Barbara Rachel's Reviews

In Brief:  funny and cozy but spicy hockey romance. I definitely recommend this book! 📗 📗 ⭐️ Overall Impression ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ 🔍 ADD Ease Of Focus: 🔍 🔍 🔍  Random side characters with storylines that went nowhere… And 2 people have names that are almost the same. Maeve and Fable. First of all. WTF are these names. No One Uses These Names. And I say that as a Barbara. WTF. Also too many characters… Needed to have a boss and an above boss? Why?  🌶️ Spice Level: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ Just Wow. 🎤 Audio Quality: 🎤 🎤 🎤 🎤 🎤  The audible was excellent: loved the detail of dual narrators even within conversations.  🖤 Darkness Level 🖤 1 for surprising dirty talk. And also, MMC was a little bit of a stalker. ⚠️ Trigger Potential:  Terrible Parents. Near Fatal Car Accident. Living with Scars 📗 📗 📝My review What I ❤️ I really enjoyed this, even more than the 1st book in the series. This was touching, funny and SPICY. Loved the hockey rep, as always. Anyone ...

The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted by Rebecca Raisin My rating: 4 of 5 stars Coco is having to flee London for her parents' home in Paris with almost no money, her career in tatters and a sulky teenaged daughter with whom she now has to share a bedroom. Broken hearted and fleeing scandal, she is having to cope with her daughter's grief and being removed from her home and friends as well as her own. Thank you to Net Galley, Boldwood Books and the author for the ARC. The opinions here are my own. This was a well crafted story with vivid descriptions that brought Paris to life. Most of the story centers takes place in this quirky and incredible sounding bookshop. The characters were well rounded and their intersecting storylines made me not want to put it down, once I got going. The interactions with Coco and her teenaged daughter will likely be relatable for anyone that is trying to navigate that. Found it a bit slow at first, but...

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews Okay, there is so much I loved about this book... But, some of the dialogue was eye roll inducing. So much of this story was smart, funny and touching. And then... there times the conversation fell flat, did not support the story or was just cringe inducing - not because of the alpha male and the age difference... not issues for me. I mean if you are coming to a Tessa Bailey Party, don't expect anything less. I am here for all that. Just sometimes, maybe in an effort to make Burgess out to be a meat head, the conversation just seemed needlessly uninspired. Sorry Tessa Bailey - not that you will ever read this - I am a huge fan and just bought a pile of your books - I am here for the long haul. I just expected a little more.  The audio book was well read and produced. I purchased it through Barnes and Noble. The actor was wonderful and took you right ...

Love and Other Risky Business by Sarah Brenton My rating: 4 of 5 stars A stunt man and seamstress consider taking their friendship to the next level in this romantic comedy. The male MC is bisexual, and does represent that clearly, not as a work in which I feel I am seeing over done in contemporary romcoms lately. In addition to friends to lovers, we have forced proximity. This story was interesting as disaster strikes fairly early in the plot and I was wondering where we would go from there but it kept a great pace and storyline throughout. I was not wild about the MC best friend. He was kind of annoying. But that's okay, I don't have to like everyone. I loved the mother of the male MC -- she was by far my favorite character and the only one that felt truly ship-worthy. But overall, really enjoyed it, it took some original plot twists and turns. This was steamy, so if explicit intimacy is not your thing -- not for you. Thank you so mu...

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a rollercoaster. Loved it and loved the playlist. I forgot how much I like Paramore. There will be tears, but the destination was worth it. It was over the top but still worked. #ContemporaryRomance #ExtraSpicy #RomCom #LoveAfterGrief

Funny Story by Emily Henry My rating: 5 of 5 stars Okay, usually Rom Com means the occasional chuckle. This book had me laughing so hard more than once. But what a rollercoaster. I mean there is some serious drama and some parts were at a tear-jerker level. I also really appreciated the coverage of how the friends sometimes break up when a romantic relationship ends and how that can be just as traumatic. I loved this. It more than made up for (Un)Happy Place which I am still bitter about, not going to lie. This was Book Lovers level — and that is in my top 5 in the genre. One triggering thing for me was Daphne’s relationship with her father. Oof — that hit close to home.  Loved Daphne, Miles, the little sister, the librarians, the town — this is such a great book. Daphne has so many layers that are unpacked — her character arc is such a rich storyline.  Julia Whelan is the voice actor for this — amazing narration. She transports, as u...

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey My rating: 5 of 5 stars Loved this! Georgie, our main character, grows and develops in part because of the work she puts in on herself and the chances she takes — not just because she may (or may not) fall in love.  The fact that she was a clown was a bit off-putting to me, but only on the surface and actually, it truly worked for the story, so I let it go. What I did not like at all was her brother Stephen and his weird relationship with his wife. It was like I missed a book/back story on them — they felt underdeveloped and at least two times their behavior was so odd — I did not get it. (If I did miss a prequel let me know — that would be so me). But I loved the rest of it so much, I still gave all the stars.  On a big Tessa Bailey binge right now and this was not a disappointment at all. ⏰ I read it in a few days. 🌶️ it is Tessa Bailey — 5 alarm spice — do not read if you do not enjoy explicit intimacy...

Miracles and Menorahs by Stacey Agdern My rating: 4  of 5 stars A girl that loves Hanukkah and a boy who loves it too, what could go wrong? She loves the small town she grew up in and its annual Hanukkah festival, but some of the town wants to change it to a holiday festival. Meanwhile the boy does not like the commercialization of holidays, hence the conflict between them. I love a Jewish themed romcom as much as the next person — this was a sweet story and for the most part I really enjoyed it. I loved the main character and the grandmother of the male MC - they were my favorite parts of the story.  Another thing I did love was the idea of a small town with a Hanukkah festival. That was a really fresh idea - build the world you want to see, even if it is for a novel One problem I had was that the main female lead had a best friend who was horrible. She was whiny, demanding and self centered. The whole book I wanted a reveal on how Sarah, our MC, ...

My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey My rating: 4 of 5 stars A second grade teacher takes a vacation at the beach with her brother and there is a dead body in their rental. Enter a bounty hunter who is ex-police and some fairly primal chemistry between teacher and hunter and a mystery to be solved in the background… I really enjoyed this. Read it in a day and a half. It was funny, very very spicy - as expected from Tessa Bailey.  Okay so this book seems to have Bailey’s fans divided. I was actually surprised by some of the negative reviews. To me it was just a Tessa Bailey with some Ali Hazelwood elements thrown in - without the STEM. Some people found the age gap and class difference “cringe.” Whatever - it was fun to read a romcom mystery. I enjoyed it. So I guess if you don’t want your goodie-two-shoes teacher attracted to danger and you want your male lead clean cut and not 9 years older than your female lead - don’t read this book. Or be prepared to ...

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey My rating: 5 of 5 stars When a broken down has-been pro golfer teams with his biggest (and only) fan whose life is a total disaster, true love may be on the horizon. While it sounds like such a far-fetched concept — it really works. Fan Girl Down was a super fun read. Tessa Bailey truly is a master at what she does. If you are not familiar with her work, she is so talented at creating characters that I am absolutely cheering for. There are a bunch of classic romcom tropes here including grumpy-cheerful, edgy-innocent, forced proximity.  It is importantly to note that her books are definitely for readers comfortable with explicit material. This particular book also works in some really heavy themes such chronic illness, lack of health insurance, childhood neglect, alcohol abuse, medication rationing. And yet the book was entertaining and engaging. I really loved this book. If you do not mind extra spicy intimacy...

Sweetest in the Gale by Olivia Dade My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love all three short stories included in this book. My only complaint is that I wanted each story to be longer. As always, I love the characters, their development and the diversity rep in Dade’s books! Another winner! ⏰ I read it in a few days. 🌶️ very spicy/mature/adult #ShortStoryCollection #ContemporaryRomance #RomCom #BodyDiversity #spicy🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ #womenwhowerentbornyesterday #iFeelSeen

Frisky Collections Volume 1: Frisky and Queer: A steamy romcom short story queer collection. by Michelle Mars My rating: 4 of 5 stars A fun collection of short stories that are centered around the Frisky Bean Cafe, the three stories were about three different couples that are patrons there. Each couple has different back stories, different tastes and predilections. In short, there is something for everyone here. This is very spicy, so be prepared for it to be rather explicit. Each rom com of the three also centered around a different time in a a relationship - one being at the beginning, one being at the level of commitment and one being about to change. The stories were cute and it was a fun read. Of note, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you BookSirens and to the author. ⏰ I read it in a few days. 🌶️ very spicy/mature/adult 🏷️ no triggers to report #ShortStoryCollection #contempora...

A few pre-spoiler notes: Read. This. Book.  Loved it. I love everything Olivia Dade writes, even her newsletter emails because she makes me smile and I need more of that, believe me.  It takes place on the eastern shore so - that was so fun for all of us that live or have lived locally in D.C., as I do. This is bodice ripping spicy 🌶️ so if that is not your cup of tea, best move on. It is a slow burn but it gets there. Several times.  There is a rather unusual fetish of some adjacent characters, but it leads to so much hilarity, bring it on I say.  Okay I never do spoilers but this book had my favorite line of the year so far, and it is kind of a big reveal line so if you do not want a spoiler. Stop. Don’t read further. ⚠️ ______________ A for sale sign that reads. “1 Broken 🖤. No need to buy. It’s always been yours. I’m so sorry.”  Come on Olivia Dade?!? How is one supposed to continue read the remaining 20 odd pages through never ending tears? Okay this is m...

 Loved this audiobook! Fun characters, could not “put it down.” I definitely want to read more from Sarah Adams. #SmallTownRomance #HurtPeopleFindingTheirWay #CharactersThatNeedTherapy #AudioBook #FakeDatingTrope

I loved this book.  Everly is our hero in this story of a young woman set to be featured in a reality TV makeover show geared toward plus-sized participants. Prior to this, she has been trying to hide herself for so long that she has procrastinated    pursuing any of her dreams.  As her story unfolds she begins to face challenges - some from unexpected places - as her character grows and changes. This was funny and entertaining but also a really worthwhile read. Initially, I expected the plot to be fairly straightforward, but there are some surprising twists and turns afterall. What I liked most about this story was the development of Everly‘s gumption.    I laughed, I gasped and cried my way through this book.  This is another book that I’m reading this year that features a female main character who becomes her own hero and really rescues herself. As far as the intimacy level, it was more implied than explicit, which is fine and left plenty to the ima...

Mr. Perfect on Paper by Jean Meltzer My rating: 4 of 5 stars As the creator and CEO of the popular Jewish dating app J-Mate, matchmaker Dara Rabinowitz knows the formula for lasting love—at least, for everyone else. When it comes to her own love life, she’s been idling indefinitely. Until her beloved bubbe shares Dara’s checklist for “The Perfect Jewish Husband” on national television and charming news anchor Chris Steadfast proposes they turn Dara’s search into must-see TV. As a non-Jewish single dad, Chris doesn’t check any of Dara’s boxes. But her hunt for Mr. Perfect is the ratings boost his show desperately needs. If only Chris could ignore his own pesky attraction to Dara—a task much easier said than done when Dara starts questioning if “perfect on paper” can compete with how hard she’s falling for Chris. I loved this book and the representation of a young Jewish woman with a severe anxiety disorder who has her world turned u...

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake My rating: 5 of 5 stars Loved it. No notes. ⏰ almost no time  🌶️ extra. rated mature ⚠️Mom that does not listen and earns no sympathy. Showing up for siblings that don’t show up for you. GAD.  Feeling not heard or seen.  🏷️ #RomCom #LGBTQ+🏳️‍🌈 #sapphicromance #ContemporaryRomance #FakeDating #makeYourOwnHappilyEverAfter #ShakespeareRemix #playwithinaplay

Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews Delilah Green is a photographer working hard to make it on her own in NYC when she is given a chance to return home and photograph her step-sister’s society wedding in the Pacific Northwest. She could use the money but it will be at the cost of her peace of mind as her hometown, step sister and step mother are all places and people she would rather leave behind.  What she never would expect is to fall into a romantic entanglement with one of her step-sisters best friends as they all are thrown together the week leading up to the wedding.  The result is a spicy, hilarious and at times heartfelt journey into what it means to come home and what success really amounts to.  I had read these books out of order, because..well it was an accident. So I knew the outcome before I picked up the book but I still loved it. Ashley Herring ...

My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine My rating: 4 of 5 stars A young artist, struggling to make ends meet, is evicted from her apartment and finds herself with a new landlord who is as awkward as he is gorgeous, landlord. As the title suggests, it turns out he is a vampire. Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable and lighthearted book. I did find the beginning a bit slow going but I never know if that is the book or just my attention span. Some of the premises were a bit silly but it was refreshing to read a funny vampire romance. ⏰ Fast Read: a few days 🌶️ It goes there - not for my tween to read ⚠️ No triggering - super lighthearted  🏷️ #VampireRomCom #ContemporaryRomance  #MyRommateIsAVampire #romcom

The Holly Project by Angela Pearse My rating: 5 of 5 stars This was such a fun book! Holly is a Christmas hater, and is trying to flee town after a social media post starts going viral. Bailey is a Rudolph sweater wearing Christmas lover that Holly cannot stand. Just add a transportation failure, a horrible inn and a warm and loving family to complicate everything for Holly. I love a good Christmas themed romance and this was a fun story with a wonderful grumpy-cheerful theme as well as the classic close proximity trope. Holly’s tough exterior and underlying history brought more depth to this story than I expected. It was funny, so well written and the characters were compelling. I loved the book and highly recommend it! Thank you Book Sirens, Clamp Publishing and Angela Pearse for the opportunity to review this book. I did receive this advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. ⏰ Read in one day! 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Once it go...