the_cover_contessa's Reviews (1.75k)

Thank you to Forever Publishing, Abby Jimenez, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I will never pass up the opportunity to read an Abby book. She writes such great stories. Not only are the romances realistic, but she always weaves such real life situations into her stories. They are easily relatable. She doesn't put the characters in situations that are so far out there you'd never believe they could happen. I love her real life.
And her covers. I'm sorry but this is the best one yet. It is just utterly gorgeous and truly captures the story right there in one shot.
This book really hit me hard because I'm a nurse and work with many Dementia patients. I have seen first hand people diminish quickly and I've watched their families struggle. It was so great to see how Abby handled this story line. You can see she's done her research for the most part to learn about the disease, it's consequences, and how it affects family and friends who surround the person going through the decline. Early onset Dementia is the hardest thing to deal with because you watch someone so young slowly decline and lose everything they once knew. Abby handled this all with grace and kindness. I can see she cared to make sure she was true to real life and the impact the disease can make. This topic is very heavy but it's an important disease to bring to light and Abby did a really great job with it.
Of course an Abby book would not be an Abby book without some great romance. Is there a bit of insta-love in this one, I would say yes. But it works to the advantage of the story. I loved how Sam and Xavier progressed in their relationship. Samantha knows it can't go anywhere because of her current family crisis and the fact that she's moving clear across the country. But she can hope. And it's this hope that really caries the story. It's this hope that makes you cheer for Sam and Xavier and to wish with all your might they will find a solution to being apart. Add to the dynamic Xavier's past and his parents who always said he would amount to nothing and you have a story teaming with tension and a few secrets. Of course, as with any type of romance story, there are areas where the characters just needed to talk in order to resolve things, but that didn't quite happen. Miscommunication is a trope that many don't love but I think for this story, the two main characters didn't want to reveal those truths for fear of it making the other feel sympathy for them. Both characters are developed well and are strong.
As with all the books I've read by Abby, this one sucked me in right away and I didn't want to put it down. I read it in one day because I lost myself in the story and didn't want to put it down.
I have to say once i finished this one, I kind of wanted to go back and re-read it. I feel like the nuances Abby puts in her books really require more than one read. I love my first reads but it's the second and third reads that really make her books impactful. Plus I love how she buries Easter eggs in her titles. 
And the nod to Come On Eileen (I'm an 80s girl) was fantastic. I cannot tell you how many times I've danced and sang my heart out to this song. If it comes on the radio in the car, you better bet that dial goes all the way up while I sing along!
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Fans of Abby are going to be obsessed with Xavier and Sam and their friends and families. This one is definitely an emotional rollercoaster ride so have those tissues ready and be prepared to love what you read.

Review to comeThan you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I was excited to see this title had been picked up by a major publisher. I love when indie stories go to print and reach the larger audience and get the recognition for the great tales they are.

I'm a big Lynn Painter fan. She is a go to author for me. I love her YA but I think I like her adult books even more. The romance is always done so well.

This one is a light hearted and easy read. The build up of romance between the two main characters is fun and realistic. Painter infuses the story with humor that had me laughing out loud many times during my read. The story line is nothing new and very much reminded me of the movie Working Girl, which I really enjoyed.

I loved both Izzy and Blake. I enjoyed their differences. His grumpy to her sunshine. Their romance was cute as it blossomed, though I did feel there was that slight bit of insta-love I don't always meld with. But it worked well in this particular story. There was a bit of push and pull with their relationship given their circumstances, as well. 

Painter got the pacing and banter spot on in this one, though. She really knows when to infuse the story with the lightheartedness is needs to break up those more intense moments.

This one does have a bit of a third act break up type thing to it but it is resolved fairly quickly. The circumstances under which is happens are understandable. I'm not sure I would have done what Blake did had I been in his shoes. I don't think my heart could handle it. 

If you're looking for a fun feeling, funny, and entertaining rom-com with friends to lovers, workplace romance, and grumpy sunshine and characters that are quirky and relatable, I highly recommend this one.

If you're looking for a fun feeling, funny, and entertaining rom-com with characters that are quirky and relatable, I highly recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with an egalley of this book for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I think I might be in my regency romance era. I've read a few period romance pieces and I'm just loving the vibe. When the blurb says fans of Bridgerton will like this one, it is absolutely correct!
The story is told in third person point of view, which I think fits the period pieces well. We have a birds eye of view of all that is happening to the characters and a link to what they are feeling. I love how easily the characters are developed with this way of writing.
The plot doesn't only revolve around the romance, though. This book brings to the forefront the upheaval that was happening during this time period. How women were trying to become more and do more. How they wanted to be more than just a wife or the pretty lady on the man's arm. And there's a bit of a mystery to solve, as well!
Sullivan does an excellent job of alternating the point of view between the FMC and MMC, Phoebe and Will. I loved their relationship. How they grew up together and were a certain way with each other until Will got drawn into his role as Duke. Phoebe is so independent. And, while there is pushback from her family regarding this, she does not fold and run from what she knows she wants to do. Will is busy trying to find a duchess for himself through the ton. But he's not really feeling like those ladies fit him. When he and Phoebe are thrown into each other's paths when Phoebe ends up at the police station, you can feel their chemistry from the start. And as the book progresses, the slow burn really ramps up and the romantic zing between the two becomes very apparent. Phoebe was just so relatable, it was hard not to love her. And Will was super protective of her from the start, even though they had not had interaction since they were teens.
There's definitely some spice in this one. So be prepared for that. But the interactions are also somewhat tender.
Sullivan is spot on with her pacing in this one. Each chapter even more interesting than the next.
The author does a fabulous job combining mystery, romance with some slow burn, and family tensions while telling a fun story where you will definitely want to know how the story ends!

This is totally boring. I'm not getting the appeal at all. 

I am totally bored. Zero chemistry between these characters. And I have no idea where this is going because there's no real plot.