Saturday, April 22, 2023

'Hot Dutch Daydream' by Kristy Boyce

5 stars!



Book Blurb:

"Rom-com lovers and fans of Elise Bryant and Jenna Evans Welch will adore this next summer read from Hot British Boyfriend author Kristy Boyce.

No one has ever accused Sage Cunningham of being easily distracted. She has a plan, and she won't be swayed. She'll spend the summer interning in her mentor's lab in Amsterdam, and then she'll be ready for college. All she needs to do to pay for the summer abroad is agree to serve as the au pair for Dr. Reese's three-year-old.

Sage has it all down to a science, but she doesn't anticipate the surprise arrival of Dr. Reese's teenage son. Ryland is spontaneous, flirty, and impulsive--everything Sage isn't. He's a talented artist, but he's desperately in need of someone to keep him focused. And as nannying proves harder than Sage had expected, it turns out she might need help too.

The two strike a deal. Sage will stop Ryland from going out with a different girl every day, and Ryland will pitch in with his little brother.

Spending the summer stuck together is the perfect way to keep distractions to a minimum. Right?"


My Review:

Excellent companion novel to 'Hot British Boyfriend' though readers do not need to read 'HBB' to enjoy this one.

Readers follow hard-working go-getter Sage as she spends the summer in Amsterdam, volunteering in her mentor's lab and preparing a poster for a prestigious conference, while babysitting her mentor's 3-year-old. When her mentor's teenaged son, Ryland, unexpectedly returns home for the summer, Sage is surprised by how distracted she is. Though she tries to concentrate on her daytime babysitting duties and evenings-and-weekends data entry for the lab, Sage soon finds herself appreciating Ryland's help with his brother and his companionship while they each work.

It's lots of fun to watch Sage fall for Ryland, despite her own best efforts. This is a very cute romantic comedy YA Contemporary with easy-to-root for characters and excellent character development. Highly recommended!

Grab your copy here!

#HotDutchDaydream #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

Friday, April 14, 2023

'Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success' by Jessica Parra

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"Graduation is only a few months away, and so far Rubi Ramos’s recipe for success is on track.

*Step 1: Get into the prestigious Alma University.
*Step 2: Become incredibly successful lawyer.

But when Alma waitlists Rubi’s application, her plan is in jeopardy. Her parents–especially her mom, AKA the boss–have wanted this for her for years. In order to get off the waitlist without her parents knowing, she needs math tutoring from surfer-hottie math genius Ryan, lead the debate team to a championship–and remember the final step of the recipe.

*Step 3: Never break the ban on baking.

Rubi has always been obsessed with baking, daydreaming up new concoctions and taking shifts at her parents’ celebrated bakery. But her mother dismisses baking as a distraction–her parents didn’t leave Cuba so she could bake just like them.

But some recipes are begging to be tampered with…

When the First Annual Bake Off comes to town, Rubi’s passion for baking goes from subtle simmer to full boil. She’s not sure if she has what it takes to become OC’s best amateur baker, and there’s only one way to find out--even though it means rejecting the ban on baking, and by extension, her parents. But life is what you bake it, and now Rubi must differentiate between the responsibility of unfulfilled dreams she holds, and finding the path she’s meant for."


My Review:

This heartwarming tale of family, friends, and dreams gave me all the feels. When we meet Rubi, she is a hard worker, trying her best to fulfill her parents' dream for her. It was great to watch her start to prioritize what she wants, rather than what they want. With a little help from her family, her best friend, and the swoony surfer/mathlete she meets, we get to see Rubi achieve her own goals.

I highly recommend this fantastic YA Contemporary read!  Pre-order here!

#NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.