Susan's Review of Melonie Johnson's Too Good To Be Real

She plans to prove there's a dozen reasons why life isn't like a romantic comedy, only to discover the one reason it is…

While her friends wish for meet cutes worthy of their favorite rom-coms, Julia is ready to give up on love. Swiping right has replaced getting swept off your feet and good old-fashioned romance has become, well, old-fashioned.

A writer for a popular website, love becomes the last thing on her mind when impending layoffs threaten her job. As Julia searches for the ultimate pitch to impress her boss, she stumbles upon a resort offering guests a chance to live out their romantic comedy dreams. Real life dating is so bleak, who wouldn't want to spend a week in a fantasy rom-com world with your best friends?

At the resort, Julia literally falls into a not-quite-meet-cute involving an aggressive seagull and an adorably awkward guy named Luke who is also participating in the rom-com experience. Julia hides the fact she is there to do a story, but Luke harbors a few secrets of his own. Among further encounters with thieving seagulls, a gaggle of corgis, kisses in the rain, and even a karaoke serenade, their feelings deepen quickly. But could their love be real when they haven't been honest about their true identities? Once the fantasy is over, can they have a relationship in the real world?

Romance 

Fun, Flirty Dialogue

A Pack of Corgis

Melonie Johnson combines these story elements perfectly in her novel Too Good To Be Real. Julia and Luke’s first meeting was hilarious and drew me into the story immediately.

TrendList reporter Julia Carpenter has been given the heads up that layoffs are imminent. She needs to think outside the box for the perfect story idea to bring to her boss. She finds the perfect idea and pitches it —a week at the Notting Hill resort where the guests can step into the world of romantic comedy.

Luke O’Neil and his sister Penelope and best friend Vijay have created a romantic comedy game for the Notting Hill resort owner Mrs. Weatherfork. Each guest receives a folder which contains their character name, an itinerary and a list of romance inspired activities. The author does a fabulous job crafting this piece of the storyline-it was so much fun to watch the characters come to life. I loved this trio of best friends and their over the top boss and her many, many corgis.

Loved all the references to the romantic storylines and that the author crafted similar scenarios for the main characters. The author cleverly blurred the lines between the game and the real love stories in the novel this kept me engaged in the story. Luke created the resort’s program and knew how things should play out—but, life and love doesn’t always happen like a big screen romantic comedy.

Lots of mix-ups and misunderstandings which along with the references to popular movies made the reading experience so much fun. Melonie Johnson’s voice appeals to me—just love her clever dialogue whether it’s the heart to heart conversations between Andie Julie and Kat or the laugh out loud conversations as each of the book’s characters (who are in character) discuss the nuances of popular rom coms. The chemistry between Julia and Luke sizzled and the secondary characters added so much depth and humor to the story.

Too Good To Be Real is the perfect beach read—it’s an entertaining romance filled with engaging characters and smiling, impy corgis!

Reviewed by Susan Groman

ARC from publisher

Table 19 - Movie Review

Table 19

Movie Review

★★★★★

I have been watching a lot of movies lately. I miss going

to the theater so much! And the best thing my library has

ever done is come up with curbside service.

Table 19 came out in 2017. I don't remember watching it 

before. It is my kind of movie. So I probably did. Now 

that I have watched it today, I realize what a quirky, 

weird kind of movie it is. So fun, romantic, sad, silly,

hopeful and, oh did I mention, fun!! 

I could recommend it for a girls evening or date night. 

Either way. Very little cursing, I dont remember any

nudity. But it is not a family movie. Just a sweet 

movie to remind us all that we arent perfect, we 

are lucky to find someone to love and marriage 

requires compromise and patience and determination. 

Watch it and fall in love with your special someone again. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BrKGHl5EXQ

Review by Lisa Hutson

Then Came You - Audio version review

Then Came You

by Jill Shalvis

Audio version

"We are strangers," she said.

"Yeah. Strangers who know what

each others O-face looks like-"

She covered his mouth but it was too late.

And great, now she was sweating again.

Typical, perfect Jill Shalvis.

Wyatt & Emily. Great character driven

romance reading. If you have read Jill before,

you know what I mean. If you have not and ever

wanted to, this is a perfect starting point.

Jill has a way of getting you to feel every emotion

in her writing. You will laugh. Not just a little but often.

You will cry, in sadness and happiness. She brings it all

about. There is always sizzling physical heat.

Emily and Wyatt work at the animal hospital,
in Sunshine, Idaho. The two of them have an
interesting fleeting past. Now, they are going
to be together in their work.
The attraction that drew them together
in the past is as strong as ever.  

Emily simply cannot help herself.

 And Wyatt does not let her forget it.
Of course, he can't help himself either.

He just hides it better than she can.

I believe you can easily enjoy this series out

of order. This story does well as a stand alone.
Karen White does the narration. She has a sort
of jerky kind of speech pattern. Some times more
noticeable than others throughout the story.
But it did not ruin the story for me.

Lessons learned from this story.
One night stands are not always only one night.

 Do not use bar napkins as stationery.  

Review by Lisa Hutson