The Neighbor Favor: A Sweet, Steamy Romance with Bookish Charm (4 out of 5 stars)
"The Neighbor Favor" by Kristina Forest is a delightful rom-com that The Neighbor Favor: A Sweet, Steamy Romance with Bookish Charm (4 out of 5 stars)
"The Neighbor Favor" by Kristina Forest is a delightful rom-com that transports you to a world of cozy bookstores, quirky characters, and undeniable chemistry. The story unfolds like a modern-day "You've Got Mail," with a charming bookworm and a reclusive fantasy author unknowingly connecting through anonymous letters. Their back-and-forth banter is witty and engaging, quickly creating a spark that leaves you wanting more.
The author's skill in building tension and anticipation is undeniable. Each exchanged letter and stolen glance adds fuel to the fire, culminating in several swoon-worthy moments that will melt your heart. The slow burn romance is perfectly paced, allowing the reader to truly invest in the characters and their budding relationship.
The steamy scenes, though not excessive, are well-written and emotionally charged, adding a layer of depth and desire to the connection between our protagonists. I especially loved the way their intellectual and emotional intimacy intertwined, creating a truly captivating romance.
However, there were a few minor moments where the narrative felt slightly predictable, and the conflict, while believable, could have been explored with a bit more depth. Nevertheless, these are minor quibbles that do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.
Overall, "The Neighbor Favor" is a heartwarming and fun read that will leave you feeling satisfied and eager for more. It's a perfect escape for anyone looking for a sweet, steamy romance with a touch of bookish charm. I highly recommend it not only to fans of the "enemies-to-lovers" trope, but also to anyone who enjoys a well-written love story.
One thing's for sure, Kristina Forest has earned a new fan in me. I can't wait to explore her other works and discover what other magical romances she has in store! ...more
A fun, feel good, family centered small town story, with a heap of heart and a dash of romance. This is the second book in the Juniper Springs series A fun, feel good, family centered small town story, with a heap of heart and a dash of romance. This is the second book in the Juniper Springs series set in the beautiful Colorado Rockies. This book was just as charming as the first and although it can be read as a standalone I am certain after reading this you will want to go back and read the first. I just love the strong sense of family, the bond between the sisters, and the tension between aunt Sassy and the girls mom Lillian. I also love the small town setting, the sense of community and all the fabulous secondary characters. There is also some romance, but it is very understated and takes a bit of a backseat to the rest of the story. An uplifting story that put a smile on my face, can’t wait to see what’s next in this delightful series.
Charming, festive, and emotional. Sarah Morgan always hits me right in the feels with her evocative storytelling. A gorgeous setting, a family in needCharming, festive, and emotional. Sarah Morgan always hits me right in the feels with her evocative storytelling. A gorgeous setting, a family in need of healing, and a sprinkling of romance. Gayle appears to have it all, but that is far from the truth. She does not have a relationship with her grown daughters Ella and Samantha. The sisters finally severed ties with their mother after years of being criticized, judged, and belittled. but after Gayle has an accident the Sisters visit her in the hospital some secrets are revealed and Gayle is determined to heal her relationship with her girls. This leads to a family trip at Christmas time to a gorgeous Scottish manner.
The story bounces between now and then and the perspectives of Gayle, Samantha, and Ella. there is also a fourth perspective peppered in periodically and I am not certain that it needed to be included? To be clear didn’t take anything away from the book, just didn’t add anything either. I was instantly drawn to both Samantha and Ella‘s stories. Samantha had the coolest job of creating perfect Christmas getaways. Ella had a quiet strength, the cutest daughter and a pretty good guy for a husband. I loved how supportive and close the sisters were, made me want a sister. Took me quite a while to warm up to Gayle, but as I got to know her better and learned her pass I could understand more where she was coming from. Brody the love interest in the story was quite delicious. another sparkling Christmas tale from Miss Morgan.
*** Big thank you to HQN for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***...more
Alexa Martin has written a timely romcom, the perfect blend of romance and social justice. While The discussion of racism in football made this book aAlexa Martin has written a timely romcom, the perfect blend of romance and social justice. While The discussion of racism in football made this book a little heavier I think it would be remiss if the author did not address the treatment of black players in a series about the NFL. Alexa handled the subject matter perfectly, in a thought-provoking nonjudgmental way. Elliot (can I just say I love this name for a girl) has her dream job working with the Denver Mustangs. One of her first assignments is to “deal“ with Quinton Howard star quarterback who has recently started taking a knee during the national anthem. Elliot is biracial but was raised by her white father in a white world and has been taught to be colorblind. Elliotts interactions with Quinton are eye-opening and ignite a spark in her that was not previously there. there is also an attraction between Elliott and Quinton that is undeniable. BUT ken they find a compromise given all the differences between them?
This was a great story that gave me a lot to think about. My youngest brother is biracial, raised by white parents, in a white world, and I had a lot of aha moments in this book. now I will never truly understand what it’s like to be biracial but I appreciated the insight in this story. I really liked both Elliot and Quinton as characters and liked them even more together. I definitely felt the pole and liked how they listen and learn from one another. The issue of racism and how it impacts the NFL was handled well. I read a few reviews that said they didn’t want any social justice issues in their romcoms and all I could think was, your privilege is showing. Additionally I read several reviews that did not like the ending... here’s the thing, I think the ending was wrapped up nice and neat with a tidy bow, but had it been messy I think people would have complained about that as well. Alexa Martin Took on a huge challenge with trying to balance a feel good romcom and tossing in a generous dose of social justice. I think she did an excellent job of it. ...more
Emotional and heartwarming. Comforting and raw. Healing and hurt. Elysia Whisler stole my heart with this gorgeous Romance filled with deep feelings aEmotional and heartwarming. Comforting and raw. Healing and hurt. Elysia Whisler stole my heart with this gorgeous Romance filled with deep feelings and furry friends. Sisters Constance and Sunny have gone through a lot together. Now they’re both focusing on saving others, dogs in particular. Constance is a massage therapist but she doesn’t only work on two legged clients, but the four-legged variety as well. Sunny owns a dog shelter and is known to have “stolen“ a dog or two from a bad situation. When Constance finds herself in a hard-core gym owned by Rhett there is an instant connection. BUT the wounds in both Constance and Rhett run deep. What follows is a story filled with sweat, tears, anger, fear, regret, determination, healing, and of course dogs.
This was such an engaging Romance with so much substance and heart. The characters were so well-developed, multi dimensional with real and relatable emotion. Loved Constance as a character and was so interested in her job. I have worked all my adult life in gyms and I really enjoyed the fitness aspect of the story. And of course all the dogs added another heartwarming layer to the story. The romance was so quiet and patient, I really loved how feelings developed between Constance and Rhett in the story. There is a secondary romance going on in the story that I would love to see further explored in a future book. Lisa Larsen narrated the audiobook and did such a wonderful job. I loved the voice she gave each character especially that of Constance. You could just feel the compassion dripping from Constance when she was voiced through the narrator. If you like dogs, fitness, Romance, and emotion then this is a can’t miss.
Romance, friendship, and holiday cheer. Jenny Hail is truly the queen of the cozy romance. Lila and her three friends head to small town Tennessee to Romance, friendship, and holiday cheer. Jenny Hail is truly the queen of the cozy romance. Lila and her three friends head to small town Tennessee to spend the holidays in a quaint cottage. However when they get there the cottage is not quite as advertised. But after meeting Eleanor the owner of the cottages Lila recognizes a kindred lonely soul and insists that they stay. What follows is a sweet story full of festivd activities, found family, healing, and romance. Lila was a wonderful character with such a huge heart. Theo Took me a little longer to warm up to, but I knew under all that grump was a good guy. Loved all the fun festive Christmas activities this small town had to offer. There was such a comfortable warm holiday vibe to this story. This is the perfect book to cuddle up with a cozy blanket and cup of hot chocolate with.
Fun and flirty! Hopeful and heartwarming! This is the final book in Alice Murray’s delightful small town Romance Full Bloom Farm series. Rose has beenFun and flirty! Hopeful and heartwarming! This is the final book in Alice Murray’s delightful small town Romance Full Bloom Farm series. Rose has been reluctant when it comes to love, but now that everyone around her has coupled up she’s beginning to considerate. But that doesn’t mean she wants to deal with her mother and sister’s constant meddling. So when her BFF Annie, the biggest Meddler of them all, offers to set her up with someone who is in town to film a movie Rose thinks this is the perfect opportunity to get everyone off her back. Rose wasn’t anticipating being set up with a famous movie star but fortunately he has ulterior motivs as well. Rose and Cole come up with a plan they will fake date so people aren’t feeling sorry for Rose for not having somebody and Cole can make his ex jealous. What Rose and Cole never expected was to find a connection. So can a small town florist and a big-time Hollywood star find true love?
Love this series and it was so fun being back in this delightful small town. Rose is such a great character and I was thrilled to finally get her story. I love the fake relationship trope and it was done so well in this book. This was such a sweet story, but I am so sad to see the series end.
