Our Top Eleven Books of 2020-#8

Laura's Pick

The Cityscape Affair Trilogy-2020 by Jessica Hawkins

 

Olivia Germaine has already found love. Devoted wife, loyal friend, determined career woman—she’s created the life she always envisioned…until she locks eyes with a handsome stranger across a crowded room.

David Dylan, alleged playboy and Chicago’s most eligible bachelor, awakens a passion in Olivia she buried long ago. He’ll do anything to prove to her that despite his playboy ways, he’s worth leaving behind the stable future her husband can offer her.

But in order to accept a love she never thought possible, with a man who could be her soulmate, Olivia will have to let go of deeply rooted fears that could ruin everything.

Everything is what David wants to give her, and it’s what he demands in return. But even as an alpha male who always gets what he wants...this time, David may be fighting for something unattainable.

The Cityscape Affair trilogy box set includes three full-length novels: Come Undone, Come Alive, and Come Together. 

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Melissa's Pick

The Honey Don't List by Christina Lauren

Carey Duncan has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at sixteen, and—more than anyone would suspect—has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other.

James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.

Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together…

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The Honey Don't List by Christina Lauren-Review

Carey Duncan has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at sixteen, and—more than anyone would suspect—has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other.

James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.

Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together…

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren - ARC Review

Sam Brandis was Tate Jones’s first: Her first love. Her first everything. Including her first heartbreak.

During a whirlwind two-week vacation abroad, Sam and Tate fell for each other in only the way that first loves do: sharing all of their hopes, dreams, and deepest secrets along the way. Sam was the first, and only, person that Tate—the long-lost daughter of one of the world’s biggest film stars—ever revealed her identity to. So when it became clear her trust was misplaced, her world shattered for good.

Fourteen years later, Tate, now an up-and-coming actress, only thinks about her first love every once in a blue moon. When she steps onto the set of her first big break, he’s the last person she expects to see. Yet here Sam is, the same charming, confident man she knew, but even more alluring than she remembered. Forced to confront the man who betrayed her, Tate must ask herself if it’s possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason… and whether “once in a lifetime” can come around twice.

With Christina Lauren’s signature “beautifully written and remarkably compelling” (Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author) prose and perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner, Twice in a Blue Moon is an unforgettable and moving novel of young love and second chances.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners and the “delectable, moving” (Entertainment Weekly) My Favorite Half-Night Stand comes a modern love story about what happens when your first love reenters your life when you least expect it…

Our Top 10 Books of 2018-#2

 

Laura's Pick

Wanderlust by Lauren Blakely

A charming British hero, the woman who tempts him, and a hands-off arrangement that's oh-so-hard to maintain.
My bags are packed and I'm ready to go. All I have to do is board a plane, and I'll be on my way to fulfilling a promise I made long ago. Bonus points -- my last week in Paris looks to be even better when I meet a gorgeous, clever American woman and make plans to take her back to my flat that night.
But before we can get together for what would surely be a fantastic final fling, my boss hits me with a double whammy. My previous client didn't pay, so there's no trip, and the new client I now desperately need is none other than the tempting American I'm about to take home.
Have I mentioned this timing bloody sucks?
***
I'll admit it -- I have a big weakness for a hot British accent. As in, they make me swoon, sigh, and want to toss my panties. Good thing I can avoid that kind of temptation in Paris. So it's just my luck that the man who's the key to success in my new job is the man whose voice makes me melt. Oh, and we have to spend all our days together for work.
Thanks a lot, fate.
To top it off, I quickly learn he's witty, kind and has a heart and mind I'm falling for fast. All I have to do is resist him every single freaking day. That's so easy. Not.
But then I learn that's nothing compared to the real hurdle we face.
What could go wrong with falling in love in Paris? Nearly everything, it seems...

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Melissa's Pick

Josh and Hazel's Guide To Not Dating

Most men can’t handle Hazel. With the energy of a toddler and the mouth of a sailor, they’re often too timid to recognize her heart of gold. New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Roomies, Beautiful Bastard) tells the story of two people who are definitely not dating, no matter how often they end up in bed together.

Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take—and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun.

Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.

Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them...right?

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JOSH AND HAZEL'S GUIDE TO NOT DATING BY CHRISTINA LAUREN - ARC REVIEWS

Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take—and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun.

Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.

Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them...right?

I stumbled upon Christina Lauren's work last year when another author mentioned them. In that year, I've devoured their work, both in ebook and audio form, and just adore their writing style. When I saw the blurb for this book I couldn't WAIT to get my hands on it. This book had me laughing out loud, sighing, swooning and smiling so hard. Once I started reading I couldn't stop, and I've already re-read it. This is absolutely one of my favorite reads of 2018.

From the moment I met Hazel in this book I had instant fondness for her. She made me smile. This is the type of woman everyone NEEDS to have in their life. She's a constant source of support and brings a healthy dose of FUN to everything she does. She's confident in who she is-a trait that I so admire-but she also guards herself a bit. I loved getting to peek inside her head.

Josh Im. How can I describe how much I love him? Can I marry a book boyfriend?? If I could I'd marry this man in a heartbeat. He's sexy, sweet, kind and funny. He GETS Hazel. He just gets her. He isn't looking to change her or mold her into anything but who she is and that's just beautiful. 

These two definitely have sparks flying between them, even though they firmly insist they're just friends. These two, even when on hilariously fun double blind dates have this tether that exists between them. Watching them figure things out was so immensely gratifying.

I love the supporting characters in this story-from Hazel's mom, to Josh's family and friends, I just enjoyed meeting them. In fact, I wouldn't mind a story about Josh's sister...just saying. But these characters really just enhanced Hazel and Josh.

The writing here is superb as always. I was engaged the moment the book began and I didn't want it to end. I thought the pacing was perfect; there was no drag in the story at all. The premise of this book was unique and fresh and I loved the spin Christina Lauren put on it. This book was fun and sweet and made me grin. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it.

Josh and Hazel were charming, fun, and I enjoyed their story.  This title has a lightness to it, even in the more serious times, that really feel like you are swimming in a bit of champagne as you are reading, bounced around on the bubbles.  

I enjoyed this aspect of it.  Hazel's flightiness, and her willingness to say just about anything, and do just about anything, that ended up making her the life of the party, but also, at least in her mind, un-dateable for Josh.

Josh, however, has different ideas, and sees her for all of who she is.  And, I think that is the appeal of this title, that she is herself and Josh loves her anyway...maybe even always has.

The writing in this was strong.  It definitely takes a balance and a precise story arc to have a character as off the wall as Hazel remain appealing and not get tiring.  But, that was, I think, part of the charm of the book.  You realize that Josh absolutely can love Hazel for who she is, because you do as a reader.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

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Our #4 Picks of 2017

Laura's Pick

The British Knight by Louise Bay

When I’m offered the chance to leave New York to live in London for three months, I can’t pack my suitcase fast enough.

As soon as I touch down I’m obsessing over red telephone boxes, palaces and all the black cabs.

But my favorite place is the tube. It’s wall-to-wall hot British men in suits.

When I’m offered a temporary job working for a barrister, I say, sign me up.

On my first commute into work, it’s a total accident when I lose my balance and fall against the most handsome Brit alive. He’s as charming as James Bond and as suave as Mr. Darcy. I want to lick tea from his hard abs and listen to his accent all night long.

Turns out Mr. Handsome is my new boss. And his attitude isn’t as hot as his gorgeous face, broad shoulders and tight ass. He’s brooding, short-tempered and the most arrogant man I’ve ever met.

As we’re fighting, out of nowhere he kisses me. And I’m pretty sure I see fireworks over Big Ben and hear God Save the Queen.

I wasn’t looking for the fairytale but I might have found my knight in shining armor. The problem is he lives an ocean away.

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Melissa's Pick

A charming British Playboy. A girl determined to finally live. And a secret liaison revealed in all too vivid color. Book two in the NYT Bestselling series.

Escaping a cheating ex, finance whiz Sara Dillon's moved to New York City and is looking for excitement without a lot of strings attached. So meeting the irresistible, sexy Brit at a dance club should have meant nothing more than a night's fun. But the manner--and speed--with which he melts her inhibitions turns him from a one-time hookup and into her Beautiful Stranger.

The whole city knows Max Stella loves women, not that he's ever found one he particularly wants to keep around. Despite pulling in plenty with his Wall Street bad boy charm, it's not until Sara--and the wild photos she lets him take of her--that he starts wondering if there's someone for him outside of the bedroom.

Hooking up in places where anybody could catch them, the only thing scarier for Sara than getting caught in public is having Max get too close in private.

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ROOMIES BY CHRISTINA LAUREN - ARC REVIEW

Marriages of convenience are so…inconvenient.

Rescued by Calvin McLoughlin from a would-be subway attacker, Holland Bakker pays the brilliant musician back by pulling some of her errand-girl strings and getting him an audition with a big-time musical director. When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until he admits his student visa has expired and he’s in the country illegally.

Holland impulsively offers to wed the Irishman to keep him in New York, her growing infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves from awkward roommates to besotted lovers, Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway. In the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting, what will it take for Holland and Calvin to realise that they both stopped pretending a long time ago?

This is my first title by Christina Lauren.  I am not even sure how that happened, honestly, as I have been hearing about them for a while, and everyone I know has read something by them...at least it feels that way.

So, I went into this with expectations, but no real idea what I was getting myself into.

What I ended up getting myself into was a well-written, well-plotted, believable romance about 2 people I genuinely liked and with supporting characters I liked as well (ok, there were a couple I think could have been left at the curb, but as Holland does just that, it all worked out just fine) and a setting that was both interesting and not too immersive as to lose you in the story of the characters because of the plot happening around them.

Calvin and Holland meet in a rather odd way, and in a way that I am not going to spoil.  But I will say, the wry humor that is present in this book (and possibly all of the others, I am not sure) was apparent right away in the conversations immediately after what is their initial meeting and then their most memorable.

This book has emotion, and it has heart.  You understand so much of where Calvin is coming from, and what leads him to do the things he does, even though he colossally fucks (there's really no other word for a certain part, also a spoiler so I am not telling) things up, and more than once, to varying degrees.

I also love how self-aware this book is, and by default it's heroine.  There is a part where Holland realizes that she is a cliche, and that she hates it in books when the characters do something, but that all of a sudden she understands why authors write that.  I loved that, the idea that the authors, and their characters, are aware of when they are acting like characters in a book.  It gives depth to a story, it makes them real, and it gives the characters on the page a real connection to the reader.

Fake relationship books can work, and they can work really well.  But, in order for them to work, there have to be a couple of people you believe want to be together.  I love that not only do you believe this, but at the end, when it all falls apart and real feelings emerge, I love how the little clues and glimpses about how they both have felt this whole time work their way so perfectly into the inevitable "where do we go from here" conversation that happens in any fake relationship book.

I enjoyed this book, a lot.  I am looking forward to the next title by this author duo, and I am thinking I may just need to read their previous releases.

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BEAUTIFUL PLAYER BY CHRISTINA LAUREN-SPOTLIGHT

A bombshell bookworm. A chronic Casanova. And a lesson in chemistry too scandalous for school.

When Hanna Bergstrom receives a lecture from her overprotective brother about neglecting her social life and burying herself in grad school, she’s determined to tackle his implied assignment: get out, make friends, start dating. And who better to turn her into the sultry siren every man wants than her brother’s gorgeous best friend, Will Sumner, venture capitalist and unapologetic playboy?

Will takes risks for a living, but he’s skeptical about this challenge of Hanna’s…until the wild night his innocently seductive pupil tempts him into bed- and teaches him a thing or two about being with a woman he can’t forget. Now that Hanna’s discovered the power of her own sex appeal, it’s up to Will to prove he’s the only man she’ll ever need.

I'm late to the game on discovering Christina Lauren-and while part of me regrets that, part of me is ok with it because it means I have numerous books by them to binge on. Beautiful Player is a smart, sexy and emotional book and I loved every moment of it.

Beautiful Player is the story of Will, a smart, sexy player and Hanna, a socially awkward, brilliant and beautiful woman. The two have a history-Will is friends with Hanna's older brother, but this book is so much more than a typical falling for my brother's friend trope. For me, this packed an emotional punch that I wasn't quite expecting.

I adored Hanna. She's sweet, she's incredibly smart and most importantly, she's herself with Will. From the moment they cross paths again she is true to who she is as a person, not trying to change to fit into Will's lifestyle. I applaud that. She blossoms in this book; her confidence growing with each chapter, but she still has those occasional doubting moments like we all do. I would absolutely hang out with Hanna any day.

Will-oh my God, Will. I love that Will doesn't put on airs about who he is. He's a great guy, he's just not looking for a relationship. But when he realizes he DOES want something with Hanna watching him try to figure out how to handle that was endearing. He was cautious of her feelings, but at the same trying to show her without scaring her (or himself) that he wanted more. Seeing the journey he took from being a bit of a player to watching him realize he truly desired being with one woman was so so satisfying.

Of course we had appearances from our other favorite characters from this series, which is always nice. I enjoy catching up with old friends like that. They didn't overwhelm the story whatsoever.

I loved this book. Will is definitely on my list of all time favorite book boyfriends. This was a fantastic read and I highly recommend it.

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BEAUTIFUL STRANGER BY CHRISTINA LAUREN-REVIEW

Escaping a cheating ex, finance whiz Sara Dillon’s moved to New York City and is looking for excitement and passion without a lot of strings attached. So meeting the irresistible, sexy Brit at a dance club should have meant nothing more than a night’s fun. But the manner—and speed—with which he melts her inhibitions turns him from a one-time hookup and into her Beautiful Stranger.

The whole city knows that Max Stella loves women, not that he’s ever found one he particularly wants to keep around. Despite pulling in plenty with his Wall Street bad boy charm, it’s not until Sara—and the wild photos she lets him take of her—that he starts wondering if there’s someone for him outside of the bedroom.

Hooking up in places where anybody could catch them, the only thing scarier for Sara than getting caught in public is having Max get too close in private.

This was my first Christina Lauren book but it definitely won't be my last. One of my favorite authors was talking about this book which prompted me to one click it-and I was pulled in from the very start. There are books that can make you smile, books that can make you sigh and books that make you swoon. Beautiful Stranger does all that and more-it is one of the rare books for me that is the total package.

Sara Dillon is looking for a fresh start after coming out of a long term relationship. She's trying to figure out who she is on her own, what she likes, what she wants. Seeing her blossom in her journey was so much fun. I sympathized with what she was going through and I cheered for her every step of the way. She wasn't expecting Max in her life-and neither was I.

Max Stella. Oh, my Max. Max is absolutely magnificent. I was hooked on him immediately, from the moment he met Sara in the club I was a goner. Watching him fall, seeing him open up was just beautiful. He is absolutely, without a doubt, one of my all time favorite book boyfriends. I know I'll revisit him often.

The writing in this book is superb. I truly felt I was there with the characters-the pictures that were painted were that vivid. I wanted to go have a drink with these people after work, just go somewhere and talk with them. The pacing was perfect to me as well. This was one of those books I both wanted to savor and devour at the same time-and I wound up devouring it. I have no regrets on that. I look forward to exploring the rest of this series and Christina Lauren's work. I highly recommend this book.

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