Search
Come from Behind: An Age Gap Gay Romance (Suite Dreams)
6.0
Rate It
Book
Is it possible that Tavish’s fender-bender on a snowy day will lead to him getting romantically...
Amy Curtis (49 KP) rated Pride and Prejudice in Books
Dec 31, 2018
Modest Romance
Contains spoilers, click to show
Everyone always mentions this novel, it’s a classic, how can it not be mentioned? When I picked up this novel, I was just praying that it wouldn’t be one of those clichés where everyone says it’s amazing and once you’ve read it you think to yourself, what was all the fuss about? I’m pleased to say that this was not the case.
Most people know the rough story of this novel but I will give a little recap anyway. You are introduced to a middle-class family with 5 young girls that are ready to be married off. The mother is a hysterical kind of woman that cannot keep herself out of her daughter’s business. The eldest daughter Jane is a very shy individual and she falls in love with a wealthy man Mr. Bingley. When Mr. Bingley arrives in town, he brings with him his friend Mr. Darcy who is constantly described as a disagreeable fellow particularly as he does not enjoy the social norms that were custom in this era. Jane’s sister Elizabeth finds something curious about this man and spends the majority of the narrative expressing her dislike of him. Eventually though, he wins her round but the journey is what is so beautiful about this novel.
When I read this, I really thought it was going to be a cliché novel and I was pleasantly surprised as to how much I enjoyed it. You can see parallels between the relationship with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester. Looking back on this, there are quite a lot of similarities between these two novels and the characters that make them.
Austen has created an incredible classic novel that highlights what life was like in this era and how people behaved. You could look at this novel as a study of personalities. The romance between the two is incredibly sweet especially when it seems as though it would be such an unlikely couple. Both characters have to have internal battles before they are both ready to open up to each other and declare how they really feel.
I can now understand why this novel has been such a fascination for literary scholars. It is beautifully written and contains the modest kind of romance that leaves you wanting more. It will be going up there as one of my favourite works of literature.
Most people know the rough story of this novel but I will give a little recap anyway. You are introduced to a middle-class family with 5 young girls that are ready to be married off. The mother is a hysterical kind of woman that cannot keep herself out of her daughter’s business. The eldest daughter Jane is a very shy individual and she falls in love with a wealthy man Mr. Bingley. When Mr. Bingley arrives in town, he brings with him his friend Mr. Darcy who is constantly described as a disagreeable fellow particularly as he does not enjoy the social norms that were custom in this era. Jane’s sister Elizabeth finds something curious about this man and spends the majority of the narrative expressing her dislike of him. Eventually though, he wins her round but the journey is what is so beautiful about this novel.
When I read this, I really thought it was going to be a cliché novel and I was pleasantly surprised as to how much I enjoyed it. You can see parallels between the relationship with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester. Looking back on this, there are quite a lot of similarities between these two novels and the characters that make them.
Austen has created an incredible classic novel that highlights what life was like in this era and how people behaved. You could look at this novel as a study of personalities. The romance between the two is incredibly sweet especially when it seems as though it would be such an unlikely couple. Both characters have to have internal battles before they are both ready to open up to each other and declare how they really feel.
I can now understand why this novel has been such a fascination for literary scholars. It is beautifully written and contains the modest kind of romance that leaves you wanting more. It will be going up there as one of my favourite works of literature.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Honey-Don't List in Books
Mar 26, 2020
Carey Douglas is looking forward to a much-needed vacation. She's spent nearly ten years serving as an assistant--and much more--to Melissa Tripp, one half of Melissa and Rusty Tripp. The Tripps are co-owners of the store Comb+Honey and best known for their home renovation TV shows and books. They have a new solo show, Home Sweet Home, about to launch on Netflix, accompanied by a book about their happy marriage. The only issue: Melissa and Rusty can't stand each other. So instead of giving their assistants--Carey and Rusty's assistant/engineer, James--a break while they go on book tour, the couple's behavior requires they be babysat so their mutual self-hatred does not go viral. Suddenly Carey and James find themselves stuck together on a tour bus, watching over two very irritable and often hateful people. James needs the engineering contacts and a job where everything is on the up-and-up--something his last couldn't offer. Carey requires health insurance and believes Melissa needs her more than anyone else. And who knows, the more time James and Carey spend together, the more they might wind up finding some good in all this mess.
"You wouldn't know from scrolling through their idyllic Instagram feed that Melly and Rusty aren't quite as sweet on each other anymore. Looking back, I'm not really sure when they decided their marriage mattered less than their brand."
This was a fun and engaging Christina Lauren read. I'd rank Carey and James as one of their good couples, though not perhaps in the great category. They are cute, however, with plenty of chemistry and lots of sexy banter.
"Your only job for the next ten days is to keep the Tripps from falling apart."
I enjoyed the HGTV feel of this book and the Tripps had a "Chip and Joanna Gaines" feel, if the Gaines went off the rails, or we were able to see their dark side. Things get a little repetitive in the middle, as the Tripps fight and Carey and James struggle with the "oh but we need our jobs" piece, but overall the book is humorous, tender, and fun. Sure, Carey and James are desperately thrown together and you have NO IDEA what will happen, right? It's all good; it's why I love a good romance. Their journey is enjoyable and the side characters--mainly the Tripps--are, well, a trip. Let me tell you, Melissa (Melly) is downright scary at times.
We also get the story told from both Carey and James' point of view, which I like, plus some police report excerpts (oh yeah) and parts of blogger and tabloid pieces. Our fabulous duo does a great job at putting us in the middle of the Tripps' scandal, and one of my favorite things about this one was that not only did we get to enjoy Carey and James' romance, but we felt like we were a part of the trainwreck sensation that was Melly and Rusty.
Overall, this is a fun read with a sexy romance and enjoyable characters. 3.75 stars, rounded to 4 stars here.
"You wouldn't know from scrolling through their idyllic Instagram feed that Melly and Rusty aren't quite as sweet on each other anymore. Looking back, I'm not really sure when they decided their marriage mattered less than their brand."
This was a fun and engaging Christina Lauren read. I'd rank Carey and James as one of their good couples, though not perhaps in the great category. They are cute, however, with plenty of chemistry and lots of sexy banter.
"Your only job for the next ten days is to keep the Tripps from falling apart."
I enjoyed the HGTV feel of this book and the Tripps had a "Chip and Joanna Gaines" feel, if the Gaines went off the rails, or we were able to see their dark side. Things get a little repetitive in the middle, as the Tripps fight and Carey and James struggle with the "oh but we need our jobs" piece, but overall the book is humorous, tender, and fun. Sure, Carey and James are desperately thrown together and you have NO IDEA what will happen, right? It's all good; it's why I love a good romance. Their journey is enjoyable and the side characters--mainly the Tripps--are, well, a trip. Let me tell you, Melissa (Melly) is downright scary at times.
We also get the story told from both Carey and James' point of view, which I like, plus some police report excerpts (oh yeah) and parts of blogger and tabloid pieces. Our fabulous duo does a great job at putting us in the middle of the Tripps' scandal, and one of my favorite things about this one was that not only did we get to enjoy Carey and James' romance, but we felt like we were a part of the trainwreck sensation that was Melly and Rusty.
Overall, this is a fun read with a sexy romance and enjoyable characters. 3.75 stars, rounded to 4 stars here.
FilmIntuition (33 KP) rated How to Walk Away in Books
Jul 26, 2018
The kind of book you're enjoying so much that you can't wait to finish it but at the same time will hate to see it end, author Katherine Center managed to such a feat in How to Walk Away.
While as a disabled individual, I'm often disappointed by the way that popular culture portrays disabled characters as either saintly, pitiable, or evil, I was impressed by the way that Center creates a fully three dimensional heroine who goes through a wide range of emotions after surviving a horrific plane crash.
And although on the surface, the thought of adding a romantic comedy subplot to the novel seemed way out of left field, because Center kept the protagonist so firmly grounded in reality, it wound up working really well.
The second recent upbeat romance involving a disabled lead to be chosen as an official selection by Book of the Month alongside Helen Hoang's sexier title The Kiss Quotient, while some of the contrivances in How to Walk Away's final fifty or so pages move it into cliched romcom territory, it's such a sweet, well-earned finale that it's easy to forgive.
A terrific disabled centric beach read, this one will walk away with your heart.
While as a disabled individual, I'm often disappointed by the way that popular culture portrays disabled characters as either saintly, pitiable, or evil, I was impressed by the way that Center creates a fully three dimensional heroine who goes through a wide range of emotions after surviving a horrific plane crash.
And although on the surface, the thought of adding a romantic comedy subplot to the novel seemed way out of left field, because Center kept the protagonist so firmly grounded in reality, it wound up working really well.
The second recent upbeat romance involving a disabled lead to be chosen as an official selection by Book of the Month alongside Helen Hoang's sexier title The Kiss Quotient, while some of the contrivances in How to Walk Away's final fifty or so pages move it into cliched romcom territory, it's such a sweet, well-earned finale that it's easy to forgive.
A terrific disabled centric beach read, this one will walk away with your heart.
Merissa (12330 KP) rated Polar Nights (Under an Arctic Sky #1.5) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.
This story is set in Svalbard where Andreas is in his last year of University to gain his Masters Degree in Geophysics. Until he is able to get into his dorm, he is due to stay with his step-mother's brother, Christian, which would be okay except Andreas has had a crush on Christian for years.
They are awkward with each other as they try to fight the attraction for a number of reasons, not the least being Christian's concern with how the family would see it and that both of them is afraid to say anything in case of rejection.
This is a gentle, sweet romance with a couple of sexy scenes in there that help you to feel the depth of love they have for each other. The supporting characters are all interesting and with their own stories that I would like to hear more about as the series continues.
There was only one editing issue that I found which was where the word sceptic had been used instead of sceptical. This certainly did not ruin my enjoyment and there was nothing more than that that I saw.
Thoroughly enjoyable and definitely one to continue in the series.
This story is set in Svalbard where Andreas is in his last year of University to gain his Masters Degree in Geophysics. Until he is able to get into his dorm, he is due to stay with his step-mother's brother, Christian, which would be okay except Andreas has had a crush on Christian for years.
They are awkward with each other as they try to fight the attraction for a number of reasons, not the least being Christian's concern with how the family would see it and that both of them is afraid to say anything in case of rejection.
This is a gentle, sweet romance with a couple of sexy scenes in there that help you to feel the depth of love they have for each other. The supporting characters are all interesting and with their own stories that I would like to hear more about as the series continues.
There was only one editing issue that I found which was where the word sceptic had been used instead of sceptical. This certainly did not ruin my enjoyment and there was nothing more than that that I saw.
Thoroughly enjoyable and definitely one to continue in the series.
Merissa (12330 KP) rated Open Mind (Kink Chronicles #1) in Books
Feb 5, 2020
bdsm, contemporary, grrc, m-m, read, romance
OPEN MIND is the first book in the Kink Chronicles and we meet Jamie and Ronan. Jamie is 28 and has been a travelling nurse for the past couple of years but is now ready to settle down. Ronan has settled down but is in need of a new nurse for his specialised practice!
This story is an interesting mix of being sweet and full of kink! Different kinds of kink so if kink is your thing, there is probably at least one scene in here you will like. As for Jamie and Ronan, I kind of thought they were the perfect pair - once Ronan pulled his head out of his backside! Not every relationship is destined to be monogamous and so long as everyone agrees to that BEFORE anything happens, I'm okay with it.
This was an enjoyable book that moved along at a fair pace. I enjoyed the characters and look forward to reading more in this series.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
OPEN MIND is the first book in the Kink Chronicles and we meet Jamie and Ronan. Jamie is 28 and has been a travelling nurse for the past couple of years but is now ready to settle down. Ronan has settled down but is in need of a new nurse for his specialised practice!
This story is an interesting mix of being sweet and full of kink! Different kinds of kink so if kink is your thing, there is probably at least one scene in here you will like. As for Jamie and Ronan, I kind of thought they were the perfect pair - once Ronan pulled his head out of his backside! Not every relationship is destined to be monogamous and so long as everyone agrees to that BEFORE anything happens, I'm okay with it.
This was an enjoyable book that moved along at a fair pace. I enjoyed the characters and look forward to reading more in this series.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sarah (7799 KP) rated Stranger Things - Season 2 in TV
Aug 4, 2019
Another great series
I binge watched this entire series in one day, and it really was rather entertaining. The first episodes start off rather slowly, but this at least gives a chance to catch up with the returning characters and introduce some new faces. It soon picks up though, and is packed full on intrigue, humour, some rather dark moments and of course a pretty awesome soundtrack. The CGI has improved a fair bit since the last series and it was such an enjoyable series to watch. My favourite parts so far were anything involving Hopper. David Harbour is just fantastic and Hopper’s character has developed well this series, especially his relationship with Eleven. Her story and development too was good to see.
Of course it isn’t perfect. I found parts of the storyline ridiculously predictable, even if they were alright to watch (like Eleven’s storyline). I liked most of the new characters but I found Bob a little too much and sickly sweet (sorry!). And the whole childhood romance thing was a little too over the top and cringey and a bit much.
But still overall one of the best series Netflix has to offer and I’m just looking forward to catching up on series 3 now!
Of course it isn’t perfect. I found parts of the storyline ridiculously predictable, even if they were alright to watch (like Eleven’s storyline). I liked most of the new characters but I found Bob a little too much and sickly sweet (sorry!). And the whole childhood romance thing was a little too over the top and cringey and a bit much.
But still overall one of the best series Netflix has to offer and I’m just looking forward to catching up on series 3 now!
Meet Cute: Some People Are Destined to Meet
6.7
Rate It
Book
Readers will experience Nina LaCour's beautifully written piece about two Bay Area girls meeting via...
romance young adult
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Some Bear to Love (Polar Heat #2) in Books
Jul 7, 2020
122 of 200
Kindle
Some bear to love ( Polar Heat book 2)
By Terry Bolryder
When Kim Starling wins a free Caribbean vacation, she knows it's her last chance at adventure. Two weeks in the sun, and then she goes back to the arranged mating she's been doomed to from birth. Easy enough, until her guide turns out to be sexy Sebastien Weston, an alpha-bear sea captain who might just be her mate.
Sebastien doesn't know what to do with curvy, luscious Kim. He swore he'd never take a mate, but he can't seem to take his eyes off of the adventurous she-bear who always seems to be getting in trouble. But after a daring rescue and a kiss in the ocean, Sebastien and Kim can't help falling into a fling that sizzles like a tropical sun, but can only last two weeks.
But the more he's with Kim, the more Sebastien is realizing that two weeks isn't enough. Can he overcome his past and fear of taking a mate in time to find a way to free Kim from her family? Or will he lose the mate of a lifetime?
A very sweet romance a quick read too! As shifter books go it’s pretty what you’d expect.
Kindle
Some bear to love ( Polar Heat book 2)
By Terry Bolryder
When Kim Starling wins a free Caribbean vacation, she knows it's her last chance at adventure. Two weeks in the sun, and then she goes back to the arranged mating she's been doomed to from birth. Easy enough, until her guide turns out to be sexy Sebastien Weston, an alpha-bear sea captain who might just be her mate.
Sebastien doesn't know what to do with curvy, luscious Kim. He swore he'd never take a mate, but he can't seem to take his eyes off of the adventurous she-bear who always seems to be getting in trouble. But after a daring rescue and a kiss in the ocean, Sebastien and Kim can't help falling into a fling that sizzles like a tropical sun, but can only last two weeks.
But the more he's with Kim, the more Sebastien is realizing that two weeks isn't enough. Can he overcome his past and fear of taking a mate in time to find a way to free Kim from her family? Or will he lose the mate of a lifetime?
A very sweet romance a quick read too! As shifter books go it’s pretty what you’d expect.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers #1) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
Georgia works as the PR girl for the up and coming NFL team The Brooklyn Bruisers and it just so happens that her boyfriend from six years ago Leo Trevi has been drafted to the team. Georgia tries to stay professional but neither has gotten over the other in the ensuing years and as much as she tries to stay away from him, it's impossible.
I did enjoy this. I'm not into any kind of sports really and American sports - I have no idea about, so it flies right over my head. The romance was really sweet, though. How Leo is determined to get back the girl he lost so tragically all those years ago. It choked me up a little towards the end when they finally talk about what happened in the past and how it affected them both.
I liked the cast of characters, too. O' Doul - the Captain, Silas - the backup goalie, Becca - Georgia's best friend and Nate - the owner. O' Doul's book is next in the series and I'm intrigued which girl will tame him and I'm pretty sure something is going to happen between Nate and Becca. I think Silas also has his own book in the series, too.
I did enjoy this. I'm not into any kind of sports really and American sports - I have no idea about, so it flies right over my head. The romance was really sweet, though. How Leo is determined to get back the girl he lost so tragically all those years ago. It choked me up a little towards the end when they finally talk about what happened in the past and how it affected them both.
I liked the cast of characters, too. O' Doul - the Captain, Silas - the backup goalie, Becca - Georgia's best friend and Nate - the owner. O' Doul's book is next in the series and I'm intrigued which girl will tame him and I'm pretty sure something is going to happen between Nate and Becca. I think Silas also has his own book in the series, too.