Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley is a contemporary romantic comedy. Combining romance and humor, it features 25-year-old Jada Townsend-MatFake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley is a contemporary romantic comedy. Combining romance and humor, it features 25-year-old Jada Townsend-Matthews and Donovan Dell. Jada has recently experienced social media hate after turning down a proposal on a reality dating show. Donovan is a professional football player and co-owner of a cupcake bakery, Sugar Blitz. When her parents cut off her credit cards, Jada ends up working for Donovan. A reporter mistakenly believes they’re a couple, and they decide to take advantage of it by faking a relationship. What better way to help the business and improve Jada’s image?
Donovan loves to bake. He establishes goals and works to meet them. He’s driven, calm, and controlled. Jada doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life and things don’t seem to be working out well for her. She’s confused, uncertain, and insecure as well as being impulsive. Both characters are relatable and likeable and show growth during the course of the novel.
Reviews seem to be all over the place with this book. While some of the novel was a little over the top and the romance progressed rather quickly, I went with the flow and enjoyed it. The chemistry between Jada and Donovan creates a fun dynamic that also amplifies the story line. Besides romance, there are some deep themes ranging from gambling addiction to the impact of social media on lives to blackmail to teamwork to how parents’ opinions and actions affect their children even as adults.
Overall, this was an entertaining and charming novel with some humor and laugh out-loud moments as well as some pivotal emotional times. It’s well-written with a great setting and extraordinary characters from very different backgrounds.
St. Martin’s Press – St. Martin’s Griffin and Jamie Wesley provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for June 21, 2022. ...more
Da Broad Squad by Chris LeGrow is the second book in the Adventures of the Old Blues mystery and crime series. A group of wealthy business people Da Broad Squad by Chris LeGrow is the second book in the Adventures of the Old Blues mystery and crime series. A group of wealthy business people is funding a retirement home for retired cops in Omaha, Nebraska. However, this is not just any retirement home. The Old Blues are being equipped to not only work with the community, as everyone believes, but to also help fight street crime. Adding several new characters to the precinct changes the dynamics in the precinct, but not the outcome. An international human trafficking ring has set up shop in Omaha and the Old Blues are determined to take it down. I won't go into more details due to spoilers.
The characters are well developed. Everyone from the Sarge to Lead Officer Agnes Crantz to Boss Nurse Betsy and many others have distinctive personalities that make you root for the retired officers’ success in fighting crime. Having an insider who is the public information officer for the Omaha Chief of Police certainly helps.
They have walkers, canes, wheelchairs, and some gross (and otherwise) surprises for the criminals they encounter. Themes include human trafficking, cartels, gangs, murder, feeling useful, and even a bit of romance. This book was entertaining with some laugh-out-loud moments as well as the more serious aspects of a crime thriller.
This well written book shows the importance of finding something to make us feel productive and useful when we retire. It is imaginative and well executed, if over-the-top at times. The writing is fluid and flows well. The prose is suspenseful and engrossing. I don’t like the title despite understanding why it was used. There are some very humorous and uplifting moments in this book, but there are also some very tense, sad, and disturbing scenes as well. I also believe it helped the book that the author is a retired detective with the Omaha Police Department's Special Victims Unit.
Overall, this was entertaining and funny with well-crafted characters that tackles a dark subject. Chris has embedded humor in his novels, providing some much needed levity to offset some of the more serious and grim aspects of the story. I highly recommend this fast-paced book and I sincerely hope that there are other books coming in this series.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date was August 3, 2021. ...more
Cost of Care by Betsy Robinson is a hilarious short story. Are you tired of interpreting medical invoices? Stella took on an emergency babysittingCost of Care by Betsy Robinson is a hilarious short story. Are you tired of interpreting medical invoices? Stella took on an emergency babysitting job for a husband and wife couple who are both doctors. I thoroughly enjoyed her itemized invoice. Perhaps they should have negotiated a charge in advance of the babysitting service. This story made me laugh out loud and brightened my day....more
LOGGING OFF by Nick Spalding is classified as British humor and satire. There is some humor and satire in it so that seems to fit. Andy Bellows is a fLOGGING OFF by Nick Spalding is classified as British humor and satire. There is some humor and satire in it so that seems to fit. Andy Bellows is a freelance graphic designer that is afflicted with headaches, neck aches, insomnia, muscle aches and gastrointestinal issues. With the help of his phone and tablet, he tries to self-diagnose himself, but ends up going to the doctor. The doctor tells him he needs to do a digital detox for two months and gives him a pamphlet to guide him. His only use of technology would be the minimum amount he needs for his work. How would he survive without texting, tweeting, online dating, and all of the social media that drives his days and nights? How would he even find food? Will it even help him? Can he survive?
Andy is an interesting character that you can root for and sympathize with, but I would not call him a compelling character. Humor and, especially satire are used throughout the novel. The language was a little stronger than I like at times, but I still enjoyed some laughs. The internal and external conflicts were well defined and the secondary characters had were nicely developed. Themes include digital dependence, physical ailments, romance, isolation and self-discovery.
Overall, I liked the book. It was well-crafted and I would recommend it to those that read this and think it might be something they will enjoy.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and Nick Spalding for a complimentary ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
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