You Should Smile More by Anastasia Ryan book review

I was totally hooked by the title of this book. What woman hasn’t heard this line? I was all in without even having read the book blurb. Then, when I did, it got even better. I can totally sympathize with the main character Vanessa Blair. She graduated college with a degree in Latin and did not have a ton of career options. I love how the author sprinkled some Latin into the book. Vanessa got a job as a telemarketer and didn’t really like her job. Her boss was also a total weirdo. One day, Vanessa got fired for having a resting bitch face. 

Vanessa lets her friends know what happened and also her mom. Everyone starts plotting revenge and one of Vanessa’s friends, Trisha, employs the Art of War on Sun Tsu against Xavier Adams, the boss. Vanessa’s mom also goes into action with the Bridge Brigade. Hilarity ensues. Vanessa gets an unemployment case manager. Who turns out to be nice, fun, hot and interesting. He unwittingly gets pulled into the plot. There is not too much romance in this book, but a smidge. However, the strength in this book lies with Vanessa staying true to herself and making the best out of a bad situation. It’s a feel good book with a lot of humor. I really enjoyed it.

The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe book review

I did not do a very good job with reading the description of this book. First, I jumped into book FOUR in a series (which I never do). Second, I did not read that it was a Gilded Age romance. I am more of a Regency England fan. BUT, it was a really good book. It can be read as a stand alone and I was ok leaving England for the shores of the east coast. The two main characters were great! I thought Nellie Young was an amazing heiress. I think because she was in the US, she got to be more bold and daring. She was a big naughty in terms of kissing men and just having a good time flirting. In walks the uptight British aristocrat. Handsome but poor, so he is in New York looking for a wealthy bride to bring back to his estate. He is most definitely trying to avoid any sort of scandal, which is why running into Nellie was not conducive to his plan. Nellie is a strong feminist, she is bold, she has lots of money and doesn’t need a husband. She also believes in social change for women. (I learned a lot about the Comstock Act.) However, the author stays true to the time period and life is not easy for most women. 

Nellie and Lockwood have a secret affair and it is HOT. They were not expecting the physical attraction to each other and as they got to know each other for real, they found that they were a pretty good match ;) They have a lot of choices they have to make. Both have relationships that are changing in their lives and they have to decide if they want to support each other through what life is bringing them. I’m glad I picked up this book. It was fun to read a time period and setting that is different from what I normally pick up. I love Joanna Shupe’s writing and am a big fan of her other books. This one did not disappoint.  Oh, and the cover is beautiful!  I appreciate a cover that sucks you in.

Some Dukes Have All the Luck by Christina Britton book review

I LOVED this book! I had to read it twice. I will also say that I am a much faster reader than I am at writing book reviews. Yikes. I did not realize it had been so long. 

 Ash Hawkins is the Duke of Buckley. He is not interested in marriage, but he does have 3 “wards” to raise and these girls are giving him a hard time. They run away from home and Ash has to go to the Isle of Synne to find them and convince them to come back with him. On his journey, he begins to realize that having a wife would be a lot easier in helping him raise the children. Bronwyn Pickering has always been more interested in bugs than marriage. Her parents are beside themselves and are trying all sorts of horrible tactics to force her to find a husband. They want to isolate her from her friend group, The Oddments, because they think her friends are a bad influence on her. They take her lab equipment and journals. With both Ash and Bronwyn in difficult situations, they realize that a marriage of convenience would make life a lot easier for both of them. With fun twists and laugh out loud dialogue, these two set out on negotiating a marriage contract. However, this marriage of convenience starts to turn into something more… 

 I really loved both of these characters. They were fun, passionate and perfect for each other. Both had to deal with some trauma from their pasts, but they had each other to help them overcome their issues. Nothing better than seeing a duke get in touch with their feelings with a woman. The sex was steamy and romantic. Their chemistry was hot and you could totally see that turning into real love between husband and wife. Swoon. I enjoyed returning to the Isle of Synne, which by the way is the perfect name for this place in the series. I love the acceptance that happens among a lot of the main and secondary characters. I also love how the close group of friends is so supportive of each other. I know this book came out in November, but this is still a perfect time to get this book and read it. It’s a must read for romance lovers.

Scotsman in the Stacks by Alana Oxford book review

As a librarian in Michigan, I loved this book! I thought it was so much fun to recognize some cities, parks and locations in Michigan. I more than understand trying to find a full time job as a librarian. As a reader, I totally felt for Paige. She had just gotten out of a long term relationship with someone who did not want to commit, as she is watching her friend enjoying her marriage and her upcoming baby. I was really rooting for her. James is from Glasgow, Scotland for a 8 week artist in residence opportunity. They both have some things to work out in their lives and I loved the time they spent getting to know each other. Turns out that James is a reader…how can you NOT love him??? This is a sweet, contemporary, slow burn romance. The conflict is not over the top and it makes for a perfect weekend getaway read. Especially if you are road tripping through Michigan. I’m also really loving the cover. Overall this was an enjoyable read and I definitely recommend it when you are in the mood for a charming, funny and romantic read.

Heartbreaker: Hell's Belles Book #2 by Sarah MacLean book review

Sexy fun times with the second Hell’s Belles book called Heartbreaker. The book starts off with a lot of action when a forced wedding turns into a turf war between the seedier elements of London. Adelaide escapes from her wedding and her life of being a professional pickpocket for her dad. She joins a group of female vigilantes, Hells Belles and is known to be a matchbreaker in London society. As she is protecting her next victim, she finds herself entangled with the Duke of Clayborn as they are both trying to prevent an elopement for different reasons. 

The sexual tension is immediate, but they have a job to focus on in forced proximity to each other. (ohhhhhhh) Of course, there is only one room at the Inn and they are still competing with each other in some way. Their banter is hilarious. Lots of competition between Adelaide and Clayborn. That competition eventually leads to some steamy scenes that you might have to reread a few times ;) They both have a lot of secrets to reveal, which keeps the story exciting and interesting. Readers will fall in love with all of the other female characters and the men who love them. I think this series will leave a lot of book boyfriends to choose from. I also love MacLean’s stories because they all have such strong female characters who are unconventional. Once you start this book you will not be able to put it down.

I received a ARC of this book from NetGalley.

A Duke for Diana by Sabrina Jeffries book review

A Duke for Diana is the first book in the Designing Debutantes series by Sabrina Jeffries. I’m definitely a fan of all her work, so this new series did not disappoint. Our main characters include Geoffrey Brookhouse, who is a civil engineer that inherited a dukedom he did not expect in any way. The other main character is Lady Diana Harper, who with her two sisters, started a business named Elegant Occasions in order to support themselves after they were shunned by society for their parents' scandalous behavior. I love that this series explores lives that were not perfect. The were not part of society anymore, yet, everyone knew who they were and used their services because they were really good at planning events. Geoffrey knew he needed help planning a debut for his sister because they were outsiders suddenly thrust into the middle of society. Things had to go perfectly for his sister Rosalie. Geoffrey was determined to get a good match for her. 

The fun starts when Diana insists that Geoffrey learn the rules and behaviors of his new position in society. As a civil engineer with a logical mind, he does not have any experience with the ton of London. They have to spend a lot of time with each other and feelings start to interfere with the job. There are some unexpected twists and turns that lead to adventure, some mystery and definitely a lot of heat. I loved the details of chalking the floors for a ball, that was new historical information for me. I love the relationship the sisters had between them and the friendships that were going on with some of the other characters. The title implies the happily ever after for Geoffrey and Diana. Two unconventional characters who found each other in a fast-paced, fun, sexy story. I highly recommend this book to any fan of historical fiction. It’s a great start to a new series.

Bayou Sweetheart by Lexi Blake book review

I’m a big fan of Lexi Blake books and I am a really big fan of this series. I’ve grown to love the small town of Papillon, Louisiana and all the people who live there. I enjoy seeing previous main characters show up in all the books. It’s nice to see how they are doing. I read this book a couple of times before I wrote the review because I just loved it so much. This is the fifth book in this series and it focuses on Deputy Major Blanchard, who is preoccupied with medical issues with his dad; and Brynn Pearson. Brynn was a child actress and now wants to be taken more seriously as a lead actress in a major film. She arrives in Papillon to begin her research and get to know the town they will be filming in. 

When Major and Brynn run into each other, the chemistry sparks right away. They do take it sort of slow because of all the complications going on in their lives, but they can’t deny their attraction to each other. I love that both the characters need to figure out things in their lives. Their characters grow and develop throughout the story. I think that they both find peace with each other and that is the most swoony part for me. *sigh* The town is fun, the characters are funny and lovable and there are quite a few laugh out loud spots throughout the story. This book is such a great choice for when you are in the mood for a sexy contemporary romance. You have got to put this series on your list if you have not started it already. So good!