Author: Lauren Edmondson
Publisher: Graydon House
Genre: Fiction
Source: Graydon House ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: It’s the wedding of the season and all of Newport is abuzz in this funny, joyous, whip-smart novel about two modern-day society families and the summer wedding that has the whole town talking…

Despite its beauty, Newport is a place Cass Coventry would prefer to forget. But after an extended absence, she’s back in her hometown to celebrate her sister’s engagement—even if she’s marrying into the family that famously stole the Gilded Age Coventry mansion out from under them a decade ago.

The moment Cass pulls up to the estate, she’s in for one surprise after another. The bride-to-be is hiding a big secret. Her mother has royal-wedding aspirations. And, when the date is set for only three months away, a local gossip blog makes the two families its new favorite subject.

It’s not long before Cass’s weekend in town becomes a full summer of frenzied wedding planning and society drama—but also idyllic sails, starry nights, and a former love. As the grand affair arrives, along with new truths about her family, Cass must finally face her own thorny past in Newport and decide how to honor the Coventry legacy in all its chaotic glory.

Ope’s Opinion: A book about a wedding, crazy family and secrets should have been an amazing story, but I kept getting lost in all the details that didn’t move the story along. I had trouble getting involved with the characters. I also got lost as to why Cass left Newport to begin with and what happened to her next assignment – did I miss something?

I really wanted to get lost in this book, but I found myself not really being drawn back to read it – maybe that is why I felt like it moved so slow.

The picture attracted me to this puzzle because as you know I love books and book shops!

The poster is small, but helped while doing the puzzle.

Another puzzle done!

Author: Alys Murray
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Romance
Source: Bookouture ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: Can you ever really forget your first love?

It’s been eight long years since May Anderson’s high school sweetheart Tom Riley drove down Main Street in his truck, leaving Hillsboro—and May—in his rearview mirror. Now he’s back and, try as they might, the pair can’t avoid each other.

As Hillsboro prepares to host the prestigious North West Food and Wine Festival, Tom and May are reluctantly called in to plan the big event. Tom needs May’s help to repair his bad-boy reputation and, with the whole town counting on them, May and Tom need to learn to trust each other again.

May is determined to protect her heart, but a lot has changed since high school. She can’t help but notice how the skinny boy she used to know is now a man who perfectly fills out his button-down, and Tom can’t seem to tear his gaze away from May’s sweet smile. It’s clear old feelings are surfacing again, but there is a secret keeping them apart and, until they find the courage to face it, their second chance summer will be only that…

Ope’s Opinion: The story idea was great, the execution, not so good. One of my frustrations with this story was the lack of communications between May and Tom. If they had each said what they were thinking, if they were honest, it would have been so much better. Another frustration was the constant repetitiveness of information. Over and over we were told how May let the whole town believe a lie, but she didn’t do anything about it.

The end was too fast. They couldn’t trust and believe each other through the whole book, then at the end they did.

Author: Phoebe Mills
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Forever ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: A busy single-mom. A laid-back bachelor. One unforgettable night that changes their friendship—and their lives—forever . . .

Single-mom Rebecca Hayes has been so focused on raising her daughter and building her finance career, she’s not sure she even remembers how to date. The only man she’s been out with is Jackson, her very close—and very attractive—friend. But Becca isn’t getting her hopes up after they crossed the line one memorable night—she knows Jackson too well. So when she discovers she’s pregnant with his baby, Becca isn’t sure she can count on Jackson anymore . . .

Fatherhood isn’t something Jackson Lowe saw for himself. He figured he’d just keep working at his family’s landscaping business, surfing and being a happily unattached bachelor. But in his heart, he longs to build a family with Rebecca—his secret crush and the real reason he never settled down. He’s got a lot of work to do before she’ll believe he’s all in. He’s been the man Becca wants. Now, Jackson has to prove he’s ready to be the man she needs.

Ope’s Opinion: This was so much fun to read! I enjoyed seeing some of the characters from A Wedding on Sunshine Corner. This is a series. I did not read the first one ( might go back to do that ), but each one can stand alone. I actually liked this more than the second one.

I like the friends to lover trope. It is one of my favorites, especially when the friendship is from when they were young. This one had a few little conflicts, but the couple kept communicating so they could work it – I like that. It frustrates me when I want to yell at the book ” just talk to each other” – there was not any of that in this book.

I would like to read more of Phoebe Mills books. She is easy to read and has great characters that feel real.

Goodreads: A busy single-mom. A laid-back bachelor. One unforgettable night that changes their friendship—and their lives—forever . . .

Single-mom Rebecca Hayes has been so focused on raising her daughter and building her finance career, she’s not sure she even remembers how to date. The only man she’s been out with is Jackson, her very close—and very attractive—friend. But Becca isn’t getting her hopes up after they crossed the line one memorable night—she knows Jackson too well. So when she discovers she’s pregnant with his baby, Becca isn’t sure she can count on Jackson anymore . . .

Fatherhood isn’t something Jackson Lowe saw for himself. He figured he’d just keep working at his family’s landscaping business, surfing and being a happily unattached bachelor. But in his heart, he longs to build a family with Rebecca—his secret crush and the real reason he never settled down. He’s got a lot of work to do before she’ll believe he’s all in. He’s been the man Becca wants. Now, Jackson has to prove he’s ready to be the man she needs.

This looks like a really cute read.

My review coming soon….

Author: Sophie Sullivan
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Genre: Romance
Source: St. Martin’s Griffin ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: A playful and emotional romantic comedy from the author of Ten Rules for Faking It

Hailey Sharp has a one-track mind. Get By the Cup salad shop off the ground. Do literally everything possible to make it a success. Repeat. With a head full of entrepreneurial ideas and a bad ex in her rearview, her one and only focus is living life the way she wants to. No distractions.

Wes Jansen never did understand the fuss about relationships. With a string of lackluster first dates and the pain from his parents’ angry divorce following him around, he’d much rather find someone who he likes, but won’t love. Companionship, not passion, is the name of the game.

When Hailey and Wes find each other in a disastrous meet cute that wasn’t even intended for them, they embarrassingly go their separate ways. But when Wes finds Hailey to apologize for his behavior, they strike a friendship. Because that’s all this can be. Hailey doesn’t want any distractions. Wes doesn’t want to fall in love.

What could possibly go wrong?

Ope’s Opinion: I did not read the other books in this series. I might go back now and read them because I enjoyed this one so much, but it was not necessary to read the others to enjoy this one. The brothers are great friends, which made this story more fun to read.

I throughly enjoyed the pace of the relationship – it was slow – which was great because they did not know each other before the story started. I am not an insta-love fan, so this one suited me perfectly. They became friends and got to really know each other and like each other before the relationship got deeper.

As in most romances, there were a few twists and turns that come between the main characters before it all ends well. This one had a great journey before the end was how you expect it to be.