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

Susan's Review of Come Together-by Marie Force Butler #7

Three years after his marriage ended in dramatic fashion, Noah Coleman has one goal—to steer clear of romantic entanglements. In fact, he steers clear of most human interaction, studiously avoiding his large, meddling extended family, working until he’s exhausted and then repeating the pattern day after day. His strategy has worked well for him for years, keeping him sealed off from anything that can cause him pain or angst. Or it was working for him... before his company was hired to rebuild the Admiral Butler Inn after a fire reduced it to rubble, and he was forced to co-exist with the exasperatingly difficult, gorgeous architect the inn’s owner, Mrs. Hendricks hires to oversee the project.

While nursing a badly broken heart, Brianna Esposito is determined to complete the Butler Inn construction under budget and on time—and to make partner in the Boston firm where she’s been working fourteen hours a day for five years. Nothing is going to stop her from achieving her goal, especially a cranky contractor with the people skills of a rabid cougar. Noah Coleman is the most exasperating human being she’s ever had the misfortune to tangle with. She’s never had screaming fights with anyone the way she does him, and the fact that he’s also the sexiest man she’s ever met makes it that much more difficult to hold her ground.

When Mrs. Hendricks intervenes and orders the two of them to resolve their differences, Brianna is stuck having dinner with the man she wants to stab one minute and kiss the next. And will he ever tell her why he’s so bitter and angry? Brianna suspects the answer to that question could also be the key to his well-protected heart.

Come back to Butler, Vermont to find out if these two adversaries will give in to the sparks that’ve been flying between them for months or if they’ll finally succeed in driving each other crazy.

Maroe Force writes an engaging, emotional and romantic story for contractor Noah Coleman and architect Brianna Esposito. I was captivated by this couple and set my alarm early to finish the book before work.

Noah has been hired to rebuild the town’s inn and he’s in daily contact with Brianna who is the project’s architect. Acrimonious best describes their working relationship. Noah believes that Brianna is micromanaging the job. Brianna admits that Noah is sexy but she’s convinced that Noah has no people skills. The owner of the inn intervenes and provides them with a coupon for dinner and suggests that they work through their difficulties. Can Brianna spend an evening with Noah without arguing with him?

I loved the spirited banter between the couple and their emotional heart to heart conversations. Noah has appeared in previous books and I wondered what set him apart from his relatives—he’s quiet and a bit of a loner. Noah is torn—he’s attracted to Brianna but, should he trust his heart again?

Marie Force is one of my favorite authors. I love the dynamic characters who own their stories, the blend of sassy and emotional conversations that pull at your heart strings and the small town community of Butler, Vermont. Loved catching up with Elmer and Linc—they make me laugh each time they appear in the series- Hunter and Megan and Grey.

Come Together is a fast paced, well-crafted novel which explores several challenging topics—I was immersed in this novel until the very last page. Looking forward to Izzy and Cabot’s book in 2022!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman
Book purchased the book through the author's bookstore

Sweet Madness by Heather Snow - Audio Version

Sweet Madness

by Heather Snow

 ★★★★★

I have read this one several times. This is 

my first time listening to it. Kate Marcin is

the narrator. She did a fine job. Her accent

is not over the top. She is understandable. 

I believe she is also the voice of the other

three stories from the Veiled Seduction 

series by Heather Snow. So I will be 

looking into them.

 As for the story. I love it! It is a story 

starring a strong, intelligent, kind, 

determined woman. She has devoted 

her time to helping men who struggle

with PTSD. It is my favorite thing with a

Heather Snow book.

Penelope is not just a feminine, lovely 

woman. She adds to society. To others. 

She is advancing science and medicine.

At the same time, 

helping someone very dear to her. 

It is not often I find historical romance

reading women in the science and 

medicine fields. I love reading this story. 

I can highly recommend it. 

Review by Lisa Hutson