Sing With Me by Bette Hawkins

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Sing With Me is an enemies-to-lovers story about two successful musicians. And it is so good. 

Georgia (Gigi) Lark is a popstar with one prestigious Vangaurd award under her belt. She's also recently had her heartbroken via a toxic ex-wife and facing a writer's block. Like this isn't bad enough, her latest release is something of a wash-out.

Ashley Archer is Georgia's contemporary, but a musician taken more seriously than pop. Her star's on the rise at this time. 

Despite never having met, the two have been positioned as rivals by the media and also by their mutual label. And things would remain status quo but for a reclusive, legendary producer, Johnny Rail, wanting to work with the two of them—together. Sequestered in his ranch. 

This one is slow burn, done really well. Both the MCs are well characterized and likeable. Since they're both equally successful, neither needs to really bend backwards to accommodate the other's insecurities around fame (this kind of equality where on MCs doesn't carry the entire emotional burden of the relationship is always a plus). 

The author gives them immediate mutual attraction and high lust-quotient but takes her time building their relationship. They grow into one another, spend a lot of time together, so by the time they actually kiss, it is like a a moment that we've been waiting for. 

This is also a no angst story. That is good because oftentimes conflict gets forced in to maintain an expected pattern. 

Sing With Me is a simple story, told engagingly and with heart. 

About the cover: I don't see either of the leading ladies in the lady on the cover, but she is what their daughter would look like 😆

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Accidental Honeymoon by Miranda Macleod

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

A thoroughly enjoyable romcom with very appealing leading ladies.

Monica Panagiotopoulos is an Instagram influencer with a nightmare ex trying to make Monica homeless. Part of the ex’s plan to render Monica homeless is get some work done to attract a higher rate for the house. Enter Ray, the hot ‘handy ma’am’. Despite immediate attraction between the two, the sparks flying are passionate alright, but not of the delicious kind. They are judgemental about each other, cutting and entirely not liking who the other is. 

That is the start. But circumstances, inopportune arrival of Monica’s parents and a conditional bequeath by Monica’s grandmom conspire to turn them into a ‘couple’ for the inheritance. And the, Monica’s followers make the ‘couple’ a thing and their ‘relationship’ becomes a public property. 

This is an exceptionally entertaining rich (maybe not so rich initially)-girl-poor-girl fauxmance. Monica and Ray are extremely likeable and all the factors pushing them together and forcing them to stay together are hilarious. The conflict was a little convoluted but the cliax following it was pure romcom awesomeness. 

A book to totally love.  

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Two to Tangle by Melissa Brayden

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

This is the second in the Tangle Valley series by the inimitable Melissa Brayden. 

Gabriella Russo has moved to small town, Whisper Wall in Oregon, as the chef for the in-the-pipeline restaurant to be opened in Tangle Valley Vineyard owned by Joey Wilder. Gabriella moved to Tangle Valley with her ex, Joey’s close friend, Madison LeGrange, a winemaker of note. Gabriella and Madison sucked as a couple but rock as friends and the threesome have become very close. 

Ryan Jacks is the contractor chosen to build the restaurant, Tangle. Girl with tools, she is quite a player around town knows for her no-strings-attached hook-ups. 

Gabriella and Ryan are attracted towards each other but their path becomes rocky when Madison finds renewed interest in Gabriella and Ryan lets her person demons get better of her.

First off – the writing. Brayden’s unique whimsical funny is always a delight to read and in this one she leans into it with even more self-assurance. The writing, as always, scores big time. 

Gabriella is awesome. Sassy, talented, funny, fiery and all things good. She is a very, very well-developed character. 

We didn’t completely get Ryan. She’s never been in love before so she’d never been hurt before. Given that, her fear of being open is not quite understandable. We do understand the feeling of Imposter Syndrome and not being good enough, but Ryan just carried it too far and too long. Especially when Gabriella, despite Ryan’s disappearing tricks, conquers her hurt and declares her feelings – only to be met with silence from Ryan. Not cool. 

The group of the three friends rocks even if they sound, think and act impossibly alike.  

On the whole a thoroughly entertaining read since it is as always, smartly written by the queen of excellent light reads.

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

A Breathless Place by Harper Bliss

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Isabel Adler, once a phenomenon in the world of music and winner of thirty-six (or thirty-seven) Grammys, loses her singing voice because of a surgery. The loss of her ability to sing is beyond debilitating for Izzy. She feels anchorless, adrift and almost like she’s lost herself and her identity. Almost a decade after the disaster of the operations, at almost sixty, Izzy has decided that she doesn’t want to continue this was any more. She decides to stop being. 

As her final acts, she is in the process of getting her autobiography written and she is secretly composing a farewell letter to her loved ones. A letter explaining herself and her decision. 

Six months before the date she has set for herself, her biographer has an accident and is replaced by another journalist, a Pulitzer-award winner, Leila Zedah. Leila turns out to be unexpected, to say the least. Her personality and presence create upheavals in Izzy’s controlled life. Their chemistry is completely disarming. Izzy finds herself captivated by Leila and drawn into a relationship which surpasses the initial no-strings-attached expectation. 

First off, a trigger warning. This basis of this book is suicide ideation. So, if that is in any way a trigger for you, you may want to think before you dive into it. 

Having got the trigger warning out of the way: this is a fabulous read Izzy and Leila are both beautiful women who have been written with love and care. Both have been fleshed out wonderfully. The chemistry between them is awesome. 

Izzy’s struggle to hold on to her decision, which has been five years in the making, warring against the undertow caused by her growing feelings and relationship with Leila is excellently understood and written. We love the fact that when Izzy ends up showing Leila her in-progress goodbye letter, Leia points out that this is an act of someone wanting to be dissuaded. The scene is well-thought out, extremely well-written and there is maturity, kindness and love in Leila’s conversation with Izzy. 

The premise of the book is very vaguely similar to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (ex-megastar deciding to end their life because of irreparable medial reasons and having their biography written) but the trajectory of the book is completely different.

This is rather an intense read but is rewarding in every way. We definitely recommend it. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Mutual Benefits by HP Munroe

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Hannah Melville has always felt like the odd one out in her family. While the rest of her family (parents, twin siblings – sister and brother) are all into science one way or another, Hannah is a dress designer. She is successful enough but still feels defensive. As the oldest child, she’s also been something of a conformist and is chafing a bit under always being responsible and predictable. At a family dinner with her parents, when her mother turns the conversation towards Hannah’s love life – again, she decides rock the boat and announces she is gay. Only, instead of the shock and negative reaction that she anticipated her parents celebrate her “coming out” saying they suspected it all along. And the next thing Hannah knows is that her mother has set her up on a blind date – with a woman. 

Ashley West is a firefighter – a hot firefighter. She is out but not interested in a relationship. She’s been rather badly burnt by a relationship in the past with a girl who claimed to be straight but also insisted she loved Ashley. The ex could never come to terms with her own sexuality and Ashley suffered greatly in the situation. Now Ashley is not ready for a relationship and definitely more than a little leery about having anything to do with straight girls and their experimentation. 

But Hannah is the exact opposite of Ashley’s ex. Ashley’s ex claimed to be straight while having an affair with Ashley and Hannah is out as gay to the world and insists she is straight in private.

To keep their mothers of their backs, Hannah and Ashley agree to pretend to be in a relationship for the world.

Hannah and Ashley are both extremely appealing. The dialogue is sharp and the relationship is really sweet. Munroe takes time in developing the relationship over a period of time and offers plenty of insight into both, Hannah’s and Ashley’s minds and emotions. We loved their interaction, their banter, their caring for each other and the whole relationship.

The secondary characters provide excellent context and are all extremely likeable. We loved the little scene where Hannah’s best friend points out that Hannah hasn’t really been seeing or appreciating the support she receives from her parents and sister because she is so busy feeling like she doesn’t belong. This is absolutely true – completely missing out what is there because you’ve decided something and colour everything with the strokes of that prejudice. 

This is a delightful romcom with great humour and a decent dose of emotions in which everything (including justifiable not-forced-or-drawn-out conflict) just right. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Wild Things by Karin Kallmaker, Narrated by Abby Craden (Audiobook)

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Review-lite

…because…this is a lesfic classic

• First published in the 1990s, this book undoubtedly started off as a Xena fanfic – but has nothing really to do with the serial. It would’ve been an uber fic.
• Like Denial from around the same time and probably with the same Xena-fanfic genesis, this has one MC (Faith) involved with the other MC’s (Sydney) brother
• Like many books of that time, this has the two MCs struggling against their attraction towards each other
• Struggles with owning one’s sexuality – a mid-thirties coming of age story
• Big role of religion and homophobic parents contextualize and capture the period perfectly
• We somehow find that the books written is the 1990s are incredibly emotionally passionate – the angst, the feelings, the struggles, the rampant emotions – all so passionate and immersive
• The angst!
• Great characterisation
• We adore (read that in all caps) Faith Fitzgerald 
• Abby Craden. Nothing more to be said there. Except…no one whispers as seductively as she does.

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

The Big Tow: An Unlikely Romance by Ann McMan

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

This crime-com is such a zany, fun, irreverent ride of entertainment that we’re totally signing up for the next instalment. Think: the absurd, fun impossibility of Ruthless People marrying the stylish heists of If Tomorrow Comes and here is the child of that union. 

Synopsis-wise, the blurb is perfect, so we’re just going with it here.

“Welcome to the National Recovery Bureau, where your assets are as sacred as God’s holy word.”

Vera “Nick” Nicholson is an overtaxed and underpaid attorney wasting away on the bottom rung of the gilded ladder at Turner, Witherspoon, Anders, and Tyler, PA in Winston-Salem, NC. When a high-priced luxury car belonging to one of the firm’s top clients goes missing, Nick gets saddled with the unenviable job of recovering the vehicle—and its mysterious contents—without involving the cops. Enter Fast Eddie and his quirky band of misfits at The National Recovery Bureau, a repo agency located in a sleepy town called K-Vegas.

When Nick is unceremoniously furloughed from TWAT, she throws caution to the wind and signs on to become the newest agent of the NRB, teaming up with moonlighting third-grade schoolteacher, Frances “Frankie” Stohler. Frankie’s mortician father and beautician mother are stalwarts of the Winston-Salem community—so it’s no surprise that everyone across three counties has some connection to her family. What is surprising, however, is the Slim Jim Frankie carries in her purse and her preternatural talent for jacking cars.

Nick and Frankie’s stumbling entrée into the surreal world of asset recovery takes them on a hilarious, fast-paced and mind-bending journey across the back roads and byways of the Tar Heel state, setting into motion a chain of misadventures that lead them both toward financial independence, cataclysmic legal jeopardy, and the discovery that true love can sometimes lurk in the most unlikely places.

But the real magic is in the writing and the bunch of wacky characters. Much like McMan’s Jericho, there are a large number of excellently developed secondary characters in this one too. Our top favourites are Antigone, Carol Jenkins and Frankie’s Hermoine-like purse. 

Frankie (small sigh) is awesome. So awesome. Bright, peppy, enthusiastic, enterprising, funny…sexy. We so love her response to vague statements:

“I think want to kiss you.” 

“When will you be sure?”

And

“…I’d think you were flirting with me.”

“You mean you’re not sure? I must not be doing it right.”

Nick is the opposite of Frankie. A Negative Nervous Nelly and quite a downer in the whole proceeding. The book is written in first person from Nick’s PoV, so there way too much of her, but everything and everyone else is just so great that Nick was rescued and she also floated on the high fun-crest of this delightful book.

There is attraction between Frankie and Nick, but the romance is woven into the narrative rather than the narrative being woven around the romance. And it works perfectly. 

This is most definitely amongst the ten funniest sit-com books we’ve read and in the top three crime-coms. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

It's in Her Kiss by Rachel Lacey

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Sophie Rindell and Julia Vega are struggling Broadway actresses. They meet while auditioning for the same role. The role is of the leading lady, Bianca, a dream for both of them. After the audition, Sophie invites Jules to hang out with her and her friends and Jules accepts.

Sophie is out and undeniably attracted to Jules. Jules is curious but hasn't taken any action on her possible attraction towards woman. 

Both get a call back, but while Jules is cast as Bianca, Sophie is part of the ensemble and an understudy for the two main leads. As the rehearsals progress, Jules and Sophie's relationship also progresses. But both carry their own baggage that interferes with their relationship.

This book is equally story driven and character driven and really scores high on the characters-driven aspect. Jules and Sophie are complete human beings with positives and negatives. With ambitions and fears. With hopes and dreams. With multiple aspects and dimensions. 

Lacey does a brilliant job with keeping all actions of each of them in the perfect trajectory of their character. All their actions are understandable since we get to know their drivers so well.

Jules, with her softness, vulnerability and awareness is a tad higher on the appealing quotient. Even when she messes up due to being in the closet, she is quick to realise it and apologise. Sophie is much more confident, a little more aggressive and explicably (because of past experience) self-protective. Yet she reaches beyond her fears and frustrations, which is so admirable.

We were totally drawn into the story and into the characters. This book was a wonderful read and we wholeheartedly recommend it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐★q

What Happened in Vegas? By Claire Highton-Stevenson

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

This one is a super-cute romcom that made us want our life to be a romcom too – especially since the dedication of the book is: For everyone trying. You will get there.

Molly Day, a coffee chop owner in LA, is sent off on a holiday by her staff because she’s working too hard. She also recently found her partner cheating on her – so the need to recharge and regroup is rather high. But instead of a relaxing beach, Molly goes to Vegas for a week and decides to embrace whatever Sin City throws her way. And what Sin City throws her way si super-hot Anna Garcia, a location hunter with one of the Hollywood dream makers. There is a instant spark, and well, it is Sin City best known for marriages-by-mistake – which is exactly where Molly and Anna find themselves after 12 hours of fun, drinks and sex --- so much sex. Naturally, they decide to get the marriage annulled but discover thatthey need a divorce, not just an annulment. Molly actually considers staying married, but Anna, carrying some baggage of a past relationship that went right up to a marriage license (but not further) and of her extremely Catholic mom freaks and disappears on Molly.

But they’re both in LA and though difficult, it’s not impossible to find the other. Which is how Anna finds her ‘wife’ with a proposal of giving it a go. But Molly is having none of it.

Molly Day is an instantly appealing character. Cocky Anna grows on you as the story progresses. The chemistry between them is good and the sexy times are beyond good. There is lots and lots of sex, but the book doesn’t spillover into erotica because there is plenty of drama also going on. Plus plenty of romance and enough of angsty conflict before the happy ending. A complete romcom package, this.

This book is light, fluffy and very entertaining.

(Note that despite the subhead labelling it a second chances romance, this is a first try contemporary romance…ummm…romcom).

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power, Narrated by Lauren Ezzo (Audiobook)

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Review-Lite

because...Speechless!

• Good Lord!
• That whole dysfunctional co-dependence between the mother and daughter! Can’t even begin naming all the emotions that gave rise to.
• Disturbing.
• Intense.
• Intensely disturbing.
• Disturbingly intense.
• Awesome narration by Lauren Ezzo

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Standby Counsel by Alexi Venice

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

This is a gripping courtroom drama that compels you to keep turning the pages eager to know what happens next.

Attorney Monica Spade has left her previous homophobic organisation and is now partner in her own firm Spade, Daniels & Taylor. Monica is basically a civil lawyer and her jam professionally is health care and business. She stays away from litigation, trials and crime, thank you very much. She is in love with Shelby St. Claire, a gorgeous art teacher, and they’re in the sexual-honeymoon-behaviourally-making space-for-another-person-emotionally-exploring-slightly-on-eggshells phase of their deepening relationship. Life’s good.  

Monica is thrown for a loop when she receives a call from Judge O’Brien’s office requesting her to serve as standby counsel for a pro se criminal defendant. Monica realises that her name was put into the volunteer list as a prank by her friend, the ‘Taylor’ in Spade, Daniels &Taylor. Monica tries to plead off but there is no way she can wriggle out of this one.

With no other recourse, Monica becomes standby counsel to Stela Reiter, a young lady charged with killing her boyfriend by stabbing him 13 times. Stela insists that it was self-protection. As standby counsel Monica’s primary job is to explain the judicial process and laws to Stela, a demure, librarian-looking chemistry student, who is surprisingly self-possessed, highly intelligent and unexpectedly well-versed in law.

Crime, intrigue, long-reaching international plots – Monica finds herself tangled in things she never asked for. And it gets worse when threats become personal and impact her beloved Shelby.

This is a plot-driven book and the plot is very well thought out, nuanced and satisfyingly developed. The unfolding of the size of the crime was completely unexpected. From an ‘intentional homicide’ to an international event is just not what you imagine.

The writing and pacing is excellent. You are eager to know what happens next even as you try to guess it. No part either drags too long or is rushed through. Every action, incident and emotion is given the perfect amount of time, depth and attention. Plus there are sassy exchanges in the dialogues between various characters which range from chuckle-worthy to lol-demanding. One of our favourite parts is Monica’s first conversation with voice-on-phone-millennial, Cassidy.  Not only is the exchange fun, but in that teeny-tiny part, Venice manages to give Cassidy a definite personality. Quite an achievement of good writing, this.

Characterisation-wise, Stela is a triumph. The way she is described, she evokes a range of emotions. She is variously demure, timid, calculating, mysterious, intimidating – a victim and a criminal. We found ourselves flipping between wanting Stela to be innocent and shocked at new reveals about her.

Shelby St. Claire is one of the most gorgeous and amongst the sexiest women on paper we’ve met. We love that she is not just kept at being beautiful and sexy, though. She carries her own hurt and heartbreak, has her own secrets and irrational reactions with her partner. But she is also self-aware and willing (and able) to work on her relationship. She is a complete individual with many parts to her.

Monica, the centre of the story and on whom most of the narrative focuses, is such a real person. She is an everyday human being with every-person aspirations – love, friends, satisfying work and financial security. But when trouble comes calling she grits her teeth and tries to power her way through it the best she can which maintaining her professional and personal integrity and values. She makes mistakes, has her oh-so-human feelings with Shelby, is overwhelmed but makes amends, apologises when necessary, reaches out, has strong core values of right and wrong, refuses to be a pushover and is true to her emotions.  

We loved the relationship between Shelby and Monica which has hot sex and gooey sweetness.

In fact, without particularly trying to give them centre stage, Venice manages to write strong interpersonal relationships between partners (not just Shelby and Monica, but all partners), friends, colleagues and even acquaintances. She gives the people and relationships depth, dimension and flavour.

This one is a very, very immersive, enjoyable and satisfying read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Hopeless Romantic by Georgia Beers

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

A wedding planner who doesn't believe in marriage and a divorce lawyer who had unshakable faith in marriage. A marriage-shy divorcee who knows how to be in a relationship and handle the rough parts with maturity and a marriage-keen romantic who is rather clueless about how to deal with the uncomfortable moments of disagreement in a relationship. Very interesting character contexts in this one.

Theodora (Teddi) Baker is possibly the best wedding planner in town. She's built up an enviable reputation and a successful business, Hopeless Romantic, ground-up. She used to be even more successful with three storefronts instead of the current single one. She had to close two of them to pay alimony when she got divorced. Naturally, Teddi has low interest in relationships and no interest in getting married again.

Leah Scott is s successful divorce lawyer with a not-so-secret craze for romcoms looking for her own happily ever after. 

Leah's little sister, Kelly, is getting married. Kelly chooses Teddi as her wedding planner. Teddi and Leah have sparks and electricity right away but first past history and then personality differences rock the boat.

Teddi and Leah are instantly likeable. The chemistry between them is rocking. The progression of their relationship is so much sweetness. The conflict is not contrived (hallelujah) -- in fact, it is practically written into the narrative right from the beginning so you understand both of them but totally want them to work it out.

The supporting cast of free ends, mama Scott and Kelly are also very likeable. The relationship between Leah and Kelly is totally endearing. 

This is a sweet, easy, feel good read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

The Secret of You and Me by Melissa Lenhardt

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

It's been eighteen years since Nora Noakes was thrown out of her house by her father. She never returned to her hometown, Lynchfield, Texas. Now that her father is dead, Nora is back in town for his funeral. 

During her time away, Nora has made a life for herself in DC. A war veteran with a talent for languages, she is still employed with the government and has a relationship with a married woman. She has no intention of staying in the town that has chequered history for her. History in the shape of her first boyfriend, Charlie and erstwhile best friend, Sophie; who are now married to each other. 

Sophie with big dreams and a plan of getting out of the judgemental town with Nora. Sophie who was much more than a best friend.

This book has high drama and intense emotions. Though the hook is Nora, Sophie owns the story. She is broken, vulnerable, struggling but also strong, honest, brave and capable of intense, deep emotion unbroken and untainted by time. Sophie is one of the most well realised pen people we've ever met. We love everything about her and were totally floored by her. She kept growing deeper and stronger as a person in every scene.

Nora with her self-preservation and emotions contained by self-protection pales in comparison. Seriously, if you can decide how much to love, is it even love? She is repeatedly accused of selfishness by various characters and that is totally correct. This is established right in the first scene with her expectations from her sister but to whom she gives nothing. There is nothing about Nora that justifies not one, but two women putting their lives on line for her. If only Nora was a better person, this would have been an exceptional book.

This is a second chances romance but the whole effort to create a second chance is only Sophie's. She is alone in the want, in the effort and in the emotion. Where Sophie lived her relationship with Nora even in the intervening years, Nora lived her own life. Where Sophie is expected to upend her whole life and reality for a relationship with Nora, Nora offers nothing in return. Nora is cruel and self-centred with Sophie and her current girlfriend, Alima (who incidentally has upturned her world for Nora). 

Sophie's love has depth, breadth, height and intensity. Nora's involvement feels superficial in comparison which she covers with grand gestures.

Despite all of Nora's failings and shortcomings, Sophie makes this book. It is a highly involving read which draws you in and keeps you turning the pages desperately wanting Sophie to get happiness.

We recommend this one totally for Sophie, the sap, drama and emotions. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Remember Me, Synthetica by K. Aten

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Love the lede of the synopsis: What happens when a woman loses her memory but gains a conscience? , which is the binding hook of this very, very well-written and engrossing sci-fi.  

Dr. Alexandra Turing wakes up from a six-month coma after a massive accident and the very first thing she says is to call her Alex, which is friendlier and less formal than Alexandra. That is just first of the many personality changes she seems to have. Alex is suffering from amenisa. She can only remember things up to two years back. Her spotty older memories seem like still photographs. She also has complete sensory amnesia i.e. she had no memory of textures or taste. She remembers her educational achievements, the robotics project that she was working on in her father’s company, Organic Advancement Solutions (OAS). Her mind is sharp. She also has uncomfortable memories of not treating either her father or her best friend and colleague, Dr. Falguni Nanjiani, too well. With Falguni’s supportive presence, Alex begins relearning living and retaking her paused life.

Alex meets Dr. Emily St. John, a vet, and there is mutual interest between them. She makes the effort to get to know the beautiful doctor better and Emily becomes the first person with whom Alex forms a bond and a relationship after her coma. Alex also makes an effort to build back a relationship with her father.

Amidst all this, she returns to working on her pet project, Synthetica, a fully functional android. When she returns to work, she is dismayed to find her project team reduced from twenty to maybe just four, but she is undeterred. With encouragement from David Devos, a board member n OAS who now seems to be in a way more active role than she remembers, Alex gets involved with other departments of the company.

However, she seems to hit walls when it comes to certain puzzling questions she has about herself, her project and her past. Falguni and David seem to be giving her an unaccountable run around for many things.

With Emily’s unwavering support, Alex takes on more and more reins of her own life and makes surprising discoveries.

This is a gripping read. The reveal is predictable and portended right from the beginning but that doesn’t take away from how involved you get in Alex’s story or how invested you are in the Alex-Emily relationship.

Alex is childlike in many things, completely literal and frequently comes across as autistic. Emily is a wonderful, emotionally rich partner to Alex. There are some great dialogues and sweet scenes with these two. Their relationship is like a thread that weaves everything together. The MCs and the supporting cast are well developed which makes it a particularly gratifying read. We have to make a mention of the racial diversity within the characters – much appreciated, that.   

The writing is excellent (some regrettable homonym misuses notwithstanding). The pacing is mostly good, though, at one point it felt like the narrative was taking the scenic route to get to the point. There is enough imagined technology and science-y terms to make it all seem completely plausible. There are absolutely no loose ends in the story, which is fantastic.

We definitely recommend this book to both, sci-fi and romance fans. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Entangled by Melissa Brayden

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Each time we finish one of Melissa Brayden’s books we spend some time in a kind of afterglow just cherishing our favourite new characters birthed by that magical mind. This one was no exception. Happy bonus, this is the beginning of a series of books that will feature a group of friends – and this, series-about-group-of-friends, is really where Brayden excels.

Josephine Wilder, Joey, is in a happy place in life – looking after Tangle Valley Vineyard in Whisper Wall, Oregon, with her father and uncle. Three years back Joey had been literally left at the altar but she is trying to move on from that setback and all the pity that she felt from the small town she is in. Where Joey’s dad is winemaker par excellence, Joey’s skills are perfectly suited for organising, marketing, selling and everything else to make a success of their prize-winning wines. When Joey’s father suddenly passes, she is devastated and calls on her old friend Madison, now an up-and-coming winemaker herself. Madison arrives with a great chef, Gabriella in tow for the restaurant Joey is planning.

One sore point for the residents of Whisper Wall is a huge commercial resort, the Jade, being opened by a big chain, Elite Resorts. Becca Crawford is the general manager of said disliked resort. Sunny and cheerful, Becca arrives in Whisper Wall little knowing the resentment against the Jade.

Becca visits Tangle Valley Vineyard and meets Joey. Both feel that something between them. And that something sparks even with the ‘evil empire’ resort thing between them.

Brayden’s books can never be captured in a synopsis because they are much more about the characters, the dialogues and attitudes than they are about just the plot. In every book, Brayden gives us at least one character to love (sometimes more than one).

As typical, in this one too there is one quirky, adorable leading lady offset by the second leading lady who is hot, nice but rather stoic and not entirely as emotion-capturing as the first one. Joey is the adorable one in this. (We must admit when they were introduced we were expecting Becca to be the solidly likeable one, especially in her introductory scene.)

There is a lot that happens with Joey and her character gains a lot of depth as the story progresses. Joey is extremely well-rounded and there is a definite character growth in her.

We do have a problem with the post-conflict relationship-repair part. The conflict happened because Becca kept important information from Joey for weeks plus she shared that information with Joey’s friends thus igniting every single one of Joey’s not wanting to be the person pitied triggers. Resultantly, Joey understandably breaks off (with a very mature conversation). Now, after that, Joey is the only one working towards getting over what happened and saving the relationship. It’s like the actual problem triggered by Becca wasn’t the problem at all and Becca didn’t have any making-up to do. That made the whole latter part rather lopsided and while Joey gained greater depth as a character, Becca is left very wanting.    

However, each time we read (or re-read) one of Brayden’s books we feel a desperate urge to be the women she writes about and even more, we want everyone we know to magically become like the people she writes about – all accepting chill attitudes with great sense of humour and solidly supportive in every circumstance.

Of course, we recommend this book and eagerly look forward to the rest of the series.

⭐⭐⭐⭐★