Review: CANADIAN BOYFRIEND by Jenny Holiday

CANADIAN BOYFRIEND by Jenny Holiday

Publication Date: January 30, 2024

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher | Purchased

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RATING

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis

A charming and heartfelt romance about a woman who comes face to face with the fake Canadian boyfriend she made up as a teenager.

The fake Canadian boyfriend. It's a thing. The get out of jail free card for all kinds of sticky social situations. “I can't go to prom; I'm going to be out of town visiting my boyfriend in Canada.” It's all over pop culture. But Aurora Evans did it first. Once upon a time she met a teenage hockey player at the Mall of America. He was from Canada. He was a boy. She may have fudged the “friend” part a little, but it wasn't like she was ever going to see him again. It wasn't like she hurt anyone. Until she did—years later—on both counts.
  
When pro hockey player and recent widower Mike Martin walks into the dance studio where Aurora Evans teaches, he's feeling overwhelmed with the fact that his wife may not have been exactly who he thought she was and the logistics of going back to work. As one of the few people his angry, heartbroken daughter connects with, Aurora agrees to be a pseudo nanny to help him navigate the upcoming school year and hockey season. To his surprise, she turns out to be the perfect balm for him as well. Aurora gets him. The real him underneath his pro jersey. And yet, he still finds himself holding back, unable to fully trust again—especially when he finds out the secret Aurora’s been hiding from him.

MY THOUGHTS

"He's not fake.
He's Canadian."

That tagline is all that it took for me to become desperate to read this book. Well, that and the fact that I LOVE Jenny Holiday's books. 

I've sat with my thoughts about CANADIAN BOYFRIEND for a while and I'm still not sure how I want to share them. I fear that I'll become too confessional and the book will come across as too sad and it may keep a reader from picking it up. Like Mike Martin, a recent widower, I am a widow. And every book that I read is now through that lens. It can't be helped. It can't be changed. And in books like CANADIAN BOYFRIEND, I usually relate to the saddest parts. That's what resonates with me. Don't let this review fool you. This isn't a sad book. It's fun and charming and it's my hope that readers will discover that for themselves. I'm very much looking forward to rereading the audiobook version where the humor will come through more. The intention will be more noticeable than what I brought into the story as I read it.

I straight up loved CANADIAN BOYFRIEND. As I began telling some family members about the book, I could feel the joy overcome me and felt the smile on my face and I could feel it throughout my body. And that was just from thinking about the book and how connected I felt to it. I even asked them if they could see how much I loved the book by how my demeanor changed and the happiness I exuded just talking about it. They could see it.

What I Liked:

• The love between Mike and his daughter, Olivia and how they interact with each other 
• Mikes flirty texts to Aurora
• That it is always Mike Martin and always Aurora, never Rory. Then Aurora Lake.
• The growth that Aurora experienced as she worked on healing herself and lived her life for herself. Especially when she recognized her self worth - setting boundaries and saying yes to the things she wanted and no to the things she didn't.
• On the page, in the office therapy - with real talk, real questions, real revelations 

Some Favorite Quotes:

"It's our depression car." - IYKYK

"But with Mike Martin, kissing felt like the whole point." - This gives all the yummy, fluttering feelings.

"Holy cow, therapy was a lot of work." - Yes. Yes, it is.

Jenny Holiday writes about grief with compassion and she honors the experience in a touching, humorous, and relatable way. Seeing the many ways grief shows up in characters like Mike Martin and Olivia and in books like CANADIAN BOYFRIEND is both comforting and validating. It makes a reader like me feel less alone. For that, I thank her. 

Disclaimer: I requested and received an ARC of this book from the publisher for review consideration. I've purchased a final version of the book for my personal library. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's Release Day: LOVE ON THE LAKE by Helena Hunting

 

LOVE ON THE LAKE 

by Helena Hunting

Publication Date: March 15, 2022

Can Aaron love her, even when she can’t love herself? 

Love on the Lake, an emotional small town, standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting is live now!

Teagan Firestone has always been the dutiful daughter, especially since her mom died. But as her father finally begins to move on, it’s her turn to do the same. Her destination: Pearl Lake, a close-knit community with an entrepreneurial spirit and secrets of its own.

One of them is Aaron Saunders, who dropped out of college to work construction for Pearl Lake’s upper class. He’s a mystery and has a playboy reputation—that is, until he meets Teagan. Neither of them is looking for love, but in a town this small, it’s hard not to let your heart get involved.  

As their romance heats up, Aaron’s elusive past comes to light and Teagan is there for him, bringing them even closer together. But when Teagan is forced to face her own demons, her inability to accept the support of friends and family threatens the life she’s worked so hard to build. 

Can Aaron love her, even when she can’t love herself? 

Fall in love today exclusively on Amazon or read FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sv3Rbd

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/LoveonLake

Audio CD: https://amzn.to/3g870sK

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3sn7Lmo

Add Love on the Lake to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3iU4rfi

About Helena Hunting 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy. 

Connect with Helena

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Website: http://www.helenahunting.com/

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It's Rlease Day: FOREVER MASON by Heidi McLaughlin

 

      FOREVER MASON

by Heidi McLaughlin

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: December 28, 2021

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

Purchase link:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3H2fPiO

Book Description:

Mason Powell. Best friend. Boyfriend. Husband. Father.

He’s the young man you know but have never met.

He’s the man who chose love over friendship.

He’s the man who would do anything for his family and friends.

He’s the man who stepped up when someone wasn’t there.

He’s the man who has a story to tell.

Be there when Mason tells his life story.

Be there when Mason falls in love with Katelyn.

Be there when Mason makes the fateful decision that ends his friendship with Liam Westbury.

Be there when his life changes forever.

Be there when . . .

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 

Mini-Reviews: COWBOY COME HOME, HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING, and ENJOY THE VIEW

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

COWBOY COME HOME by Carly Bloom

Publication Date: March 31, 2020

Pages: 512

Source: Netgalley | Giveaway

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis (link to Goodreads)

My Thoughts

Carly Bloom delivers just the right amount of humor in this cowboy romance. Claire and Ford are so stubbornly adorable that you want all of the banter and bickering, but you desperately want all of their heated kisses more.

I especially enjoyed experiencing the friendships between men - all of the teasing and friendly taunting to get a rise out of each other. I couldn't help but laugh out loud at their antics. 

A Favorite Quote:

"Hey, I'm sorry if I'm flip and irreverent. It's what I do when I get nervous. Which is very unfortunate. You deserve a friend who can provide real comfort instead of just farting out of her mouth."

We all have this one friend and we love them for it.

Things that made me laugh:

The backstory of Ford's name

The "Sunday safety pin"

Claire's sparkly show chaps 

The characters have a book club and there's one reader who didn't finish the book (that's real life y'all)

What I loved most about COWBOY COME HOME is that it's not just a second chance romance. It's about family and finding a place to belong. And it's about community and taking care of each other, and you can't help but feel like you're a part of it all.

I loved it!!!

HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING by Denise Williams

Publication Date: December 1, 2020

Pages: 343

Source: Purchased

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis (link to Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I purchased HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING to read along with an online book club. I missed the book club, but I'm so glad that I bought the book anyway.

What I loved:

1. Naya is a lover of lists: ways to flirt, but also ways to get what she wants and ways to put herself out there

2. The Super-steamy love scenes, and there were plenty of them. They were so good that you can't help but want even more.

3. Naya has some wonderful friends who she could count on. They're honest with her and they keep her honest too.

Uh-oh, someone's falling:

"A few days, a few days, a few days. Enveloped in his warmth, I had to remind myself what this was, because he felt like safety, like home, like more."

I fell hard for this book and am already looking forward to the author's next book.

ENJOY THE VIEW by Sarah Morgenthaler

Publication Date: Januray 19, 2021

Pages: 352

Source: Purchased

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis (link to Goodreads)

My Thoughts

It was so much fun to return to Moose Springs and finally get to know about the mysterious Easton and what was the best part is that Easton isn't so mysterious after all. He's charming, funny, and definitely the kind of guy you want to know.

ENJOY THE VIEW is full of danger and risks and scenerios that really gave me an adrenaline rush. I could feel my own anxiousness at the possible danger at any moment.

Favorite Quote:

"You're my kind of confusing."

There were many almost first kisses between River and Easton, and then finally, finally the first kiss and it was incredible.

I've enjoyed every book of this series and truly hope that I get the chance to visit Moose Springs again. It's just so fun there!

Review: FLOAT PLAN by Trish Doller

FLOAT PLAN

by Trish Doller

Publication Date: March 2, 2021

Publisher: St.Martin's Press

Pages: 272

Source: Publisher

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Synopsis

Heartbroken by the loss of her fiancé, adventurous Anna finds a second chance at love with an Irish sailor in this riveting, emotional romance.

After a reminder goes off for the Caribbean sailing trip Anna was supposed to take with her fiancé, she impulsively goes to sea in the sailboat he left her, intending to complete the voyage alone.

But after a treacherous night’s sail, she realizes she can’t do it by herself and hires Keane, a professional sailor, to help. Much like Anna, Keane is struggling with a very different future than the one he had planned. As romance rises with the tide, they discover that it’s never too late to chart a new course.

In Trish Doller’s unforgettable Float Plan, starting over doesn't mean letting go of your past, it means making room for your future.

"The perfect escape. Fresh, funny, and romantic. I wish I could sail away with this book." - Meg Cabot, New York Times bestselling author of The Princess Diaries and Little Bridge series

MY THOUGHTS

I’m beginning to believe there are no coincidences. Books come to us we need them and for me that has happened, yet again, with FLOAT PLAN. 

I often focus on the emotional and sad elements in romance books because that’s where I am and that’s what I connect with the most. So before I get into all of that, I need to emphasize that this book is not one big book of sadness. FLOAT PLAN is a story of adventure and love and friendship and community and loss. It’s about Anna finding herself and new beginnings. It is all of these things and more, and anyone who reads it will find exactly what they need from it. Even if that is simply to be entertained. 

I loved going on this adventure with Anna and meeting the people that she met and seeing the places she visited. I loved watching her become self-reliant and problem solve during the days she sailed solo. 

And I loved Keane and how he proved there are men like him out there. I know. I married one of them. 

And I loved watching Anna and Keane fall for each other and feeling the joy they felt together.

My heart ached time and time again for Anna for her loss of Ben. When the life you have, or the life you think you’re going to have, is ripped from you, nothing is familiar. Even yourself.

THIS DID ME IN:

“I cried until my eyelashes hurt, because there is no longer a we and I’ve forgotten how to be me without Ben.” Then I got out of bed and started packing.“

FLOAT PLAN cracked me open and set off a chain reaction that led to the realization that I’m ready for more. I’m ready to live and create new memories. There were many thoughts that led me to that point and they all circled around and were jumbled up, but ultimately I’m ready to take some chances and I NEED to do the LIVING that I’ve wanted to do.

JUST THIS:

“. . I’m starting to understand how sadness and happiness can live side by side within a heart. And how that heart can keep on beating.” 

I’ve said this many, many, many times. Love and grief can exist in the same space.They have to or we can never fully live because grief never goes away. 

Reading FLOAT PLAN was a therapy session (or a few) for me, and it’s definitely a book that will stay with me. I needed this book more that I can even put into words. The power that books can have truly amazes me as they continue to guide me through this life. 

I loved it.

Author bio:

TRISH DOLLER is the author of novels for teens and adults about love, life, and finding your place in the world. A former journalist and radio personality, Trish has written several YA novels, including the critically acclaimed Something Like Normal, as well as Float Plan, her adult women's fiction debut. When she's not writing, Trish loves sailing, traveling, and avoiding housework. She lives in southwest Florida with an opinionated herding dog and an ex-pirate.

Buy link: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/float-plan/

Social Links: @TrishDoller on Instagram and Twitter

Disclaimer: I received this e-ARC from the publisher for review consideration. I was not compensated in any way other than the e-ARC provided. I've also purchased a finish copy for my personal library. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cover Reveal: CANDY COLORED SKY by Ginger Scott

 

I love this cover! 

If I saw this book while browsing in a bookstore, I would pick it up immediately to find out what this book is about. 

𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝘆 by Ginger Scott is coming February 26!

This is a coming of age love story, stand alone. 

★Add it to your TBR:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56553619-ccs

★PREORDER

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VTTWXLP/

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w?ean=2940162507444

Blurb:

Jonah Wydner has been in love with his neighbor Eleanor Trombley for years. He has watched her life play out from the sidelines—homecoming dances, football parties, and first dates. Her life seemed easy…simple…𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵. The complete opposite of his own.

 

But when Eleanor’s younger sister goes missing and the national media sets up camp in the middle of their street, the girl with the seemingly perfect life shows up in Jonah’s garage in search of a place to hide from the hurt and chaos. What begins as one night becomes many filled with unexpected surprises and unveiling, healing truths about Jonah’s own messy past. 

 

Soon, Jonah gets to know the real Eleanor, and discover all the ways they’re the same. Friendship blossoms into more, plans turn into promises, and hopes and dreams become shared under the warm glow of the fading Midwestern sunsets. But how far can a kiss under a candy-colored sky take them? And what happens when the clouds close in?