Blind Date by Christine L'Amour

⭐

Review-lite

...because there is nothing to it

• Shallow characterisations

• Unconvincing relationship 

• Mediocre writing

• Savannah, a model, is set up on a date by her brother. The date turns out to be with a woman. Kayla, her brother's colleague. Savannah has a great time with Kayla and they meet again. Before she knows it, Savannah is in the midst of a highly sexual relationship with Kayla and then of course, they're I love. A brief conflict, quick resolution; Savannah's career taking off and happily ever after.

• Honestly, why do we even bother reading these formulistic, poorly written books? The only thing going for it is that it is a pocket packet -- so it is short.

⭐

A Royal Payne by Pixie Chica

⭐

The synopsis (blurb) has absolutely nothing – allow us to say it again (and please read this in all caps) – nothing – to do with the story in the book

(For info – and also in case the blurb on Goodreads is updated at a later stage, here’s what we had got:

Princess Cameron Paynel
Spoiled. Thanks to my doting parents, I get what I want and have no shame in that fact. Well, until I met Queen Helena of Ereal that is. I want her more than a collection from New York Fashion Week, and that’s saying a lot. She’s all about royal business and no pleasure, not to mention ten years older than me. Basically, she's off-limits in more ways than one, but that won’t stop me, nor will her constant rejections. I’ll show her I’m the kind of trouble you don't want to escape.

Queen Helena Hartcaster
I refused when the King of Jegan asked me to babysit his daughter for a couple of weeks to keep her out of the tabloids. However, blackmail regarding our upcoming deal is harder to say no to. I prefer my life to remain solitary and uncomplicated, so the last thing I need is a hellcat causing havoc, but for the good of my people, I agree. Then I discover she has plans, and they include ruining my own to avoid the adorably annoying brat. Temptation at its finest

***This is a fun, F/F read about a bratty Princess who will stop at nothing to achieve the love of the Queen she's obsessed with. Come celebrate easter, with a little mischievous fun! The Holiday Hijinks is at it again!***)

Instead what we read:

Cameron Harley, an American, was seeking adventure after graduation. She gets an opportunity to become the executive assistant to newly minted Queen Helena Payne of Jegan. Helena is kind of modelled on Miranda Priestly, ergo, she’s a nightmare and a nuisance. Five years after getting the job, Cameron is fed up of her boss but also madly in love with her. Helena seems to be aware and not quite immune to the attraction.

Cameron receives a call from her sister who is getting married and wants take time off for the wedding. Not only does Helena refuse the leave request, she is also exceptionally nasty and rude. Result: Cameron dumps the job and goes away.

Helena, who is also in love with Cameron, follows her, proposes to her and abdicates for her.

About the story we got:

Mad, crazy, cheesy love – check. Huge, romantic gesture – check. Likeable leads: check. Cute relationship – check. Fun dialogue – check. Sex – gosh, tellingly we don’t remember!

So here’s a book that checks most of our boxes and is written by an author who we usually enjoy, but just didn’t work for us.

First, Helena. While she is nice, her staff treats her with immense disdain and rudeness which was completely weird given that she is the Queen and the country is a monarchy. It is not even like it is established anywhere that Helena is just so nice (and so much of a doormat) that her staff feels comfortable to be nasty to her. So the entire characterisation, context and setting sucked. Cameron is also very likeable. However, there is no building up of the relationship, no depth or dimension to it.

All in all, this one was a complete disappointment and loudly not recommended.

(So, here’s the updated blurb from Amazon.com:

Cameron Harley

I left my life in Small Town USA for a dream job in an exotic country. My life was going to be fabulous. Only...it didn’t quite turn out that way. Five years later, I’m not only stuck working crazy hours as an executive assistant, but I have a hot and cold boss. Queen Helena Payne. The Royal Pain in my A… You get the picture. This is my life day in, day out, until one call changes everything.
I’m heading back home. Even if I’m madly in love with her. It’s time I set my sights on reality...like someone who actually sees me as more than the help.

Queen Helena Payne

She thinks I don’t see her, but there’s nothing further from the truth. I see every inch of her, and I love riling her up just to see her storm off. She’s my assistant, the best one that’s ever existed. She’s also off-limits. As the queen of my country, there are expectations about who I should marry. Cameron Harley is not it.
I may not be able to touch, but I can watch. I’ll keep her by my side for as long as I can. Only it seems my time is up. Now, I’m on a wild goose chase after the one I can’t let go.

***This is a fun, F/F read full of Insta-love goodness! Come celebrate Spring Love, with a little mischievous fun!***)

⭐

One more confusing aspect:

On Goodreads the book is titled: A Royal Payne (Love for the Holidays: Easter Book 4)

While on Amazon it is: A Royal Payne (XOXO: Spring Love 2020 Book 4)

 

Second Time Around by Christine L'Amour

⭐

Though short, this one was a difficult read simply because one of the MCs is frankly quite terrible.

Single mom, Monica Sanders, is clearly unable to cope with her life including her four-year-old son, David, her job and her parents with whom she has a difficult relationship. It is like her life has always been a train wreck except for a brief moment in the past (during high school) when she was involved with Valerie Dawkins. Valerie, who had an equally bad relationship with her own parents, upped and disappeared on everyone (including Monica despite having seen forever together). Now, Valerie suddenly reappears as a new hire in Monica’s organisation. The flame between the two is still alive but there is too much hurt in Monica about their past. Valerie actually kisses Monica in their workplace and the fallout is that Monica is upbraided by their boss. Monica, mindful of her responsibilities and really needing a promotion, steps back from Valerie. A couple of days later, their boss warns Valerie also and she reacts aggressively resulting in Monica being demoted. Instead of taking responsibility, Valerie excuses herself saying that she is not responsible of the boss’ behaviour and that Monica shouldn’t blame her.

And therein lies the whole problem.

Valerie is constantly and consistently harming Monica (in the past and present) but has no remorse, no empathy and no consideration. We just cannot see how this can possibly be a romance. Monica is quite a tragic character – especially when she’s described as a rebellious girl with fire in her who has turned into a withdrawn, defeated, resigned and sad person. We don’t understand Monica’s attraction to Valerie in the present and can only explain it as Monica never having got closure. Monica’s relationship with David is another fail in the book. For one, David is described a constantly screaming and Monica is less than tolerant of him. Though Monica insists that David means the world to her, the only caring flowing between the two is from son to mother. So it is not as if Monica is written to be particularly likeable, but she’s still better than Valerie. In fact, we disliked Valerie so much and the relationship between the two made such little sense that we entirely skipped the sex scene towards the end eager to just finish the damn thing.

This one was so totally not for us.

⭐