Reviews: SING ANYWAY, THE SUMMER MELT, and THE WEDDING DATE

 A collection of mini-reviews, quick thoughts, and books worth mentioning. 

Check them out!

SING ANYWAY by Anita Kelly

Publication Date: May 31, 2021

Pages: 124

Source: Library

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis (link to Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

SING ANYWAY was a complete joy to read. I loved the dual perspective and getting the inner thoughts of both Sam and Lily. Set in a karaoke bar, it was fun to get to know the characters through their interactions, their friends, and through their song selections. I loved how Sam and Lily had crushes on each other from afar and how they finally take a chance and meet. And we, the readers, get to experience them falling for each other in the best way.

  A favorite quote: 

"Why are we shouting facts at each other?"

This cracked me up and created an endearing moment between Sam and Lily.   

SING ANYWAY is sexy and vulnerable and hopeful and just a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to reading more by Anita Kelly and bonus, I already have their books on my shelves! 

THE SUMMER MELT by Emily March

Publication Date: June 1, 2023

Pages: 125

Source: Audible

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis (link to Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

THE SUMMER MELT will have readers rushing to the ice cream shoppe for a double scoop.

The short sweet novella made me giggle. I discovered this book when the author shared her promotion as a Book Bonanza signing author. I'd noticed Emily March's books before, but hadn't read any yet. Since I was attending Book Bonanza, this was a perfect time to start.

THE SUMMER MELT is set in the town Eternity Springs where people love, support, and look out for each other. It was a joy to get to know the town's people. Dana made me laugh with her G-rated curse words. And Cal is swoony as the "Even Hotter" Scot.

This story was so fun and charming and I'm already thinking about taking another trip to Eternity Springs.

 

THE WEDDING DATE by Jasmine Guillory

Publication Date: January 30, 2018

Pages: 317

Source: Purchased

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis (link to Goodreads)

My Thoughts

Last month I took some time to reread THE WEDDING DATE. I originally read THE WEDDING DATE in 2018 with a book club and thought it was a good idea to get reintroduced to Alexa and Drew before continuing on to the many books by Jasmine Guillory that I have on my shelves. I love a good friends with benefits/fake dating story and this is more of a stranger with benefits to friends to so much more story. My favorite part of fate dating trope is how the characters have convinced themselves that they can be together without expectations, but the reader knows that they are going to fall for each other and experiencing it all happen.

I must mention that a lot of their time together is spent snacking and eating meals. There is a level of comfort and intimacy in that which bonded Alexa and Drew in more than just friendship. All of the cheese and burgers and tacos and donuts were just as delicious as all of the yummy kisses between them.

Alexa and Drew mean a lot more to each other than they ever anticipated. There are no casual hook-ups to be had. Since they lived in different cities, they had to put in effort to see one another. Of course there was more beneath the surface for them and it made me so happy (as it always does in the fake dating trope) for them to finally figure that out for themselves.

THE WEDDING DATE reminded me just how much I love the fake dating trope and it makes me even more excited to read the other books in my Jasmine Guillory collection.

Cover Reveal: THE LOBSTER TRAP by Heidi McLaughlin and Kassidy Maye

 

Today I'm sharing the newest book from Heidi McLaughlin and Kassidy Maye with the cover reveal of The Lobster Trap.  It comes out June 13th and you can pre-order it now. I've pre-ordered my copy and can't wait to read it and get it signed when I see Heidi at Book Bonanza next month. 

THE LOBSTER TRAP (The Seaport Series, #1)

by Heidi McLaughlin and Kassidy Maye

Release Date: June 13, 2023

Book Tropes:

Opposites attract 

Small island town / Beachy 

Vacation romance 

HEA

Strangers to lovers 

City Girl meets small town boat captain  

Rags to riches  

Stuck up rich girl meets enthusiastic, larger than life boat captain

About the book:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Forever My Girl: The Motion Picture, Heidi McLaughlin takes you to the classic New England Coast for a summertime beach romance that leaves you yearning for love, a boat . . . a cup of clam chowdah! 

After graduating from Yale, Caroline Taylor embarks on a summer long vacation in the small beach town of Seaport before she starts her corporate career at Goldman Sachs. 

Dune Carter, boat captain at Blue Lobster Adventures, and notorious heartbreaker is all fun and games until he meets the one tourist who turns his head in more ways than one. 

Despite her initial resistance to his charms, Caroline finds herself drawn to Dune, and his idyllic life on the island. From the endless sunny days, warm nights, sunset boat cruises, and cobblestone roads—Caroline begins to fall in love with Seaport and the boat captain. 

However, turmoil strikes their dreamy island relationship, and Dune must attempt to conquer life off the water in the ways he has always conquered the ocean and show Caroline why he’s worth staying in Seaport.

 

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HVMWri

Apple: https://apple.co/3nLzAHk

Nook: https://bit.ly/3VO5CyN

Kobo: https://bit.ly/44N3HPi

Follow the series on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@seaportseries 

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/146309553-the-lobster-trap 

About Heidi:

Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.

Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.

In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.

Heidi's first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018, and is now available on DVD & Digital.

To stay connected with Heidi visit www.facebook.com/authorheidimclaughlin or heidimclaughlin.com

Social Media:

Website: http://heidimclaughlin.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeidiMcLaughlin/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeidiJoVT/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidimclaughlinauthor/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6568302.Heidi_McLaughlin 

Goodreads Group: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/184432-heidi-s-hangout

Text GETHEIDISBOOKS to (833) 926-1009

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/HeidisNewsletter 

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heidi-mclaughlin 

About Kassidy: 

Kassidy Maye, owner of The Tuesday List and law student, dips her toes into the other side of the literary world with her debut novel, The Lobster Trap, co-written with her mother, Heidi McLaughlin.  

Social Media:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/44JpHKN 

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/41mz7Jl

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassidymaye/

I'm Going to #BookBonanza

Book Bonanza is just over two months away and I feel like I can finally give in to my excitement about attending. I've known that I would attend since last July, but it felt so far away that I didn't give in . But Now. Well now, it's just two months away and I am SO READY FOR THIS!! I will FINALLY get to meet Jessica Park!! This is YEARS in the making. And I'll get to catch up with some favorites too - like Heidi McLaughlin and Danielle Pearl.

With over 130 authors signing and more attending as guests, it's going to be a little crazy!!

Just check out all of these participating authors!!

Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookbonanza18/

Other authors I hope to see:
(in no particular order and I'm sure the list will get longer as the weekend gets closer)

Rebecca Donovan, Colleen Hoover, J. Daniels, Tillie Cole, Helena Hunting, Mia Sheridan, Renee Carlino, Corinne Michaels, Nicole Williams, Mariana Zapata, K.A. Tucker, Elliot Wake, Dina Silver, Tammara Webber, Tiffanie DeBartolo, Sarina Bowen, JB Salsbury, Jodi Ellen Malpas, Kami Garcia, Monica Murphy, Amy Harmon, AL Jackson, and Rachel Higginson.

Over the next 2 months I'm going to read and listen to as many books by these authors as I can and will feature their books and share some of my reviews up until the big day.

And just as excited as I am to see and meet these authors, I can't wait to catch up with my reader friends - some who I will meet in person for the first time!

Are you going to Book Bonanza? 
If you are, who are some authors you are looking forward to meeting?  I'd love to know. 
Just leave a comment below.