Review: Some Dukes Have All the Luck (Synneful Spinsters #1)

Title: Some Dukes Have All the Luck (Synneful Spinsters #1)
Author: Christina Britton
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Forever
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: November 8, 2022
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Ash Hawkins, Duke of Buckley, no more wants to marry than he wants a stick in his eye. As the owner of a gaming hell, he is all too aware the odds of a happy marriage are against him. But raising his three rebellious wards alone is proving more than he can handle. He needs to find someone who stands to benefit from a marriage of convenience as much as he does. Someone logical, clinical, and rational. And in a stroke of luck, he quite literally stumbles over just such a woman.

After years of ridicule for being more interested in bugs than boys, Bronwyn has accepted that she’ll never marry for love. Her parents, however, are threatening to find her a husband. Bronwyn doesn’t need any scientific research to show her Ash has secrets. But his proposal would give her the freedom to continue her entomology research and perhaps finally get published. Just as long as she can keep her mind on her work and off his piercing eyes, broad shoulders, and wicked, wicked tongue.

Review:

Ash Hawkins, the Duke of Buckley knows he never wants to get married. He has enough trouble looking after his three rebellious wards. When two of them run away to his family’s other home on the Isle of Synne, Ash goes there after them. The two little girls meet Bronwyn Pickering, a young woman who is more interested in entomology than getting married. However, her parents insist that she marries someone with a title. After seeing how well Bronwyn gets along with his wards, Ash decides he should marry her so that she can help look after them. The marriage works for Bronwyn, by making a match that her parents approve of. However, their relationship becomes more complicated when they form real feelings for each other. Ash and Bronwyn have to decide if they will give in to love or live separate, unhappy lives. 

This was a fun regency romance. Ash and Bronwyn had a marriage of convenience that worked out to fill the things that each of them needed, but they had great chemistry right away. I was able to figure out the twist at the end before it happened, but it was a cute family story. 

I’m looking forward to the next book in this series next year!

Some Dukes Have All the Luck is a great regency romance. 

Thank you Forever for sending me a copy of this book!

What to read next:

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard

Have you read Some Dukes Have All the Luck? What did you think of it?

Review: Love from Mecca to Medina (Love from A to Z #2)

Title: Love from Mecca to Medina (Love from A to Z #2)
Author: S.K. Ali
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Salaam Reads
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: October 18, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Adam and Zayneb. Perfectly matched. Painfully apart. 

Adam is in Doha, Qatar, making a map of the Hijra, a historic migration from Mecca to Medina, and worried about where his next paycheck will come from. Zayneb is in Chicago, where school and extracurricular stresses are piling on top of a terrible frenemy situation, making her miserable. 

Then a marvel occurs: Adam and Zayneb get the chance to spend Thanksgiving week on the Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, in Saudi Arabia. Adam is thrilled; it’s the reboot he needs and an opportunity to pray for a hijra in real life: to migrate to Zayneb in Chicago. Zayneb balks at the trip at first, having envisioned another kind of vacation, but then decides a spiritual reset is calling her name too. And they can’t wait to see each other—surely, this is just what they both need.

But the trip is nothing like what they expect, from the appearance of Adam’s former love interest in their traveling group to the anxiety gripping Zayneb when she’s supposed to be “spiritual.” As one wedge after another drives them apart while they make their way through rites in the holy city, Adam and Zayneb start to wonder: was their meeting just an oddity after all? Or can their love transcend everything else like the greatest marvels of the world?

Review:

Adam is in Doha, Qatar, trying to find work as an artist while his MS isn’t bothering him. Zayneb is in Chicago, trying to find an apartment while she studies and has to fend off accusations from her school’s newspaper. They are both looking forward to spending a week together in England, but when Adam is offered a trip on the Umbrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, he has to take the opportunity while he’s feeling well. They change their plans to go on the Umbrah together, but their relationship faces the ultimate test on this spiritual journey, making them question if they’re meant to be together. 

This was another fabulous S.K. Ali book! It was so nice to be reunited with these familiar characters. There were also characters from the Saints and Misfits books, which was fun to see all of the characters together. The characters were college age, so they had to deal with more adult problems than in a young adult novel, but it was nice to see the characters grow up in this story. There were some chapters from the perspective of Bertha Fatima, Adam and Zayneb’s cat, which were so entertaining. 

I didn’t know anything about the Umbrah or Mecca and Medina so I learned a lot in this story. It inspired me to look up some of the terms and places to be able to picture them. The story was detailed and described the entire trip so I got a full picture of this experience. 

Love from Mecca to Medina is a great story! 

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me a copy of this book!

What to read next:

The Eid Gift by S.K. Ali

Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali

Other books in the series:

Have you read Love from Mecca to Medina? What did you think of it?

Review: Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match

Title: Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match
Author: Sally Thorne
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction
Publisher: Avon Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: September 6, 2022
Rating: ★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

From USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game Sally Thorne comes something a little unexpected… a historical rom-com that imagines Victor Frankenstein’s sheltered younger sister, and her attempts to create the perfect man. 

For generations, every Frankenstein has found their true love and equal, unlocking lifetimes of blissful wedded adventure. Clever, pretty (and odd) Angelika Frankenstein has run out of suitors and fears she may become the exception to this family rule. When assisting in her brother Victor’s ground-breaking experiment to bring a reassembled man back to life, she realizes that having an agreeable gentleman convalescing in the guest suite might be a chance to let a man get to know the real her. For the first time, Angelika embarks upon a project that is all her own.

When her handsome scientific miracle sits up on the lab table, her hopes for an instant romantic connection are thrown into disarray. Her resurrected beau (named Will for the moment) has total amnesia and is solely focused on uncovering his true identity. Trying to ignore their heart-pounding chemistry, Angelika reluctantly joins the investigation into his past, hoping it will bring them closer. But when a second suitor emerges to aid their quest, Angelika wonders if she was too hasty inventing a solution. Perhaps fate is not something that can be influenced in a laboratory? Or is Will (or whatever his name is!) her dream man, tailored for her in every way? And can he survive what was done to him in the name of science, and love?

Filled with carriages, candlesticks, and corpses, Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match is the spooky-season reimagining of the well-known classic that reminds us to never judge a man by his cadaver! 

Review:

Angelika Frankenstein is the assistant to her brother Victor in all of his experiments. When he wants to bring a man back to life, Angelika joins in on the fun. She hasn’t been able to find an appropriate suitor and now she’s run out of men in her town, so she decides to choose her own corpse to bring back to life. However, the man who she revives is more focused on figuring out his identity from before he died than being her husband. Though he is her perfect match, Angelika does everything she can to help him discover his former life. 

I loved the premise of this book, but it wasn’t executed as well as I expected. The romance between Angelika and Will, her creation, was stilted and forced. One minute they would be kissing, and the next minute he would tell her why they couldn’t be together. This happened over and over again, so it was tiring to read. 

The other characters tried to be quirky but I didn’t feel that they stood out on their own. Some of the side characters didn’t really serve a purpose to move the plot forward. Those storylines could have been cut shorter to make the story more concise. 

Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match wasn’t what I hoped it would be. 

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for giving me a copy of this book.

Have you read Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match? What did you think of it?

Sponsored Review: Remy vs. Rome

Title: Remy vs. Rome
Author: Bonnie Callahan
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: 113 Semper Street Press
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 13, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

In the heart of the Eternal City, ancient secrets aren’t the only thing getting uncovered.

Heartbroken, Remy flies to Rome—the site of her first kiss—to get over her ex and rediscover herself. On her first night in the city, she jumps into her new life by agreeing to a date with a smooth-talking Italian stranger who, as fate would have it, turns out to be a jerk…and a most wanted international criminal to boot.

Implicated in the theft of an ancient amulet, Remy finds herself under house arrest and in the protection of Lorenzo Rossi, the infuriatingly handsome Sicilian detective in charge of the investigation. The case is a make-or-break situation for both of them, and together, they must solve a series of clues to track down the amulet and the bad guys—all while struggling to keep their finger grazes to a minimum and their partnership appropriate.

Their investigation takes them on an intimate, two millennia treasure hunt through Rome, where Remy digs up more than she bargained for.

Review:

After breaking up with her fiancé, Remy Campbell decides to visit Rome, where she had her first kiss as a teenager. On her first night, she meets an Italian man who offers to show her around the next day. However, after they go to a museum, Remy is approached by the police as a witness in a huge robbery. The detective in charge of the investigation is Lorenzo Rossi, a handsome and serious man. To make sure Remy is safe during the investigation, Lorenzo brings her to his apartment to stay under police guard. Remy’s knowledge and love of Rome ends up being an asset to the investigation, so she assists Lorenzo. They hunt throughout the city to find the masterminds behind the robbery and possibly develop a romance along the way. 

I’ve never been to Italy, but I feel like I have after reading this story. During her extensive stay, Remy visited all the tourist spots, as well as some more local places with Lorenzo. There were vivid descriptions of the architecture and art, as well as the wine and food, which made me so hungry!

I think the best way to describe this book is The Da Vinci Code as a rom com in Italy. It reminded me of the art mystery in The Da Vinci Code, but it wasn’t as complex and had a lighter atmosphere like a rom com. 

Remy vs. Rome is a fun story that will take you on a trip to Rome!

Thank you Bonnie Callahan and Bookstagrammers.com for sponsoring this review!

    Have you read Remy vs. Rome? What did you think of it?

    Review: The Stand-In

    Title: The Stand-In
    Author: Lily Chu
    Genre: Romance, Contemporary
    Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablana
    Source: Purchased
    Format: Paperback
    Release Date: May 3, 2022
    Rating: ★★★★★

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    Goodreads Synopsis:

    Gracie Reed is doing just fine. Sure, she was fired by her overly “friendly” boss, and yes she still hasn’t gotten her mother into the nursing home of their dreams, but she’s healthy, she’s (somewhat) happy, and she’s (mostly) holding it all together.

    But when a mysterious SUV pulls up beside her, revealing Chinese cinema’s golden couple Wei Fangli and Sam Yao, Gracie’s world is turned on its head. The famous actress has a proposition: due to their uncanny resemblance, Fangli wants Gracie to be her stand-in. The catch? Gracie will have to be escorted by Sam, the most attractive—and infuriating—man Gracie’s ever met.

    If it means getting the money she needs for her mother, Gracie’s in. Soon Gracie moves into a world of luxury she never knew existed. But resisting Sam, and playing the role of an elegant movie star, proves more difficult than she ever imagined—especially when she learns the real reason Fangli so desperately needs her help. In the end all the lists in the world won’t be able to help Gracie keep up this elaborate ruse without losing herself…and her heart.

    Review:

    After Gracie Reed is fired by her inappropriate boss, she’s left wondering what’s next. She needs to make money to get her mother with Alzheimer’s into a better nursing home. One day, she’s approached by China’s golden couple of cinema, Wei Fangli and Sam Yao. Fangli offers Gracie a fortune to act as her stand-in for events since they look nearly identical. Gracie accepts, and must be escorted to events by Sam Yao, the most attractive man she’s ever met. However, living the life of a world famous superstar isn’t as easy as it looks. Gracie must navigate the life of an actress while dealing with a possible romance and the paparazzi. 

    I love stories with a twin theme and a fake element. Though Fangli and Gracie weren’t twins, they looked so much alike they could have been. It adds so much tension when someone is pretending to act as someone else, especially someone they don’t know personally. It was also fun to see the lifestyle of a famous movie star, that wasn’t actually so glamorous on the inside. 

    The ending of this story was adorable. There was a twist that I didn’t see coming but it tied the story together very well at the end. There was lots of fun and tension throughout the story but it had a sweet, heartwarming ending. 

    The Stand-In is a fun rom com!

    What to read next:

    Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

    Have you read The Stand-In? What did you think of it?

    Review: The Rebel and the Rake (League of Scoundrels #2)

    Title: The Rebel and the Rake (League of Scoundrels #2)
    Author: Emily Sullivan
    Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
    Publisher: Forever
    Source: Publisher
    Format: Paperback
    Release Date: December 28, 2021
    Rating: ★★★★★

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    Goodreads Synopsis:

    He holds her fate in his hands—she holds his heart in hers.

    Rafe Davies might seem like just another charismatic rake, but in reality, he is one of the crown’s most valuable agents. As relentless as he is reckless, Rafe has never come upon a mission he couldn’t complete. But when he encounters the intriguing-yet-prickly lady’s companion Miss Sylvia Sparrow while on assignment at a Scottish house party, he finds himself thoroughly distracted by the secretive beauty.

    Though most women would be thrilled to catch the eye of a tall, dark, and dangerously handsome man, Sylvia is through with that sort of adventure. She trusted the wrong man once and paid for it dearly. The fiery bluestocking is resolved to avoid Rafe, until a chance encounter between them reveals the normally irreverent man’s unexpected depths—and an attraction that’s impossible to ignore. But when Sylvia begins to suspect she isn’t the only one harboring a few secrets, she realizes that Rafe may pose a risk to far more than her heart . . .

    Review:

    1897: Rafe Davies is a secret agent for the crown. When he’s invited to a Scottish house party, he is asked by the host to find out who is stealing his secrets. Sylvia Sparrow is working as a lady’s companion at the same party. As soon as she arrived at the house, she received a letter blackmailing her to steal an envelope from the host, or her dark past would be revealed. Rafe and Sylvia are drawn to each other, despite working against one another in their secret tasks. 

    This historical romance had a suspenseful subplot in the spy work that Rafe and Sylvia had to do. Sylvia had to steal an important document from their host in order to hide her past. Rafe was snooping through everyone’s belongings to find out who had stolen the envelope. Though Sylvia was the one who he was looking for, he never suspected her because she was a woman. Their investigations came to a dramatic end. I enjoyed this suspenseful subplot that isn’t in many historical romances. 

    I correctly guessed what characters will be featured in the next novel, The Hellion and the Hero, which will be published on August 23! I’m so excited to read it!

    Thank you Forever for sending me a copy of this book.

    What to read next:

    The Hellion and the Hero by Emily Sullivan

    Other books in the series:

    • A Rogue to Remember (League of Scoundrels #1)
    • The Hellion and the Hero (League of Scoundrels #3)

    Have you read The Rebel and the Rake? What did you think of it?

    Review: Always Be My Duchess (Taming of the Dukes #1)

    Title: Always Be My Duchess (Taming of the Dukes #1)
    Author: Amalie Howard
    Genre: Historical Romance
    Publisher: Forever
    Source: Publisher
    Format: Paperback arc
    Release Date: July 12, 2022
    Rating: ★★★★★

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    Goodreads Synopsis:

    Lord Lysander Blackstone, the stern Duke of Montcroix, has only one interest: increasing his considerable fortune. After a series of betrayals, he keeps his emotions buried deep. Money, after all, can’t break a man’s heart—or make promises it can’t keep. But when his reputation for being heartless jeopardizes a new business deal, he finds himself seeking a most unusual—and alluring—solution… 

    Once an up-and-coming ballerina, Miss Geneviève Valery is now hopelessly out of work. After refusing to become a wealthy patron’s mistress, Nève was promptly shown the door to the streets. When she accidentally saves the life of a handsome duke, she doubts the encounter will go any better than her last brush with nobility. But instead of propositioning her, Montcroix makes Nève an offer she would be a fool to refuse: act as his fake fiancée in exchange for fortune enough to start over.

    Only neither is prepared when very real feelings begin to grow between them. They both stand to win… but only if they’re willing to risk their hearts.

    Review:

    Lord Lysander Blackstone, the Duke of Montcroix, wants to grow his fortune. He has invested in railroads, and needs a particular piece of land to continue expanding it. To convince the owner to sell it, Lysander must show that he will use the land to start a family, but he doesn’t have a wife. Geneviève Valery was a ballerina in France, but when she refused to be a patron’s mistress, she was kicked out of the show. After a chance encounter, Nève acts as the Duke’s date for a night. However, he realizes that he could use her help by pretending to be his fiancé so he can finally buy the land. Lysander offers her a fortune to act as his fiancé, and she accepts so she can start over with her dance career once the job is finished. Things get complicated when they develop real feelings for each other, though neither is willing to commit to a relationship. 

    Fake dating, or fake relationship, is one of my favourite tropes. When the couple starts acting like they’re in a relationship in front of other people, it’s easy for real feelings to develop. It’s always fun to see how these relationships that start out as just a ploy for society can blossom into true love. 

    I found this Victorian society to be quite accepting, more than it usually is in a historical romance novel. Nève stayed with Lysander at his home, and no one criticized that decision. This seemed more modern than a typical Victorian story, which was refreshing because it can often seem like a restricting society. 

    Always Be My Duchess is a fun Victorian romance!

    Thank you Forever for sending me a copy of this book!

    What to read next:

    Dukes Do It Better by Bethany Bennett

    How to Survive a Scandal by Samara Parish

    Have you read Always Be My Duchess? What did you think of it?

    Review: Gouda Friends (Ponto Beach Reunion #2)

    Title: Gouda Friends (Ponto Beach Reunion #2)
    Author: Cathy Yardley
    Genre: Romance, Contemporary
    Publisher: Montlake
    Source: Thomas Allen and Son
    Format: Paperback
    Release Date: March 22, 2022
    Rating: ★★★★

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    Goodreads Synopsis:

    Two high school BFFs reunite and endeavor to fix each other’s lives in this geeky romance from the author of Love, Comment, Subscribe.

    Tam Doan dumped her boyfriend after he threw away her gourmet cheese. Sure, it’s a little more complicated than that, but the point is, he had it coming. Newly single and unemployed, Tam calls up her best friend from high school and utters the emergency code word—goldfish. Next thing she knows, she’s on a plane back home.

    Josh O’Malley was a troubled, unconfident teenager. Now he’s the successful owner of a multimillion-dollar ghost kitchen. Tam, his high school BFF and fellow member of the Nerd Herd friend group, was instrumental in building his self-esteem. When she calls him out of the blue, he jumps at the chance to return the favor.

    Josh and Tam immediately get to work fixing her life—but again, it’s complicated. Their close friendship was always a lifeline between them; a blooming romance might confuse things. Still, at least one thing is for certain: their chemistry is un-brie-lievable.

    Review:

    Tam Doan dumped her boyfriend when she found him in bed with his ex, and then discovered that he threw out her favourite cheese. She immediately called her childhood best friend, Josh O’Malley. Josh got her on a plane to his home in Ponto Beach, where he runs a successful ghost kitchen. Tam and Josh had always been best friends, but sparks start flying when they’re reunited. Josh wants to help Tam fix the problems in her life, but his love for her is so strong that he wants her to be with him too. They have to figure out how to balance their work lives and their undeniable chemistry. 

    I don’t read many friends-to-lovers story but I think I should. Tam and Josh had such a beautiful friendship. They would drop everything to help each other no matter what. It was destiny that they had to be together. They made such a sweet and heartwarming couple. 

    I didn’t like Tam’s ex-boyfriend at all. He didn’t have any redeeming qualities, and it didn’t make sense that they were together for so long when they had nothing in common.

    Partway through the story I started to guess who the couple would be in the next book in the series. I looked it up and I’m so excited to be right! Ex Appeal is scheduled to come out in November and I can’t wait to read it!

    Thank you Thomas Allen and Son for providing a copy of this book.

    What to read next:

    Love, Comment, Subscribe by Cathy Yardley

    Other books in the series:

    Have you read Gouda Friends? What did you think of it?

    Review: The Perks of Loving a Wallflower (The Wild Wynchesters #2)

    Title: The Perks of Loving a Wallflower (The Wild Wynchesters #2)
    Author: Erica Ridley
    Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
    Publisher: Forever
    Source: Publisher
    Format: Paperback
    Release Date: October 26, 2021
    Rating: ★★★★★

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    Goodreads Synopsis:

    Fans of Bridgerton will love this Regency romp in which a proper Society miss recruits a very improper lady grifter in a quest for vengeance, only to find love instead.

    As a master of disguise, Thomasina Wynchester can be a polite young lady—or a bawdy old man. Anything to solve the case. Her latest assignment unveils a top-secret military cipher covering up an enigma that goes back centuries. But when Tommy’s beautiful new client turns out to be the highborn lady she’s secretly smitten with, more than her mission is at stake…

    Bluestocking Miss Philippa York doesn’t believe in love. Her cold heart didn’t pitter-patter when she was betrothed to a duke, nor did it break when he married someone else. All Philippa desires is to rescue her priceless manuscript and decode its clues to unmask a villain. She hates that she needs a man’s help—so she’s delighted to discover the clever, charming baron at her side is in fact a woman. Her cold heart… did it just pitter-patter?

    Review:

    Thomasina “Tommy” Winchester is a master of disguises, which she uses to serve justice. Her latest case is to reveal a top-secret military cypher that was found by a young woman, but her uncle is taking credit for it. For this case, Tommy has to work with bluestocking Miss Philippa York. Philippa’s parents want her to marry a man with a title to further her father’s political career. When she lost a Duke who was betrothed to her, they put a time limit on her to get married before she becomes a spinster. Philippa is eager to solve the cypher hidden in priceless manuscripts. When Tommy enters Philippa’s suitor race as Baron Vanderbean, Philippa is suddenly interested in a man for the first time. They have to work together to get justice for their friend, while also breaking societal expectations of how they should behave. 

    I haven’t read many historical romance stories with same-sex couples, but I find them fascinating. There were even more societal restraints put on women in the 19th century than there are today. Philippa says many times that her only job is to marry a man with a title, so there seems to be no chance that she could end up with Tommy. This adds tension to the romance, because there isn’t a predictable happily ever after for the couple. 

    The Perks of Loving a Wallflower is a fun, Sapphic romance. The next book in The Wild Wynchesters series, Nobody’s Princess, comes out July 26!

    Thank you Forever for sending me a copy of this book!

    What to read next:

    Nobody’s Princess by Erica Ridley

    Other books in the series:

    • The Duke Heist (The Wild Wynchesters #1)
    • Nobody’s Princess (The Wild Wynchesters #3)

    Have you read The Perks of Loving a Wallflower? What did you think of it?

    Review: No Rings Attached (Ms. Right #2)

    Title: No Rings Attached (Ms. Right #2)
    Author: Rachel Lacey
    Genre: Romance, Contemporary, LGBTQ
    Publisher: Montlake
    Source: Thomas Allen and Son
    Format: Paperback
    Release Date: April 12, 2022
    Rating: ★★★★★

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    Goodreads Synopsis:

    From award-winning author Rachel Lacey comes the second installment in the Ms. Right series: a captivating romance about a reluctant bookseller finding love in unexpected places.

    Lia Harris is tired of being the odd one out. She’s never quite fit in with her uptight family, and now that her roommates have all found love, she’s starting to feel like a third wheel in her own apartment. Fed up with her mother’s constant meddling in her love life, Lia drops hints about a girlfriend she doesn’t have. But with her brother’s London nuptials approaching, she needs to find a date to save face. Lia turns to her best friend, Rosie, for help, and Rosie delivers—with the fun, gorgeous Grace Poston.

    Grace loves to have a good time, hiding her insecurities behind a sunny smile. Her recent move to London has provided her with a much-needed fresh start. Grace isn’t looking for love, and she hates weddings, having weathered more than her fair share of heartache. Friendships are different, though, so for Rosie’s sake, she reluctantly agrees to pose as Lia’s adoring girlfriend for the wedding festivities.

    Both Grace and Lia are prepared for an awkward weekend, complete with prying family members and a guest room with only one bed. As it turns out, they get along well—spectacularly, in fact. Before they know it, the chemistry they’re faking feels all too real. But is their wedding weekend a fleeting performance or the rehearsal for a love that’s meant to last?

    Review:

    Since Lia’s best friend and roommate, Rosie, started dating Jane, Lia has felt like a third wheel in their New York apartment. Lia’s led her family in London to believe that she still has a girlfriend, but when she has to go home for her brother’s wedding, she doesn’t have a girlfriend to bring. Rosie suggests that Lia bring Rosie’s childhood best friend, Grace, who lives in London, as a date. Grace has just moved to London from Spain. She’s looking for a fresh start in a new city but she doesn’t want a relationship. She’s still upset about what she found out about her parents’ marriage after they died in a car accident years ago, so she isn’t looking for a relationship. However, when Lia and Grace meet and go to the wedding together, their chemistry is undeniable. They have to decide if they will give this relationship a chance, even though they live on different continents. 

    This rom com had some of my favourite tropes. Fake dating/relationship is my favourite scenario. This story had a bit of enemies to lovers, because Lia and Grace both shared Rosie as a best friend, so they considered each other competition before they met. There was also “only one bed” and a “found family” in the group of friends. 

    There was a lot of tension in this story, despite it being a rom com. One of the characters finds a relative that they didn’t know through an online DNA site. There were a lot of conflicted feelings about this discovery. In one way, it was good to find a relative, but it also introduced a lot of questions about how they came to be related. This was an intense subplot that ended up playing an important role in the main storyline. 

    No Rings Attached is a great sequel to Read Between the Lines!

    Thank you Thomas Allen and Son for sending me a copy of this book.

    What to read next:

    Read Between the Lines by Rachel Lacey

    Off the Rails by Rachel Lacey

    Other books in the series:

    Have you read No Rings Attached? What did you think of it?