Review: To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne

Gracie Cooper runs her family’s champagne store, Bubbles & More, in New York City. It is struggling unfortunately but after Gracie’s dad passed away, she de facto became in charge of it and she is doing her best to generate new income. It is not easy. And things become increasingly more difficult when Sebastian Andrews stops into her store with an offer to buy it out. Gracie is more than ready to say no but… is it the right choice?

On top of the struggles with Bubbles & More, Gracie has been writing to a guy she met online. And well, she has kind of fallen in love with him even though it is nearly impossible and said guy has already let her know he has a girlfriend. And then her pesky attraction to Sebastian grows too. Not only is her business life in a funk, but her love life is falling to pieces.

To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne

To Sir, With Love is Lauren Layne’s spin on Nora Ephron’s You’ve Got Mail. I am pleased to say that this book stands out on its own! There is a great quality of romance and sweetness that peppers the story through the course of the exchanges between Gracie and “Sir”. And as Gracie and Sebastian move beyond bickering to understanding and even liking, that romance infiltrates their story too.

I really liked Gracie as a character. She has quite a bit on her plate with the struggling store and determining if this is what she wants her future to be. Her family, though she loves them dearly, isn’t putting the time and effort into Bubbles & More that she is. Is this truly a dream she wants to keep going with or is her passion for art where she wants to see her future go? Gracie experiences growth and change throughout the story and that’s always pleasing to see in characters.

Sebastian comes across at first as a typical rich powerful New York mogul. But he doesn’t relish what he does in his job either. Lauren Layne allows both characters to slowly reveal their true selves.

This is a closed door romance. There is no sex and by book’s end, the characters have merely kissed. Nonetheless, I found it to be incredibly romantic and passionate and I did not regret at all reading this book. All credit to Lauren Layne for keeping me engaged in these characters and their happily-ever-after (because they definitely do get a HEA).

To Sir, With Love is available on June 29!

ARC provided by Edelweiss.

Review: The Next Mrs. Russo by Jana Aston

Jana Aston is back and I for one am very excited. I really enjoyed The Next Mrs. Russo! This is the story of Audrey Gibson, who has moved to Albany, New York, after inheriting an old brownstone from her aunt. Unfortunately, said brownstone is definitely old and in need of repairs, like plumbing (to begin with). It’s going to be a lot of work but she is still excited because owning this place means she can open up her dream job, a vintage clothing store. Of course, this is not just any vintage clothing store. Audrey spends considerable time and effort in repairing and updating the garments that she finds. She is struggling to build a clientele but she really hopes that the woman who keeps coming to her store, a Mrs. Bianchi, will finally buy the dress she has been eyeing. Well, Mrs. Bianchi does buy the dress. She also introduces Audrey to her crush, one New York Governor Warren Russo.

Warren needs a date for an evening function and Audrey agrees to go with him, under no illusions that this is anything but a last minute date for the sake of expediency. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t send a few signals that she is willing to make out with him. Warren doesn’t take her up on that but he does invite her to another event. And when the plumbing situation at her house gets even worse, he invites her to live in the Governor’s mansion with him while he repairs the ceiling. And things definitely take off from there.

Truly, only from the mind of Jana Aston can a story this fantasy like work. And it does work. I really liked Audrey. She has been in a bad relationship and isn’t expecting anything with Warren. She is just trying to get her new business off the ground and putting her all into it. It is clear the author either does this type of thing on the side or did a good amount of research because I found Audrey’s skills to be authentic. It doesn’t read like a tract on repairing clothing, but it sounds professional and skilled and works into the text well to match Audrey’s personality.

And yeah, I liked the wish-fulfillment side of things too. It was nice to see Audrey fall in love with her crush and him in return. Warren could definitely use some help in the communication game but overall he shows Audrey through actions how he is feeling.

And…. it is sexy. There is, as the author writes, much “Big Dick Energy” in this book and it comes through for me as a reader time and time again. The Next Mrs. Russo really has it all for romance readers: super sexy hero who takes the heroine estate sale shopping, pets, pet psychics and a growing relationship that is powered by Audrey’s zany personality.

The Next Mrs. Russo is available today! Go forth and binge-read the heck out of this book.

AVAILABLE NOW!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vkXW97

Nook: http://bit.ly/TNMR_BN

Apple: http://bit.ly/TNMR_Apple

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Blurb:

I was not looking for a date.

Another questionable relationship was the last thing I needed.

Because trust me, they were all questionable.

But through a series of unfortunate events involving my cat and

his poor decision-making skills, I agreed to a set-up.

Except… the set-up is with the governor.

I am not political girlfriend material.

For one, I’m a little bit crazy.

For two, I have secrets.

But I also have a big crush on the governor.

About the Author:

Jana Aston likes cats, big coffee cups and books about billionaires who deflower virgins. She wrote her debut novel while fielding customer service calls about electrical bills, and she’s ever grateful for the fictional gynecologist in Wrong that readers embraced so much she was able to make working in her pajamas a reality. Jana’s novels have appeared on the NYT, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists, some multiple times. She likes multiples.

Connect w/ Jana:

Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBJanaAston

Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/GrindMeCafe

Twitter: http://bit.ly/TwitterJanaAston

Book + Main: http://bit.ly/BookMainJanaAston

Amazon Page: http://bit.ly/AmazonJanaAston

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/BBJanaAston

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/GRJanaAston

Website: http://www.janaaston.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/NewsletterJana

Society 6: http://bit.ly/Society6Jana

Instagram: http://bit.ly/IGJanaAston

Excerpt: Jukebox by Nidhi Chanani

Jukebox
Nidhi Chanani
Published by: First Second/Macmillan
Publication date: June 22nd 2021
Genres: Middle-Grade, Mystery, Time-Travel

Grab some coins for the jukebox, and get ready for a colorful, time-traveling, musical tale about family and courage

A mysterious jukebox, old vinyl records, and cryptic notes on music history, are Shaheen’s only clues to her father’s abrupt disappearance. She looks to her cousin, Tannaz, who seems just as perplexed, before they both turn to the jukebox which starts…glowing?

Suddenly, the girls are pulled from their era and transported to another time! Keyed to the music on the record, the jukebox sends them through decade after decade of music history, from political marches, to landmark concerts. But can they find Shaheen’s dad before the music stops? This time-bending magical mystery tour invites readers to take the ride of their lives for a coming-of-age adventure.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

Author Bio:

Nidhi Chanani was born in Kolkata, India and raised in California. She creates illustrations that capture love in everyday moments which are often featured at Disney Parks. In 2012 she was honored by the Obama Administration as a Champion of Change. She’s the author of Pashmina, Shubh Raatri Dost/Good Night Friend, and illustrator of I Will Be Fierce. Nidhi draws and dreams in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and kid. everydayloveart.com

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Twitter

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Excerpt: The Next Mrs. Russo by Jana Aston

 

THE NEXT MRS. RUSSO by Jana Aston

Release Date: June 22nd

 

Add to Goodreads:

http://bit.ly/TNMR_Goodreads

 

Preorder AVAILABLE!

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Apple: http://bit.ly/TNMR_Apple

Kobo: http://bit.ly/TNMR_Kobo

EXCERPT

 

How many chances does a girl get to kiss her crush? Not many, if any. This is a prime kiss opportunity. A kissortunity. Also, he smells good. And he’s right here. If I just leaned forward we’d be kissing and I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of my life wondering what it would be like to kiss him. And he’s clearly not going to take the lead.

So I do it. I lean in, my fingers gripping the edge of his desk so I don’t topple into his lap, much as I might enjoy that, my head tilted just a fraction to the right, and press my lips against his. He doesn’t move, save for the small intake of breath the moment before my lips touched his, the moment it was clear I was about to do what I’m doing. He’s perfectly still. And his lips are perfect.

And.

That’s it.

“Huh,” I say, leaning back, a bit disappointed to be honest.

“What was that?” He’s staring at me, a bit of confusion clouding his expression.

“It was a kiss. But it wasn’t how I imagined it.”

“You imagined kissing me?” Warren looks like he’s a few steps behind on this entire exchange. He also looks mildly offended by my review of said kiss. “You surprised me,” he adds, his tongue sweeping his lower lip.

“I’m a surprising girl, it’s true,” I agree, but I’m looking anywhere but at him. Good Lord, did I really just kiss him? I did. And it wasn’t even worth it. It was kinda weird. Obviously awkward. And now I have to walk-of-shame out of the governor’s office. To the guest bedroom. Though it was just a kiss, so my exit will be closer to a slither of mortification than a full walk. So, at least there’s that.

“You’re too young.”

“For kissing?” My eyes fly back to his. “I’m twenty-seven,” I clarify. Then I make it weird by adding, “Gov.” Why am I like this? Seriously, why? And why did I push my luck and kiss him?

Stupid, stupid kissortunity. I’m gonna take my cat and go home.

“You’re entirely inappropriate for me.”

“Mmm-hmm,” I murmur in agreement, already starting the slide off his desk, trying to recall where I last saw Gary.

“We’re hardly compatible.”

“Right,” I agree because ‘inappropriate’ and ‘incompatible’ are words I’m very familiar with. He should be adding It’s not me, it’s you, any second now. I’m on my feet now, eyeing the door.

“Wait.” He stands, effectively trapping me between him and the desk a moment before I can escape. “You surprised me,” he repeats.

“So you said,” I quip.

“Caught me off guard,” he adds, as if the meaning of ‘surprised’ is unclear. Our eyes catch and a flicker of uncertainty or apprehension crosses his face before he mutters, “Fuck it,” and then he’s cupping my jaw with his hand and lowering his lips to mine.

And.

And…

This kiss is exactly how I imagined it.

 

Blurb:

I was not looking for a date.

Another questionable relationship was the last thing I needed.

Because trust me, they were all questionable.

But through a series of unfortunate events involving my cat and

his poor decision-making skills, I agreed to a set-up.

Except… the set-up is with the governor.

I am not political girlfriend material.

For one, I’m a little bit crazy.

For two, I have secrets.

But I also have a big crush on the governor.

 

 

 

About the Author:

Jana Aston likes cats, big coffee cups and books about billionaires who deflower virgins. She wrote her debut novel while fielding customer service calls about electrical bills, and she’s ever grateful for the fictional gynecologist in Wrong that readers embraced so much she was able to make working in her pajamas a reality. Jana’s novels have appeared on the NYT, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists, some multiple times. She likes multiples.

 

Connect w/ Jana:

Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBJanaAston

Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/GrindMeCafe

Twitter: http://bit.ly/TwitterJanaAston

Book + Main: http://bit.ly/BookMainJanaAston

Amazon Page: http://bit.ly/AmazonJanaAston

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/BBJanaAston

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/GRJanaAston

Website: http://www.janaaston.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/NewsletterJana

Society 6: http://bit.ly/Society6Jana

Instagram: http://bit.ly/IGJanaAston