Driving the Bugmobile by Alan Orloff

May 21, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Driving the Bugmobile by Alan Orloff
Publisher: Level Best Books
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Sometimes a pool noodle is just a pool noodle. Other times…

In two short weeks, Nick Carlin will be old enough to get his driver’s license, but there’s a catch—a huge one. His mom says he must first pass a swimming test, and Nick takes to the water as well as a flying fish pilots a jumbo jet. It’s one more challenge as the Summer From Hell comes to an August crescendo: his slacker friend Miller is worried about “failing life,” and the older girl Nick’s crushing on—his robo-hottie swimming instructor—is leaving for college. But the cherry on top of the stress sundae? His mom’s low-life moocher boyfriend has just moved in, and Nick is supposed to be happy about it!

As Nick struggles to get his life in shape (and master the freestyle), he learns that the best solutions aren’t always the easiest ones. If he wants to relieve his friend’s anxiety, shield his mom from heartache, find happiness with the right girl (hint: not the robo-hottie), and score the keys to the Bugmobile, he’ll have to step up his game, big-time.

Growing up isn’t always easy.

Mr. Orloff did an excellent job of showing both the upsides and the downsides of being a teenager, from the parties to dealing with the frustration of rules that don’t quite make sense. Nick was at the age when he was almost ready for bigger responsibilities in life like getting his driver’s license, and his impatience to grow up felt realistic and relatable to me. Time often seems to pass more slowly when you’re a teenager, so the thought of waiting even a few more weeks was exasperating to him. I smiled and nodded along as I read about everything he did to prove to his mom that he was responsible enough for this next step.

I would have liked to see more attention paid to the subplot involving the budding relationship between Nick’s mom, Tiffany, and her new boyfriend. She was such an attentive and cautious parent in other areas of life that I was a bit surprised by how quickly she not only introduced Jason to Nick but also invited him into their family traditions and routines. Having more details about her thought processes here would have made this a five-star read for me.

Some of the most interesting scenes were the ones that explored why Nick had never learned how to swim despite years of lessons. His reasons made perfect sense and gave extra layers of depth of this character. I also appreciated the way this storyline explored how childhood experiences can shape someone’s personality for years to come. Yes, I know that’s a little vague, but the big reveal isn’t something anyone should have spoiled for them, and figuring out what it was made this reader even more curious to discover what happened next.

Driving the Bugmobile was an absorbing read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Department Store Santa by Sean Michael

May 20, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Department Store Santa by Sean Michael
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Holiday, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Luke loves his seasonal job as Jolly Elf at the mall’s Santa display. It suits his sweet and joyful nature and compliments his summer landscaping job perfectly. This year there’s a new man playing Santa and Luke thinks he’s great, even if he isn’t the traditional old guy under the beard.

Life hasn’t been easy for Chris, but he’s doing the best he can and the job as Santa at the mall is a godsend. He likes the job well enough, even if Jolly Elf Luke is unnaturally happy all the time. When Luke invites him over to watch movies one evening, Chris figures why not and the two co-workers slowly become friends.

Chris has a secret, though, and when Luke finds out, he sets about doing something to help whether Chris wants him to or not.

Can a little Christmas magic bring this unlikely pair together for more than just the holiday season?

Luke has a seasonal job as Jolly Elf in his local department store and he looks forward to the fun work each year. But this year there’s a new Santa – slightly rough around the edges Chris. Luke can’t help being cheerful and soon a delicate friendship develops between the two men. Can they both embrace the magic of Christmas?

I thoroughly enjoyed this mid-length story even though it’s not quite the right time of year for a Christmas tale. Fun and light, this was a delightful pick-me-up and I was thrilled to find it at the sweeter end of the steamy romance ratings. Indeed readers looking for an inta-lust heavily erotic read might find this a little too slow and light in the romance department – but personally I really enjoyed this.

Readers looking for a slow burn friendship that develops into more should find this as enjoyable as I did. I also found both Luke and Chris’ characters to be fairly realistic without going overboard on the cliches. Yes, Luke is a light and happy young adult – but he’s not obtuse nor is he particularly niave. Similarly, while Chris is fairly quiet and somewhat gruff, he’s absolutely no Grinch nor is he mean or hard. I thought both characters were well drawn and believable and – better still – I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book was watching these two men interact together in a new job and we the reader got to know them both as they slowly became friends.

I thought the pacing of the story – and the slowness of the romance – did a solid credit to the author. There were a number of things in the plotline that could have become flags or somewhat unhealthy, including the speed with which two virtual strangers connected, and I thought it was all handled very well. The author also managed to keep an air of lightness and holiday spirit running throughout the entire story and I strongly feel this book will go onto a regular reread list for me, personally.

Fun, light and happy, this was a lovely story that I greatly enjoyed. Recommended.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Movie Review: Moana 2

May 19, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Moana 2

Directed by: David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller
Writers: Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux Miller, Bek Smith
Starring: Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Hualalai Chung
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars (8 on IMDB)
Reviewed by Astilbe

After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

Anything can happen in the middle of the ocean.

The pacing was strong and exciting without ever being too scary for younger viewers in my opinion. The few scarier scenes were brief and generally interrupted by a joke or a song to break the tension. I liked the way the characters worked together and kept the storyline going while bursting into song or dealing with the various problems – paranormal and otherwise – that can crop up when a group of friends decides to sail the ocean and save the world (or at least that corner of the world).

I would have liked to see more attention paid to the plot. Some of it reminded me a lot of Moana’s first adventure, and the sections of it that were new tended to be revealed close to the end. This is something I’m saying as someone who loves this universe and did enjoy the sequel overall. I simply needed extra time spent exploring the things that the main character learned this time around in order to go for a full five-star (ten on IMDB) rating.

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that showed the characters in various humorous situations. For example, Heihei the pet rooster somehow managed to get into trouble every time Moana glanced away from him. If there wasn’t any trouble seeking him out, he looked for it instead by messing around with the wrong parts of the ocean or walking into places no sensible chicken should poke their beak into. I could watch a whole film about his antics and still not grow tired of the silly things he did.

Moana 2 was full of adventure.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Movie Review, Television Show Tagged With: , ,

The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig

May 14, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

At the start of a new century, a shocking murder transfixes Manhattan, forcing bitter rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr to work together to save a man from the gallows.

Just before Christmas 1799, Elma Sands slips out of her Quaker cousin’s boarding house—and doesn’t come home. Has she eloped? Run away? No one knows—until her body appears in the Manhattan Well.

Her family insists they know who killed her. Handbills circulate around the city accusing a carpenter named Levi Weeks of seducing and murdering Elma.

But privately, quietly, Levi’s wealthy brother calls in a special favor….

Aaron Burr’s legal practice can’t finance both his expensive tastes and his ambition to win the 1800 New York elections. To defend Levi Weeks is a double win: a hefty fee plus a chance to grab headlines.

Alexander Hamilton has his own political aspirations; he isn’t going to let Burr monopolize the public’s attention. If Burr is defending Levi Weeks, then Hamilton will too. As the trial and the election draw near, Burr and Hamilton race against time to save a man’s life—and destroy each other.

The truth shall set you free. Or will it?

I’ve not picked up anything by Lauren Willig, but I liked the idea of a novelization of the Levi Weeks trial. I liked the idea of Burr and Hamilton arguing before the argument. It’s clear from my reading of this book that the author put a lot of research into the book, took plenty of time and care to ensure the characters were written as accurately as possible and tried to inject intrigue into the situation. I’m glad I read it.

What stayed with me after this book concluded wasn’t so much the trial or the characters. It was the way the trial and investigation happened. The investigation was done by the prosecution. In modern eyes, it looks bad that they’re the ones doing the investigating. Then there was victim shaming. That’s not gone away, even all these years later. It must be the victim’s fault for what happened to them. Sad that hasn’t changed much. These were the ways the intrigue worked well for the book. I have to say I wasn’t a fan of Levi, Hamilton or Burr. They all came off pompous and dry. I suppose that’s how they might have been in life, but it made that part of the book drag. Still, the trial of the century quality of the book was plenty of a hook to keep reading.

If you’re looking for a book with historical intrigue, fascinating situations and a mystery, then this might be the one for you.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Groomed by Jody Paschal

May 14, 2025 By 1 Comment


Groomed by Jody Paschal
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Groomed is a dark comedy coming-of-age story about Myles “Mylo” Gunn, a middle-aged man turning 50 during the 2020 global pandemic and #MeToo Movement. With nothing but downtime with his thoughts, Mylo reflects on what’s next in this new chapter of his life. Little does he know that watching a news exposé about an older politician grooming a teenager to be her husband is going to give him an unexpected reality check. The exposé sounds awfully similar to how his first marriage went, and Mylo realizes that he was groomed, too. Completely shocked by this new revelation, Mylo takes a deep dive into his past. But his trip down memory lane takes an unexpected detour. Groomed is a humorous, intriguing look at how misperception and manipulation can influence growing into ourselves.

It’s never too late to begin the healing process.

Mylo’s character development was strong and nuanced. One of the things I found most intriguing about him was how his abusive relationship stunted his social and emotional development and how he tried to heal from that terrible experience. He was a fifty-year-old man who still sometimes acted like the seventeen year old he’d been when the grooming began. It is not easy to write a character who has this many layers to his personality, especially since the author allowed so many of those layers to be revealed subtly through the way the protagonist reacted to small irritations in life or reminders of his past. The care and concern that was taken with making sure every aspect of Mylo’s life was represented and that his pain never overshadowed his honest and hardworking personality is something this reader noticed and appreciated quickly. Bravo for making this look so effortless and trusting one’s audience to notice these brief but important moments!

I did find myself wishing that the secondary characters had been given more time to be developed, especially when it came to April. Her reason for targeting Mylo made sense, but I would have loved to see it explored in greater depth. For example, knowing what sort of logic she used to justify the manipulative and cruel way she treated him and other people in her life would have been helpful whether it might have been due to how her personality formed, any past trauma she may have experienced, or something else entirely.

One of the biggest questions I had when I began reading this book involved what the responses of the people closest to Mylo were going to be when they learned he was dating a twenty-five year old woman while he was still in high school. Shouldn’t they have all been alarmed and disgusted? The answers to this question kept me reading as his friends and family members each came to their own conclusions about what was going on and how they should best respond to it. No, I can’t spoil anything by going into detail there, but I thought these passages were equally well written and an intelligent snapshot of what different parts of society thought of such things in the 1980s when society was generally less aware of or sensitive to the ways in which young men can be abused by the women in their lives.

Groomed was a thoughtful take on an important topic.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Treachery by Shirley Bigelow Dekelver

May 13, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Treachery by Shirley Bigelow Dekelver
Climate of Fire Book 2
Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

It is 2046, a year since Vancouver was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami. Taylor West, Carlie Fleming, Mai-Li Wong, and Willie Arbuckle, four young adults, and three children, twin brothers Rusty and Eddie Coleman, and Debbie, who has Downs Syndrome, lived in constant fear of the violent gangs. Making a life-saving decision they leave Little Mountain and walk to the Interior, hoping to find a better life.

The journey is fraught with unimaginable hardship and danger. Surviving a firestorm in the Wastelands, they clash with the Desert Rats, and lose one of their own. Heartbroken they continue their trek, finding an old, abandoned cabin near Mount Davis. Winter is rapidly approaching, and they decide to delay their journey until Spring. Taylor admits to Carlie he has feelings for her, but she rejects his advances, as she is unable to accept Rusty’s death. Willie is caught stealing food and is banished from the group. Realizing he might seek revenge; Taylor decides they cannot stay in the cabin, they must leave immediately.

Their progress is slow, the snow is deep and the steep mountain trails take their toll on the younger children. They arrive at Blakeburn, a deserted mining town, and meet Pete Johnson, a trapper and prospector. Pete is the Chief of the Similkameen band, who live in harmony with the Chinese people in Blackfoot, their destination. Relationships are tested time and again. Will they remain strong and what will shatter?

Love is stronger than fear.

I appreciated the character development in this book. Yes, the characters still sometimes made impulsive and illogical decisions, but they also showed signs of accepting the dangerous new world they lived in and of thinking ahead at times in order to have access to the food, shelter, and supplies they’d need to survive in it. Practice leads to progress, so I was pleased with how they’d matured since I first met them.

It would have been helpful to either have more attention paid to the romantic subplot or to not include it at all. It’s not something I thought the main storyline needed, at least at this point, and I was surprised the characters involved in it went in that direction due to the much more pressing conflicts and basic human needs they were struggling with. I would have liked to have stronger reasons to root for those two individuals to end up together. They were both interesting people on their own, I simply needed more information about why they’d be a good romantic match and why this particular moment in the timeline was the best time to go there instead of taking care of more urgent matters like having enough food and a warm, safe place to live first.

With that being said, I did enjoy seeing the characters become a found family and work together for the common good. It takes a lot of effort to look after children and people with intellectual disabilities in a setting like this, so I appreciated the descriptions of how everyone was kept (more or less) clean and fed under such difficult circumstances. That’s not something that’s always covered in this genre, but it’s one of those things I always hope to find in post-apocalyptic fiction as it would be such an important matter if something similar were ever to happen in real life.

This is the second instalment in a series that should be read in order for plot and character development reasons.

Treachery: Climate of Fire Book 2 was full of intrigue.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

What Might Have Been by Marianne Plunkert

May 12, 2025 By Leave a Comment


What Might Have Been by Marianne Plunkert
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Desperate to escape a lecherous uncle, Melissa Sullivan stows away in a wagon departing Nebraska City for the Colorado territory. She has resolved never to be subservient to any man as her aunt was, and especially not to the high-handed Union Army Lieutenant Nathaniel Bellamy, who seems to think he can make decisions for her because he happened to find her hiding in his wagon.

Upon arriving at their destination, Lieutenant Bellamy reports to his post while Melissa is given an opportunity to fulfill her goal of being self-sufficient by a kind, considerate, and handsome mine owner but wonders if her choice is worth the price.

How can two strong-willed people set aside their pride to give love a chance?

I found myself relating to the title What Might Have Been more than I’d like to admit. The heroine, Melissa Sullivan, faces several moments in her life where she’s left to wonder about the different paths her life could’ve taken. Interestingly, the hero, Nat Bellamy, has his own “what might have been” reflections, which makes the title feel especially meaningful. What stood out most to me was the message that it’s more important to look forward in life than dwell on the past—because, ultimately, we can’t change what’s already happened.

The story is a romance between Melissa and Nat. Their chemistry is undeniable, though they don’t act on it for quite some time. Miscommunications, emotional walls, and life circumstances continually keep them apart. Other than a few sweet kisses, it’s a mild romance in terms of heat, but the emotional depth carries the story.

What really sets this book apart is its plot—it’s raw, touching, and full of grace-filled moments. Without giving away too much, there’s a powerful reason why Melissa is living with her aunt and uncle, and the story takes off when she escapes the clutches of her cruel uncle. From there, it’s a dramatic adventure filled with tension and heart. I appreciated that Nat was strong, capable, and a true gentleman, especially given the challenges of traveling by wagon to the Colorado Territory.

Nat’s two best friends, Al and Tom, are essential to the story. Their presence adds richness and depth, and the narrative wouldn’t be the same without them. Melissa also makes a friend named Mavis, who becomes a source of encouragement and genuine companionship. While there are other characters who make appearances throughout the book, these five form the emotional core of the story.

What Might Have Been held my attention from start to finish. It was well-written, emotionally engaging, and ultimately delivered a satisfying happily-ever-after for Melissa and Nat. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of historical romance—it’s a heartfelt journey worth taking.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Chance Meeting by Christine Columbus

May 9, 2025 By 3 Comments


Chance Meeting by Christine Columbus
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a construction manager, awakens feelings of the love and romance. Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears Melody to secrecy.

To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton, until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel is left wondering if she’ll be able to put the pieces of her life back together.

Chance Meeting was such a fun and heartwarming read. I completely agree with the praise comments shared at the beginning of the book. Melody is a relatable heroine as she navigates the challenge of living a balanced life. Like many of us, she struggles to juggle work, family, responsibilities, and making time for herself. It’s all too easy to become overwhelmed and burned out—and sometimes, it takes hitting rock bottom to recognize your limits. I admired Melody’s dedication, persistence, and strong moral compass. I found myself truly invested in her love story because she genuinely deserved a happily-ever-after.

The hero, Clayton, felt almost too good to be true. He’s handsome, successful in his career as a construction manager, romantic, and a natural with kids. Melody is fostering her niece, Kansas, while her sister, Opal, is deployed. Watching Clayton step in and help—especially when he pulled off an adorable camping-themed sleepover for a group of girls—was both entertaining and endearing. It was beautiful how Melody, Clayton, and Kansas seemed to fit together so naturally, like a ready-made family.

Chance Meeting is an easy, engaging read with a smooth-flowing plot. Things progress without major complications—until Melody’s sister drops a family bombshell and swears her to secrecy. The drama that followed had me on edge, especially the impact it had on Melody’s relationship with Clayton. Just when you think Melody has reached her breaking point, another plot twist emerges, pushing the story into even more emotional territory. I was completely hooked, wondering how she would pull her life back together.

All the tension only enhanced my enjoyment of the story. The chemistry between Melody and Clayton was both tender and sensual, and I loved watching them open their hearts to the possibilities of a shared future. They both value family, share common interests, and are thoughtful and respectful toward one another’s feelings.

The best part? The ending. Every plot thread was wrapped up beautifully, leaving me fully satisfied and smiling. I couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion. I highly recommend taking a chance on Chance Meeting—it’s a sweet, emotionally rich romance that’s well worth the read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

May 7, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Genre: Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Washington, DC, 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the nation’s capital where secrets hide behind white picket fences. But when the lovely, mysterious widow Grace March moves into the attic room, she draws her oddball collection of neighbors into unlikely friendship: poised English beauty Fliss, whose facade of perfect wife and mother covers gaping inner wounds; policeman’s daughter Nora, who finds herself entangled with a shadowy gangster; frustrated baseball star Beatrice, whose career has come to an end along with the women’s baseball league of WWII; and poisonous, gung-ho Arlene, who has thrown herself into McCarthy’s Red Scare.

Grace’s weekly attic-room dinner parties and window-brewed sun tea become a healing balm on all their lives, but she hides a terrible secret of her own. When a shocking act of violence tears the house apart, the Briar Club women must decide once and for all: who is the true enemy in their midst?

Capturing the paranoia of the McCarthy era and evoking the changing roles for women in postwar America, The Briar Club is an intimate and thrilling novel of secrets and loyalty put to the test.

Briarwood House is an all female boarding house in the heart of the US capitol and behind the respectable fascade the ladies who reside there all having their own stories – and secrets – to tell. When a murder occurs within the walls one evening the ladies need to decide which path they’re all going to turn onto – and whether the trust they’ve built will remain solid or not.

I picked this book up on a whim, the author completely new to me, and thoroughly loved every moment of it. Written in a slightly different manner to most mysteries I read, there are multiple different sections all showing the perspective of the different residents of Briarwood House. I thought this was very clever, letting us get to know each of the ladies who live there in their own time and their own words. I also thoroughly enjoyed the few snippets from the perspective of the House itself and thought that added an interesting and vibrant element to the story as a whole.

While set in the historical 1950s, I loved how the various characters were realistic but also very relatable – many of the common issues back in those days still strongly relevant even today. I also appreciated that while social norms and expectations were vastly different back then, there are more than enough hooks and links despite the many decades that have passed these women back in history are still relevant and relatable just as much now as they were back then.

I feel this book would equally suit historical readers and chick-lit readers. While there is a mystery I admit it’s a fairly light theme through the books – readers who are only looking for a murder mystery might not find that element of the plot strong enough to maintain them through the whole story. This book is very much about the characters, these women and their lives and loves and troubles and the manner in which virtual strangers can learn to live together and knit themselves together into a tight group of friends/family – the murder mystery is very much a back seat to this aspect of the characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and am eager to try more by this author. Recommended.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Marriage Bribe by Amber Cross

May 2, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Marriage Bribe by Amber Cross
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Prissy is drowning in debt. Her only hope lies in finding a man equally desperate to marry her for six months so she can cash in on a big payout.

Logan has a solid reputation as a respectable businessman, yet he’s worried that won’t be enough to guarantee custody of his late brother’s unborn child.

When Prissy offers him a bribe-half her money for six months of his life-he takes the deal to strengthen his case with the courts.

Prissy doesn’t care why he agrees, if it means she can sleep through the night without visions of debt collectors coming to take her away.

It’s a simple deal. Live together for six months, and they both walk away better for it. But will they be able to walk away from the attraction growing between them?

When I opened The Marriage Bribe to the title page, I noticed a tagline beneath the title: A grumpy/sunshine marriage of convenience love story. I couldn’t have summarized the plot better myself—it perfectly captures the essence of this book.

The hero, Logan, carries emotional baggage so heavy that it fully justifies his grumpy demeanor. Personally, I’d describe him as downright bad-tempered at times, considering how mean he could be. Meanwhile, the heroine, Prissy, is the ultimate ray of sunshine—relentlessly positive and full of energy. She presents Logan with an offer he can’t refuse: a marriage of convenience. If they stay married for just six months, they’ll both receive a significant sum of money.

At first, Prissy doesn’t know (or care) why Logan agrees to the arrangement—she’s too focused on her own financial struggles. She’s drowning in debt, and this deal is her only way out. However, the why behind her situation turns out to be a dramatic plot twist I didn’t see coming. Her reason for needing the money also explains her over-the-top optimism, which makes for an interesting contrast with Logan’s brooding personality. Between the two of them, there was almost enough drama to drown me—but luckily, the supporting characters helped balance the story and kept it flowing smoothly, leaving me eager to keep reading.

Set in a small town where everyone knows each other and lends a helping hand, the story has a charming community feel. From Prissy’s coworkers and family to Logan’s close-knit group of friends, I loved how the secondary characters enriched the narrative and made the town feel real.

The chemistry between Prissy and Logan was sweet. Their mutual attraction was complicated by the boundaries of their agreement but watching them navigate those feelings made the romance even more satisfying. I especially enjoyed the ending, when they renegotiated the terms of their marriage—I always love a happily-ever-after!

If you enjoy small-town romance with a grumpy/sunshine dynamic and a heartfelt love story, The Marriage Bribe is definitely worth a read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,
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