to have them cleared up and even happier for him and Rose to fall in love.  This is a beautifully told story.  I just love the Penryns.  I look forward to reading the next installment in the series. 

 

 

Review: Smooth Talking Texan (The Rossis of Whiskey River #2) by Katherine Garbera

He’s her best friend, but she wants so much more…

Barrel racer Colby Tucker has never said no to her best friend and secret crush, Olivier Rossi. When the handsome and charming rodeo clown asks her to attend his brother’s wedding as his pretend fiancée, she reluctantly says yes. This might be her last chance to either nudge Olivier into falling in love with her or finally get him out of her system.

Olivier's proposition to Colby was impulsive. But she’s the one person in his life he could count on and—unlike his family—Colby never judges. But from the moment they begin “practicing” their parts, Olivier knows he’s in trouble.

Suddenly Olivier wants more than a fake relationship. But is Colby only playing a part or are her feelings as real as his?

 

My Review:

From fake fiancé to true love.

What happens when two friends become a fake engaged couple?  In this case, Colby Tucker, was already in love with Ollie Rossi, but he friend zoned her from the start.  When Ollie asks Colby to pretend to be his fiancé, for his brother’s upcoming wedding and Whiskey River’s Boots & Bangles Gala, Colby agrees.  During their time together, Colby figures she will either make Ollie fall in love with her or she will finally get him out of her system for good, even if it means her heart would be broken. But Colby didn’t realize Ollie secretly had a thing for her too.  He was just afraid to act on it.  Something happened in the past that very few people knew about.  It was the reason Ollie preferred one nighters with buckle bunnies after the rodeo, instead of a steady relationship with a woman.

This was an emotional story.  As I learned more about Ollie, it made sense why he was standoffish when it came to women.  I was so happy when he finally opened up about his past.  But there were still a few obstacles that Colby and Ollie would have to pass before they would finally get their happily ever after.  This is a great addition to the Rossis of Whiskey River series. 

 
 

Review: A Hard Yes (Misguided Masala Matchmaker #1) by Sinclair Jayne

Is it a love for the ages or just a season?

Rohan Kapoor is the golden boy of Charlotte. As a newly minted cardiothoracic surgeon with several prestigious job offers, potential brides eagerly line up when his parents—pillars in their Indian American community—hire a matchmaker. Even his favorite cousin Rani has a plan to divine his perfect match. But Rohan’s not looking for a bride, and then he takes a wrong turn, meeting a woman who changes the way he feels about everything.

After years of traveling and painting commissioned murals, artist Solei Beals wants to plant roots now that she’s been hired as a high school art teacher. She meets Rohan at an art festival, and the attraction sizzles. During the festival of Holi, Solei admits she’s fallen in love with a man who’s made it clear he’s not free to commit beyond spring.

As summer teases, Rohan’s family obligations and expectations create a barrier Solei’s not sure he’s willing to breach. And if Rohan’s not willing to fight for her or the life he says he wants, why should she?  

 

My Review:

A great start to an amazing new series.   

You will love this big Indian American family.  They are fun and quirky and I just couldn’t get enough of them.

In this book we meet Rohan Kapoor (and I have to admit, I might have a slight crush on him).  He is the perfect man.  He is well dressed, a doctor and knows what he wants in life.  But he is afraid to go against what his parents expect of him; in this case, working at his father’s practice, a wife from a good Indian family, and children.  But Rohan doesn’t want to be matched with someone he doesn’t love.  He has found the woman of his dreams all on his own. The only problems is, she isn’t Indian and Rohan is afraid to introduce her to his family.

Solei Beals is living the life she wants.  She has finally made a name for herself in the urban art industry. People across the country want her to paint for them.  She is also a teacher.  When she meets Rohan, she swears she has never seen a more beautiful man.  But Solei has been hurt in the past and is leery of a relationship.  Throwing caution to the wind, she decides it’s time to give love another chance.  What Solei didn’t expect was to fall so hard for Rohan, and the fact that Rohan’s family has goals they set for him and they expect him to carry them out.  Now it’s up to Rohan and Solei to show his family how in love they are and that they are meant to be together.