REVIEW: "Don't You Forget About Me" by Mhairi McFarlane (Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy)

DON'T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME by Mhairi McFarlane
	Publisher: HarperCollins Genre: Rom Com/Contemporary Romance Publication Date: January 1st 2019 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
All the Feels, Finding Yourself, Second Chances, Strong Heroine, Stuck With You
Other Books by Mhairi McFarlane
Description from Publisher:
The hilarious new heartbreaker from Mhairi McFarlane! If there’s one thing worse than being fired from the grottiest restaurant in town, it’s coming home early to find your boyfriend in bed with someone else. Reeling from the indignity of a double dumping on the same day, Georgina snatches at the next job that she’s offered – barmaid in a newly opened pub, which just so happens to run by the boy she fell in love with at school: Lucas McCarthy. And whereas Georgina (voted Most Likely to Succeed in her school yearbook) has done nothing but dead-end jobs in the last twelve years, Lucas has not only grown into a broodingly handsome man, but also has turned into an actual grown-up with a business and a dog along the way. Meeting Lucas again not only throws Georgina’s rackety present into sharp relief, but also brings a dark secret from her past bubbling to the surface. Only she knows the truth about what happened on the last day of school, and why she’s allowed it to chase her all these years…
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
This had a slightly slow start to it, but boy did it ramp up!!! I laughed (a lot), cried (just a little), felt angry, and concerned, and a bit sad at times. This story was a wonderful rollercoaster ride of emotions, and I'm just sad it's done!!! Georgina was a bit lost when we initially meet her, sort of coasting through life, not really recognizing who she is, or really, being afraid to. The journey this story takes her on is full of growth and introspection. The Gog you know and love by story's end is confident enough to allow herself to be vulnerable, and you adore her that much more for it. This is a romance, of sorts, but more of growing up than that. Cold Lucas never fooled me. That vulnerability was obvious from the get-go, and had me just waiting for when it would break through. I'll leave it mostly at I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!! There were really so many great moments with this cast of characters. They were all well-fleshed-out, and likable (or, in Robin & Geoffrey's cases, NOT). I think I would have to say that my favorite interactions were Georgina & her sister, Esther, or any interactions anyone had with Devlin. Seriously, he was great fun. This was so much more than I had expected when I chose it randomly from the library. This is going to have to go on my TBR-Again list!
My Source: I borrowed a digital copy to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author:
Mhairi was born in Falkirk, Scotland in 1976. She went to school in Nottingham, studied English Literature at Manchester University and then returned to Nottingham to delight its citizens with her journalism. After roles as trainee reporter, reporter, feature writer and columnist, she realised she’d climbed to the very top of the mountain at the Nottingham Post and at age 31 decided to write a novel. Some very skint years followed, during which she thought she might’ve made a huge mistake.

REVIEW: "Lips Close to Mine" by Robin Bielman (Contemporary Romance)

LIPS CLOSE TO MINE by Robin Bielmam
	Genre: Contemporary Romance Publication Date: November 20th 2017 Series: Wherever You Go, #2 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Second Chances, Childhood Friends, Forced Proximity
Other Books in the Series
#1 My Review
Description from Publisher:
I wasn’t supposed to see Levi Pierce ever again. A few months ago, he charmed the pants off me and we spent one incredible night together. End of story. Only it wasn’t. Pretty soon everywhere I turn, I see him. Our best friends are dating. My mother mistakenly—and happily—thinks he’s my plus-one to my cousin’s wedding. And he’s the guy I have to work with on the most important job opportunity of my life. Here’s my problem: I like Levi. I like his killer smile and his dreamboat eyes and definitely the way he makes me feel in bed. But I’ve sworn off relationships. So when the sexual tension reaches epic proportions and we fall back into bed together, I tell myself it’s temporary. When I start to feel more, I tell myself it’s over. Only Levi isn’t a forget-it kind of guy. When his lips are close to mine and he swears he’s always wanted me, my defenses disappear. But some things in life just aren’t meant to be. Or are they?
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
Harper is a swim instructor with a traumatic experience in her past that haunts her several years later. Levi is a videographer who is slow to trust after getting his heart stomped on and then some by his ex. They knew one another as kids, then happened to meet again years later in a bar. They enjoy a passionate tryst and part ways. The two are forced to reconnect when Harper becomes a spokesperson for PSAs that Levi is filming, as if it weren't hard enough sharing close friends. I thought it was really cute the way they were childhood friends who happened to bump into each other years later. The way their romance played out, and the way that they couldn't fight how they felt really made this a great read!
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and my 100% own.

About the Author: Robin Bielman
When not attached to her laptop, USA Today Bestselling Author Robin Bielman can almost always be found with her nose in a book. A California girl, the beach is her favorite place for fun and inspiration. Her fondness for swoon-worthy heroes who flirt and stumble upon the girl they can’t live without jumpstarts most of her story ideas. She loves to go on adventures, and has skydived, scuba dived, parasailed, gotten lost in the wilderness (and only suffered a gazillion bug bites for it) hiked to waterfalls, and swam with dolphins. In her spare time she also likes to put her treadmill to good use while watching her favorite TV shows, take hikes with her hubby, indulge her sweet tooth, and play sock tug of war with her cute, but sometimes naughty dog, Harry. She dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers.

REVIEW: "East of Redemption" by Molly E. Lee (Contemporary Romance)

EAST OF REDEMPTION by Molly E. Lee
	Publisher: Molly E. Lee Genre: Adventure/Suspense/Contemporary Romance Publication Date: Series: Love on the Edge, #4 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Nice Guy, Outdoorsy, Road Trip, Adventure Seekers, Second Chances
Other Books in the LOVE ON THE EDGE Series
#1 My Review #2 #3 My Review #5 Review Soon! #6 My Review
Description from Publisher:
Easton Wells has spent years burying his guilt by digging up some of the world’s most renowned treasures while surviving the dangerous terrains in which they’re located—all captured for television. When his producers threaten to axe the show, he has no choice but to turn to the last person he still trusts—the girl he left behind. Rain Walker has made a name for herself documenting wild and endangered animals, and the last voice she expects to hear while shooting in South Africa is Easton’s. He’s more gorgeous than she remembers, but the pain in her heart is as fresh as ever. They’d once planned on spending the rest of their lives together, but after her father’s tragic death while on expedition in Israel with him, Easton bailed on their future together without an explanation. It’s been nine years, and yet the intense love they shared seems only a moment ago. When he asks her to film his latest treasure hunt, Rain wants to turn him down instantly. But when he explains it’s to the same cave that swallowed her father, she can’t say no. She wants to experience the last place her father was alive, and she’s beyond curious about what happened to the boy she used to love. They’ve got two weeks to locate a treasure that’s been lost for centuries, or Easton will lose the one thing in his life he’s come to depend on. As their old passion is reignited—and dark secrets uncovered—they face the extreme terrain of the mountain range that threatens them at every turn. As more than the wildlife and sharp drop-offs tries to kill them, Rain starts to question if the legendary treasure they seek—the same one her father had died trying to unearth—is truly meant to be found, or if some things, including their feelings for each other, are better left buried.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
Loved this!! The backstory really worked and it was just such a perfect second chance romance. The suspense was great, with the mix of animals, geography, and competition adding a lot to the story. Every book in this series is well-written and flows in such a way that they keep you engaged and eager to continue. I appreciated that there wasn't huge drama here, much as the subject matter was a bit heavy (grief & death). There also wasn't really instalust or instalove, but genuine feelings that came right off the page showing that Easton and Rain had great chemistry and a wonderful dynamic. The adventuring aspect was just plain awesome and so much fun! This is a favorite "trope" of mine, Adventurers, and Molly really does a seriously fantastic job of getting the details just right (at least, they feel very authentic and well-researched!) without bogging the story down at all. All in all, a superb adventure romance with a sweet couple!
My Source: Bought from Amazon. My opinion is unbiased and my 100% own.

About the Author: Molly E. Lee
Molly E. Lee is an author and editor best known for her debut novel EDGE OF CHAOS, and as a fourth year mentor at Pitch Wars - a program which connects promising writers to established authors in the community. Molly writes New Adult Contemporary and Young Adult Urban Fantasy featuring strong female heroines who are unafraid to challenge their male counterparts, yet still vulnerable enough to have love sneak up on them. In addition to being a military spouse and mother of two + one stubborn English Bulldog, Molly loves watching storms from her back porch at her Midwest home, and digging for treasures in antique stores.