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.

Mini-Reviews: FIX HER UP, THE PROPOSAL, and 5,331 MILES

A collection of mini-reviews, quick thoughts, and books worth mentioning. Check them out!

FIX HER UP by Tessa Bailey

Publication Date: June 11, 2019

Pages: 400

Source: Library

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis (link to Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I enjoyed this book for all of the laughs. I'd read some heavy emotional reads prior to reading FIX HER UP and I was in the need for a good laugh and this book did it. 

Family dinners, inconvenient/convenient small towels, and heated kisses made for some memorable moments. I loved the women supporting each other in their Just Us League - we all need friends to depend on. This fake relationship turned real romance is oh so hot and oh so good. ❤❤

THE PROPOSAL by Jasmine Guillory

Publication Date: October 30, 2018

Pages: 325

Source: Netgalley | Purchased

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis (link to Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I love the “Friends to More” or “Friends with Benefits to More” trope. And when it’s served up with a huge dose of humor, it makes it even better. THE PROPOSAL is sexy and fun and great follow-up to Jasmine Guillory’s THE WEDDING DATE.

The entire time I read THE PROPOSAL, I kept thinking “Y’all are totally in a relationship.”  Just because Nik and Carlos say what they’re doing isn’t a relationship, doesn’t mean that it’s not a relationship. They didn’t want to claim to be in a relationship because of what that would mean, but their friendship developed into something more. They were intuitive of the other’s needs and didn’t recognize that what they were feeling for each other was love. Sometimes it happens just like that. 

And if the love story isn’t enough, this book had me craving all the yummy food - risotto, tacos, pancakes - I wanted it all. And cooking for comfort or as a way to relax is always a plus in my book. 

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Thank goodness I already have a copy on my shelf.

5,331 Miles by Willow Aster

Publication Date: March 1, 2019

Pages: 288

Source: Kindle Unlimited | Purchased

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis (link to Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I first heard of this book when someone chose to receive it from a giveaway I’d hosted. Willow Aster was an author who was on my radar to read, and after reading the description for 5,331 MILES, I thought this was the perfect book to start with. First love, second chances, young adult - YES, YES, YES! This is the book for me.

I loved the storytelling of the past and present, the then and the now, as a way of  learning about the characters history and everything that they’ve experienced together and apart.

A favorite quote:

     “This -- kissing you, finally saying how I feel and hearing you say it back -- it’s a thousand times better than any time I’ve played it out in my head,” he whispered, placing one more kiss on my nose.”

     I grinned, amazed that he’d been imagining the same things I had.

This was a great book to introduce me to Willow Aster’s writing. Since reading 5,331 MILES, I’ve read her follow-up MILES AHEAD and have added some of her other books to my collection. Now I just need to decide which one to read next.