Item: Float Plan
Rating: 5
Author: Dani

Float Plan by Trish Doller

March 11, 2021

Float Plan by Trish Doller
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on March 2, 2021
Pages: 272
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Critically acclaimed author Trish Doller's unforgettable and romantic adult debut about setting sail, starting over, and finding yourself...
Since the loss of her fiancé, Anna has been shipwrecked by grief—until a reminder goes off about a trip they were supposed to take together. Impulsively, Anna goes to sea in their sailboat, intending to complete the voyage alone.
But after a treacherous night’s sail, she realizes she can’t do it by herself and hires Keane, a professional sailor, to help. Much like Anna, Keane is struggling with a very different future than the one he had planned. As romance rises with the tide, they discover that it’s never too late to chart a new course.
In Trish Doller’s unforgettable Float Plan, starting over doesn't mean letting go of your past, it means making room for your future.

Anna is picking up the pieces of a shattered life; Her fiancé, Ben, took his own life several months prior, but before he did they had made plans to travel around the Caribbean together. Not knowing what else to do, Anna decides to set sail alone. After barely making the first leg solo, she enlists the help of Keane, an out of work, professional sailor with his own stormy past. Together they navigate through paradise and learn how to be these new versions of themselves that circumstance thrust upon them.

The never knowing is lodged in my heart like a stone, a constant dull ache that throbs during moments like these, when I wonder what our future might have been.

I can’t remember the last time I sat down and read a book cover to cover, but from the very first page I was entranced. The beautiful writing, the honesty of emotion and the plot itself are masterful. While the romance is slow and steamy, the absolute highlight of Float Plan is the authenticity and complexity of finding love after/during grief.

It’s a lovely way to live, don’t you think? Letting the present peacefully coexist alongside the past.

I’m new to Trish Doller, but after this, I think I have some catching up to do. If you’re looking for a story of adventure, self-discovery, and second chances (with a side of kissing), be sure to check this one out.

XOXO

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday: Mr. Nice Guy by Jennifer Miller

October 3, 2018

Waiting on Wednesday: Mr. Nice Guy by Jennifer Miller Mr. Nice Guy by Jennifer Miller, Jason Feifer
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on October 16, 2018
Pages: 400
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Goodreads

“The Devil Wears Prada
meets
Sex and the City
—a page-turner that's part diary, part coming-of-age story." —Carolyn Kylstra, editor in chief,
SELF

Lucas Callahan gave up his law degree, fiancée and small-town future for a shot at making it in the Big Apple. He snags an entry-level job at Empire magazine, believing it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a famous writer. And then late one night in a downtown bar he meets a gorgeous brunette who takes him home...

Carmen Kelly wanted to be a hard-hitting journalist, only to find herself cast in the role of Empire's sex columnist thanks to the boys' club mentality of Manhattan magazines. Her latest piece is about an unfortunate—and unsatisfying—encounter with an awkward and nerdy guy, who was nice enough to look at but horribly inexperienced in bed.

Lucas only discovers that he’s slept with the infamous Carmen Kelly—that is, his own magazine’s sex columnist!—when he reads her printed take-down. Humiliated and furious, he pens a rebuttal and signs it, "Nice Guy." Empire publishes it, and the pair of columns go viral. Readers demand more. So the magazine makes an arrangement: Each week, Carmen and Lucas will sleep together... and write dueling accounts of their sexual exploits.

It’s the most provocative sexual relationship any couple has had, but the columnist-lovers are soon engaging in more than a war of words: They become seduced by the city’s rich and powerful, tempted by fame, and more attracted to each other than they’re willing to admit. In the end, they will have to choose between ambition, love, and the consequences of total honesty.

"In Mr. Nice Guy, one brave couple does what most of us would never dare: give brutally honest feedback about last night's sex. The result is an incredibly funny, fiendishly smart, deliciously NSFW romp you won't be able to put down." —Sascha de Gersdorff, Executive Editor, Cosmopolitan

"In their addictive comedy, Miller and Feifer have captured not just the heady mix of young ambition and uncertainty that many readers will recognize, but also New York City in a precise moment of transition, when one generation is fading but the next isn't quite ready (or willing) to take its place. We can all find a bit of ourselves in Mr. Nice Guy. For better or worse." —Neil Janowitz, Editorial Director, Vulture.com

"This pitch-perfect take on modern romance is far more than a guilty pleasure. It's also a timely battle of the sexes, taking aim at deep-seated assumptions about who wields the power—in the corner office, and in the bedroom." —Stacy London, host, What Not to Wear and Love, Lust or Run"An addictively entertaining and deliciously sexy debut." —
New York Times
bestselling author Julie Garwood

What are you waiting on?

XOXO

Review

The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely

July 9, 2018

The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely The Real Deal: A Novel by Lauren Blakely
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on July 10, 2018
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 368
Source: Netgalley
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Get ready for your next favorite romantic comedy, THE REAL DEAL! April Hamilton wants you to know she hasn't been on Craigslist since that time she sold her futon after college. She doesn't even spend that much time online. And even if she did, she would not be looking up personal ads. But going home alone for her family's summer reunion is an invitation for every single relative to butt into her personal life. She simply can't handle another blind date with the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker from her hometown. So when she finds the Craigslist ad for a boyfriend-for-hire, she's ready to pay to play.

Heading Home and Need a Buffer? I'm the REAL DEAL.
Theo Banks has been running from the past for years. He's this close to finally settling all his debts, and one more job as a boyfriend-for-hire will do the trick. He's no gigolo. Please. He's something of an actor, and he knows how to slip into any role, including pretending to be April's new beau -- the bad boy with the heart of gold.

Even if it means sleeping in close quarters in that tiny little bed in her parents' inn. Even if it means spinning tales of a romance that starts to feel all too true. What neither one of them counts on is that amid the egg toss, the arm wrestling, and a fierce game of Lawn Twister that has them tangled up together, they might be feeling the real deal.

She only wanted to show her family once and for all that she had no need to settle down.

He didn't expect to have the time of his life at her parent's home.

They didn't plan on loving every single second of the game.

But can a masterful game of pretend result in true love?

“My heart jumps, and I want to warn it to settle down. But hearts don’t listen to heads. When have they ever?”

I was on the edge of sleep last night, but I decided I’ll just read a chapter – dip my toe in to see if this was one of those review books that was going to be a breeze, or one that I would need some discipline to get through…ahem, I’m looking at you stack. Cut to me still not sleeping at 4 AM because I couldn’t put The Real Deal down until I was all the way finished. It is the epitome of why I love romance books. It’s got the bizarre and implausible meet-cute that only works on screen or page but that you secretly hope could happen to you in real life (although I don’t intend to sift through Craigslist ads for love any time soon). Then there is the delicious and excruciating tension that builds on for page after page to the point you’re like a tea kettle by the time the main characters kiss for the first time, boiling over with anticipation. And then the best part, the heartwarming and satisfaction of a truly happy ending, the kind where the characters and the reader gets everything they all hoped for. This book hit all the check boxes for a solid contemporary romance. It made me laugh and sigh, made me smile and blush – hell, it even made me want to look up my “one who got away” on Facebook around 2 AM and recast us in the MCs shoes. Luckily stronger minds and an engrossing plot prevailed on that last one.

“His eyes are softer now, and the jealousy seems to have vanished. My heart sinks the tiniest bit. I should be glad he’s no longer perturbed. But the traitorous heart flapping around in my chest found his jealousy appealing. Hearts are such dumb organs. That’s why I’m glad whatever I’m feeling won’t matter in the end – this is all pretend, and it’s precisely what I ordered on Craigslist.”

The Real Deal reminds me of why Lauren Blakely holds a special author status for me. It’s reminiscent of Wanderlust, The V Card, and The Knocked-Up Plan, all of which hit the same criteria as above, and all of which I devoured in one sitting and loved. It’s that not too over the top plot that teases the edge of reality, the relatable but far from generic characters that are easy to slip into – even when you’re not an ex con, a perfume designer, a lingerie aficionado. The shifting POVs not only make you bond with the characters, but they leave you with these universal truths. Everyone has insecurities, pasts, and ultimately just wants to be loved as they are, even the boyfriend for hire. With another five-star read, Blakely has secured her spot on my “when in doubt” list. I know that I’ll always get a reliably decent read, and sometimes I’ll get the real deal. I know, I tried to avoid the pun but we can all blame my glorious lack of sleep and swoony brains for the extra cheese.

“I want to keep creating stories to tell. Real stories of us.”

P.S. Sign me sooooo up for Katie and her hottie soldier coming home from duty sequel. I know it was like a single paragraph, but I need more. LB, please. Please!

XOXO

Review

Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories by Stephanie Perkins

June 11, 2018

Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories by Stephanie Perkins, Leigh Bardugo, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Brandy Colbert, Tim Federle, Lev Grossman, Nina LaCour, Veronica Roth, Jon Skovron, Jennifer E. Smith
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on May 17, 2016
Pages: 388
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Goodreads
four-stars

Maybe it's the long, lazy days, or maybe it's the heat making everyone a little bit crazy. Whatever the reason, summer is the perfect time for love to bloom. Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, written by twelve bestselling young adult writers and edited by the international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins, will have you dreaming of sunset strolls by the lake. So set out your beach chair and grab your sunglasses. You have twelve reasons this summer to soak up the sun and fall in love.

Featuring stories by Leigh Bardugo, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Brandy Colbert, Tim Federle, Lev Grossman, Nina LaCour, Stephanie Perkins, Veronica Roth, Jon Skovron, and Jennifer E. Smith.

Despite loving some of the authors, I struggled with My True Love Gave to Me when that first came out – I have a bizarre and strong aversion to all things christmassy, it’s a whole thing that I’m not going to get into. But because of my meh experience with the holiday anthology, I never picked up its warmer counterpart. Boy oh boy, I was missing out! There is a lot to like about Summer Days and Summer Nights. There is a really diverse group of characters across stories, and none of them feel like forced inclusions (which happens all too often in popular YA for my taste). The romances are sweet and heartwarming, fluffy and yet full of substance. And the range of stories, gosh – from folklore to horror and everything in between. The premise reminds me very much of my creative writing classes in college. These authors were all told to write a summer love story, and what they came up with is quite special.

“Head, Scales, Tongue, Tail” by Leigh Bardugo 5/5
“The End of Love” by Nina LaCour 3/5
“Last Stand at the Cinegore” by Libba Bray 4/5
“Sick Pleasures” by Francesca Lia Block 2/5
“In Ninety Minutes, Turn North” by Stephanie Perkins 4/5
“Souvenirs” by Tim Federle 2/5
“Inertia” by Veronica Roth 5/5
“Love Is the Last Resort” by Jon Skovron 2/5
“Good Luck and Farewell” by Brandy Colbert 3/5
“Brand New Attraction” by Cassandra Clare 3/5
“A Thousand Ways This Could All Go Wrong” by Jennifer E. Smith 3/5
“The Map of Tiny Perfect Things” by Lev Grossman 4/5

“Head, Scales, Tongue, Tail” by Leigh Bardugo was my favorite story of the bunch, and I say this as one of the rare YA readers who is not into all things Grishaverse. I would suggest picking up this anthology just to read this story alone, it is that excellent. There is something so familiar about this story, like a retelling of all the water folk tales, but it’s also wholly new with the most magical ending. All. The. Stars.

“Last Stand at the Cinegore” by Libba Bray was a complete surprise. It was like Marisha Pessl’s Night Film meets “Kindred Spirits” by Rainbow Rowell – which I know is like saying ketchup and mac n’ cheese…BRB. Yeah that was a brilliant example confirmed by science. This story just really worked for me when it probably shouldn’t have. My first Libba Bray and I’m not disappointed.

“Inertia” by Veronica Roth is straight out of Black Mirror with a very strong 13 Reasons Why vibe. I *almost* skipped to the next story at the very beginning, but by the end was quietly crying at my desk. I definitely did not expect to be moved to quite this degree. Ooph, so many freaking feels and a really powerful message about depression.

“The Map of Tiny Perfect Things” by Lev Grossman…modern Groundhog Day anyone? Ok, something weird about me – being stuck in an endless time loop is among my worst nightmares. Yeah, I know the probability of this happening is like zilch, but still the thought seriously freaks me out. Unlike the movie, this story was sweet. I kind of love the idea of being able to read everything on your bonus days and going hunting for perfect moments in the endlessness.

If you’re treating yourself to the Romance Package on Audible (which you really should be!) opt for this one on audio. Each story is read by a different narrator adding a cherry on top to the collection.

XOXO

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday: The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely

June 6, 2018

Waiting on Wednesday: The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on July 10, 2018
Pages: 368
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

Get ready for your next favorite romantic comedy, THE REAL DEAL! April Hamilton wants you to know she hasn't been on Craigslist since that time she sold her futon after college. She doesn't even spend that much time online. And even if she did, she would not be looking up personal ads. But going home alone for her family's summer reunion is an invitation for every single relative to butt into her personal life. She simply can't handle another blind date with the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker from her hometown. So when she finds the Craigslist ad for a boyfriend-for-hire, she's ready to pay to play.

Heading Home and Need a Buffer? I'm the REAL DEAL.

Theo Banks has been running from the past for years. He's this close to finally settling all his debts, and one more job as a boyfriend-for-hire will do the trick. He's no gigolo. Please. He's something of an actor, and he knows how to slip into any role, including pretending to be April's new beau -- the bad boy with the heart of gold.

Even if it means sleeping in close quarters in that tiny little bed in her parents' inn. Even if it means spinning tales of a romance that starts to feel all too true. What neither one of them counts on is that amid the egg toss, the arm wrestling, and a fierce game of Lawn Twister that has them tangled up together, they might be feeling the real deal.

She only wanted to show her family once and for all that she had no need to settle down.

He didn't expect to have the time of his life at her parent's home.

They didn't plan on loving every single second of the game.

But can a masterful game of pretend result in true love?

What are you waiting on?

XOXO