is a sweet, romantic novel that dwells around both (1) the ...
583314
Awaken by Love, by Azin Sametipour, is a sweet, romantic novel that dwells around both (1) the inner struggles of challenging one selfs beliefs and (2) the complexities of intercultural relationships. The book does contain some sexual scenes as well as religious confrontations, so I would recommend approaching this story with tolerant and mature attitude.

I particularly loved the way Azin Sametipour built up Zoha Farzam. I enjoyed her sublime empowerment and the way she embraces her strengths with admiring proudness. I was mesmerized her long, dark hair and her unapologetic love for it. And I was surprised with her act of bravery at the end of the book and what it meant for both her and the readers who wished to see her find happiness.

My only problem with this book came in the shape and form of romantic love interest: Ethan Renard. I never ended up liking him, nor did I like his relationship with Zoha -which was very frustrating given that the story spins mostly around. I couldn't help feeling Ethan was more a selfish, non-sensible guy who seemed to enjoy watching Zoha's multiple attempts at pleasing him without him doing much in return. Yet, I recognize I might just a bit too cynical for my own good, and I might be reading too much into these scenes, so please take this judgment with a grain of salt -or a lot!

Overall the book was quite good. I would recommend you read if you're interested in reading a sweet love story, from the perspective of a strong female character, while learning a bit more about Islamic culture.
1232167
This was a sweet, modern take on the novel, Sense and Sensibility. The story begins in San Francisco, where the sisters live and where the two older sisters run a quaint tea salon in a victorian house. The third sister is much younger, a teen. New owners soon take over the building, increasing the rent to a price that the sisters can no longer afford to pay. So, they venture south to Austin, Texas to begin anew.

During their short time in Austin, there is romance, a love triangle of sorts, tragedy, heartache, but also resilience. The scenes I enjoyed most weren't actually the romantic scenes, but those of Jane as she talked about her tea making methods and the desserts she enjoyed conjuring up. I wish there were  scenes depicting the new tea salon but those were only brought out near the end of the story and were scant. I do like how the author included actual recipes for tea, desserts, and other fare in the book. This reminded me of the Little Paris books by Nina George.

I would recommend this book to readers of romance. I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review from Blogging for Books.
4255425
This novel was quite enjoyable.  The people of the town of  Liberty were interesting, the plot moved along nicely, and the romance was sweet, but not unrealistic.  The characters were each dealing with some pretty weighty issues in their lives, and the author dealt with these situations quite sensitively.  Likewise, religious elements were handled with a light touch. Readers will encounter characters struggling to integrate their faith into their lives, but will not read heavy handed attempts at witnessing.  I have already recommended this book to others and will look for more by this author.
3083551
The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan is a standalone novel.  This was a different type of read for me, but it did attract my attention since it is about a book lover helping people find the perfect book to read.  After all, I am a book lover too.  

Nina Redmond is our heroine, and I will say she was the best part of this story.  Very sweet, shy and feisty at times.  Nina loved her job working as a librarian in a Birmingham, England library.  The library is being down sized and Nina is out of job.  She sees an ad about big van for sale in Scotland, and decides to check it out.  Thinking she can bring the van home to England, Nina buys the run down van to use as her own mobile book shop.  However, Nina discovers they will not give her a permit to use the van in England, since it is too big.  What is Nina to do?  Well she decides to uproot her life, and goes to Scotland to utilize her van in starting her own business, and do something she loves.

Nina fixes up the van, and discovers the local people have missed reading and learning about books; since they no longer have a place to get books.  Slowly, Nina does reinvent her life, as she becomes a mainstay in local towns.  Nina loves meeting new people, including young children  and helping them rediscover old and new books, as well as changing many of their lives.

Nina finds herself attracted to two different men, but one was destined to only be a friendship.  At first, Nina only sees her landlord as gruff and nasty, but she will begin to see him in a new light, when he volunteers to help those in need.  What follows is a charming story with a nice slow build romance, between two people who started off on the wrong foot from the start.  But the main theme of this story is Nina taking her mobile van (The Little Shop of Happy Ever After) of books to the people of all ages.  The Bookshop on the Corner was a sweet lighthearted story line.
2390562
Set in 1910, this historical romance is a sweet love story that combines love, competition, humor, honesty and faith into a delicious mixture that is sure to delight romance fans.  The two main characters, Lucy Kendall and Charlie Clarke, start out attracted to one another, then try to deny their feelings as they become rivals in their families' candy businesses.

Charlie's father is a wealthy, successful businessman, while Lucy's father runs a small confectionery that is losing money.  Newly returned from a European vacation and determined to help rebuild her father's candy business, Lucy squares off against Charlie in a devious and often humorous battle to be the best.  Charlie has made some recent changes in his life and is trying to fit into society and also to rekindle a relationship with his estranged father.  In doing so, he develops a clearer view of himself and others.

The story is told in alternating first person by chapter.  The reader is able to get an inside look into both Lucy's and Charlie's thoughts, feelings and doubts.  The reasons that motivate each are revealed to the reader.  Both characters change and grow, developing honest insight into their own faults and strengths.  The reader is also privy to their feelings for each other.  Supporting characters are interesting and diverse, providing inspiration to both Lucy and Charlie.

Both Lucy and Charlie get a chance to examine their lives, their values and themselves and to make changes for the better.  They both spend a good deal of time in denial before each wakes up to see how wonderfully God works in their lives.  Repentance, honesty, acceptance, forgiveness and love are some of the virtues woven into this story.

While the ending is somewhat predictable, it is nonetheless skillfully pulled together with a few surprises.  Siri Mitchell has written a number of other great Christian romances and romance novel lovers will want to read more of her work.

I was given a free copy of this book to read and provide an honest review.  I recommend this book for adults and teenage readers who enjoy good quality romantic novels.
4182511
This sweet little read from Annette Irby will satisfy that need for time-constrained readers who long for a whole story in a short byte.

Restaurant-owner Lara meets recent widower Wyatt at the grocery store. From the moment she empathizes with Wyatt in front of the Valentine's Day display she prays for him without knowing the reason for his sadness. Later, he eats alone at her restaurant and we understand that this year is different. Wyatt's two-year-old grief has morphed into loneliness.

The mutual attraction and concern for each other sparks early.

Irby does a good job setting her characters and scenes, using the senses to tickle with reader and draw him or her into the conversation as these two people get to know each other.

Wyatt, the businessman, appreciates what Lara, a businesswoman in her own right, goes through to earn a living. He's ready to move on and Lara feels like a natural fit. They're both in their early thirties, unattached, but Lara is recovering from a broken relationship and, besides, could use his help. She doesn't mix business and pleasure, even if the business embodies the perfect husband material.

When Wyatt trades food for his consulting fees, Lara accepts reluctantly, sticking to her pride and principles, even when she knows he's interested in more than that from her. It doesn't take long for Wyatt to come up with a plan to get past her principles, but can he get past the hurt in her life?

Irby's great characters, honest dialogue, and rounded settings will make this novella a favorite romantic read.
1228119
Pleasant, Enjoyable read. A sweet romantic relationship between characters. One thing I got from the story was be confident in yourself, comfortable with the decisions you make and ultimately stick with them.

I gave 3.7 stars, because the beginning was a bit tough to get through and the ending caught me off guard.. it was quite sudden. Therefore, I imagine there will be a sequel to this book.

Found out there will be a Spin-off of all characters, starting with Sarah & Cooper!!
2664943
Im torn about how I felt about this romance.

There were things I liked about it. Both the main characters are decent people with typical hang ups: Alexa can be awkward around men and has body image issues, while Drew has a fear of commitment (and, yes, he can be a bit of a jerk because of it). Theyve got a great meet cute that involves getting stuck in a hotel elevator, where Drew asks Alexa to be his plus one at his exs wedding to avoid him having to go alone. Their interactions as a couple are mostly sweet, barring the bumps in the road due to their personal issues, which sometimes cause them not to communicate well (pretty typical for a romance novel). They get over those issues eventually, and the book has a nice HEA ending.

But . . . the story was a bit simple and kind of left me wanting more. Alexa and Drew had some challenges as a couple that could have been explored to add depth to the story. For one thing, they live in different parts of California. But even though both characters complain about being separated, theyve got careers and money that allow them to travel, so their long-distance romance seems more like an inconvenience than a real problem. Beyond that, though, is that they are an interracial coupleAlexa is black, and Drew is white. Thats still not all that common in mainstream romance novels, and I think it could have been explored more deeply in the story. Race definitely does come up, its not ignored, but when it does, things seemed to be smoothed over relatively quickly. Maybe thats in part because Alexa mostly spends time in Drews world, rather than him being forced into hers; black people are used to navigating the white world, but the opposite isn't true, so having Drew interact more with Alexas black friends and family could have given the author more to explore.

One other thing that was a little strange about this book was how the sex scenes were handled. Ive read romances where its mostly kissing with the sex (if there is any) left behind closed doors, and Ive read plenty of romances that don't shy away from getting down and dirty. But this book occupies a weird middle ground where the reader gets foreplay, only for the scene to fade out at the juicy parts, and then fade back in for more rolling around in bed before it fades back out again . . . And rinse and repeat, because these two go at it like bunnies at times. In fact, I kind of wish the author had left out some of the sort-of sex scenes and just had Alexa and Drew have more conversations about themselves and their lives, so the reader would get a stronger sense of them connecting and falling in love.

Readers who are looking for a light, fluffy romance to read will probably enjoy this book, but anyone looking for a more substantial story might want to skip it.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own
256427
The Sweet By and By by Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck is a rich look into the life of Jade Fitzgerald in the weeks leading up to her marriage in the small Tennessee town she calls her home. What should be a happy occasion has instead ripped open past wounds, shone a spot light on deep rooted family issues and secrets from the past long thought buried deep within.  How Jade, her family and fianc deal with the issues that arise make you feel for their characters and their future.

The Sweet By and By is a study in family issues and character dilemmas. Just when you think you have the full plot, another element is added which draws you further in the emotions surrounding the finely knitted structure that has become Jade's life. Snip one string and many more unravel, leading her to deal with hurts from the past, and present. I found it to be an engrossing read, and while the situations surrounding Jade's wedding are unique I think almost everyone could find a character in this novel to relate with. While some of the situations are a bit easily remedied, the richness of the emotional experience this novel contains makes it a recommended read. The writing is simple, pure, and the author clearly aims to tell a tale instead of bog you down with needless details and prose. I am highly anticipating the next novel in the series already. Sara Evans has many paths to go down in the continued tale of Jade Fitzgerald and her family.
2378187
I enjoyed reading this contemporary romance novel.  The setting is a small, farm town in Wisconsin.  Emma has returned home to help her mother run the dairy farm.  Emma is an independent woman, determined to keep her farm afloat, without the help of untrustworthy men.  David, a now successful novelist, returns to his roots ready to settle down, after spending years in New York city.  Both Emma and David are called home for their own reasons, and when their paths cross, they feel attraction that neither is prepared for.

Called Home is more than just a romance novel, there is a suspenseful element involved as well.  Emma becomes the target of pranks and criminal acts, and while trying to stay safe, Emma draws closer to David.  The romance develops in a very realistic and steady manner.  Emma has serious abandonment and trust issues with the male sex,and she has to face these issues in the novel.  At first, her character is so independent, she comes off rude and callous.  As I got to know her character more, I better understood Emma's issues.  I appreciated David's character, even though he is a successful writer, he is humble and patient, an easy character to like.

I did have a few issues with Called Home.  There were some timing errors, or places in the novel where I was confused as to how much time had passed.  Also, there seems to be some significance to the number 1002, and I never did figure out what that significance was.  These issues are fairly minor, but I am still curious as to the 1002 number...

The romance is sweet and believable, and I became attached to the characters.  Also, the romance was very clean and not heavy on the sexual side.  On the whole, in Called Home, the characters, the setting, and the romance created a highly enjoyable contemporary romance read.
1543912
Joyce's novel is a sweet, feel-good story. Frank, the owner of a record store in 1988, is able to match up customers to records/songs they will enjoy.  (Reading this made me think about book stores that could easily do this for their customers).  Frank's store is struggling to remain open as CDs begin to take over the music scene and he remains true to vinyl records.  When a woman walks in to his shop one day and faints, Frank is interested in this woman, yet she disappears before the two can really connect.

There is an entertaining cast of characters and plenty to smile about in this book, and Joyce nicely ties everything up by book's end.
1530791
Second Chances is a series of loosely connected romance novels set in the Northwest US, specifically state of Oregon. The primary characters of early stories appear as secondary characters in the later stories. The romances are consistently sweet, and each novel has a suspense B-plot that complicates things. One has a psychological stalking, another has murder of homeless veterans, a third has a white power organization infiltrating politics... The author has done the research for the extra details that added to the flavor of the book, like how a glass kiln is used to forge glass art, or how PTSD affects veterans, how Jewish Christmas dinner is like, and so on, without making them seem superfluous, for most of the details are integrated into the plot. The quality is consistent, and the pairing are refreshing: gallery owner and a sculptor (with a false intent), police detective and a girl being framed for murder, older female reporter and younger photographer who stumbled into political intrigue, district attorney and a hot cop who's also a childhood friend... There is a little bit of the "why does this guy/girl have this much effect on me", but it's only in measured doses. All in all, if you like good romance novels, read this series.
112759
A sweet and enjoyable romance, that created a relatable book, where I was able to make connections with the protagonist in a way that will forever keep me loyal to this author.  This story quickly pulls readers in, while making them remember that sliver in time when trying to catch a husband was "top" priority.  Being a book lover myself, always finding somewhere to steal a moment to read, I appreciated Ava's character and her dreams of having her own happily-ever-after, sealed with a magical first kiss.  Ava and Sebastian are the ideal "unlikely" couple who go on  their own unique journey to end up in the perfect romance novel that would make even Ava proud of Holt.

Each character was vital to the story, even the minor appearances, and completed the storyline in a way that ensured you wouldn't soon forget any of them. I loved how even the unattainable one had his charm for the ladies and that Grandma, especially, seemed like your own - in more ways than one. Holt was extremely successful in her pacing of the story, never making the reader feel deprived and not overly dragging the plot with unnecessary detail.  Holt has once again impressed with this book that is highly recommended and one that will remain a favorite in my library.

~The Book Stalker Reviewed
618326
This was a sweet romance.  I like stories where you get both characters' points of view in alternating chapters.  While our main characters definitely had their pasts to overcome, once they figured out how they felt about each other, the main drama and stress in the book came from outside issues, exes or dealing with the loss of Caroline's bookstore or else her horrible mother. It's nice to read a story where the people in love are able to know that and not have to stress back and forth and not trust each other or push each other away.  Sometimes it is nice to read a "perfect" love story, and this is definitely one where that takes place. There are very steamy sex scenes, but also very dreamy romantic scenes.  There are also good family members, on Clayton's side, as well as some great friends of Caroline's.  There are babies, and a wedding as well.

I did have a few scenes where the sexy bits kind of jarred with the sweetness, didn't quite fit seamlessly together.  And there was a lot of crying at the end that seemed a bit overdramatic to me,  as well as some of the professions of love did get to be a bit much.  But overall I enjoyed the story, and would definitely love to go back and read how the other couples got together.  I'm sure if I'd read all the books in order, it would have made the epilogue set 15 years in the future mean more to me.

If you like a sweet romance, without drama between the lovers, steamy sex between them, flirting, funny friends, all of that, this is the book for you!
2764040
Tristan and Valentine

A vicar's orphaned and destitute daughter meets a world weary hardened rake in the abandoned folly of the ramshackle estate of a dissolute lord and lady in the midst of a debauched gathering and guess what?  A sweet romance ensues.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Both protagonists shared varying degrees of self doubt throughout this tale. Their vulnerability and willingness to bare their souls in spite of their innate low self esteem was heartening.

Tristan Sinclair is not what he seems on the surface. This brusque rake is a tender and caring soul. Misunderstandings and mistrust, from those who should have trusted him, hardened him at a young age.  As so many do, he decided to live down to their expectations.

Valentine March has experienced a life devoid of tenderness. The vicar who raised her as his own has never allowed her to forget her unworthiness. After his death, even the bit of stability and security she enjoyed was stripped away.

When she finds herself alone and weeping over the cruelty meted out to her at the hands of her employer's cruel daughter, she meets Tristan for the first time and pours out her heartbreaking story.

Over a short period and amidst a forced separation, their love is cemented and this reader beamed with delight.

Mimi Matthews is quickly becoming an autobuy author for me. Her sly winks to Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen were duly noted and delightful for their inclusion.

If you love a sweet romance devoid of excessive steam and imbued with the intoxicating warmth of the growth of first true love, this is the story for you. It certainly is for me.
714291
I thought this was a great read, really romantic, sweet, and with a lot of heart. I don't think you'd be lost here if you haven't read book 1&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Off-Sides/dp/B00BJBI1U0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Off Sides</a>&nbsp;(which was also sweetly romantic), but you do see the couple from that book again here. They don't hog the story at all, but I have to say that seeing Ryan and Danny again, seeing them deep into HEA and getting some totally sweet news about them, was one of the best things about this second book. It was just really good to see them again and touch base with a couple I loved.

But back to this book, Off Limits, it's about Ryan's sister Emily and her hero, Nix Caldwell. I didn't know if I could love a guy as much as I loved Ryan, but Nix was something special. Really, I'm going to love a jerk hero every time, I'm just programmed that way, but Nix was one awesome jerk hero. The thing with a jerk hero is that the author must ultimately make him likeable, even lovable. And this author definitely did that for me with Nix. He is snarly, kind of rude, closed off, even almost anti-social, and with a bite of snark about him. He was just yummy to me, his personality strong and layered, and he has the wounded hero thing working big time: a Marine injured in combat, dealing with PTSD, and Traumatic Brain Injury as well. A lot of hurt and guilt conflict this hero, making for a nice, deep, strong hero.

When we met Emily in book 1, she was quite a different character, but the brat has changed and grown up here. And I liked seeing this transformation. It felt realistic and believable, making her a very sympathetic and endearing character. Emily's ready to take charge of her life and stop letting her mother influence her and manipulate her life. It's a difficult change, and I think we really see Emily become a young woman. Both Emily and Nix are in their early to mid-twenties, but they never felt immature or shallow to me. They both actually felt quite real and interesting, flawed and human, both struggling to be more and have more. I liked how Emily was just what Nix needed to open up and to heal. They both enhanced each other, adding something significant to the other's life.

There are just a few minor typos, but they did not take me away from the romance I was feeling. This story is more character-focused, concentrating on the developing relationship between the h/H, building those emotions and deepening the romance. It was slow and gradual and just lovely to read. The story is told in first-person with both characters' POV, and I love that in a romance. I love seeing both sides of the story up close and personal, getting inside a character's head and feeling those emotions. I felt really close to this couple and wanted them to connect, to fall in love, and to be everything to each other.

There are some sexy moments in the story, really nicely done, sensual and smooth, heated as well as caring. The sexual tension was really good as Nix tried to resist Emily; I loved that push-pull between them. But more than the sexy times, I loved the sweet times. Plenty of sweetness in this book to offset the deeper issues both characters were dealing with. When Nix brings Emily flowers (the first time he's ever brought a girl flowers) and then what he does with his tattoo... That melted me. I forgave him all his dark broodiness, all his snark and bite. Nothing better than a jerk hero who turns to putty for the heroine.

Off Limits was just the feel-good read I needed right now. It felt good and warm, sweet and hopeful, and most of all, it felt very romantic to me. A love story first and foremost. I'm really liking how this author tells a sweet love story and how she makes me care about her characters. I'll be reading the next book in the series, no doubt.
3931615
I was given an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
Bree has been widowed (at a young age) for 5 years and is still very involved with her late husband's family.  Thinking of moving on with a work colleague, her feelings are a mixture of guilt and anxiety. Then to complicate the situation she meets Drew who is linked to the family via his brother, and feels more at ease with him.
Interesting characters, strong family relationships, love and friendship. A sweet and easy book to read.
3.5***