REVIEW: "Some Girls Do" by Clodagh Murphy (Contemporary Romance)

SOME GIRLS DO by Clodagh Murphy
	Publisher: Hatchette Books Ireland Genre: Contemporary Romance Publication Date: January 6th 2014 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Nice Guy, Introverted Female, Creative (Blogger), Sex Lessons, All the Feels, Finding Yourself, Ireland, Friends to Lovers
Other Books by Clodagh Murphy
Description from Publisher:
Claire Kennedy is NiceGirl, the anonymous author of steamy online blog 'Scenes of a Sexual Nature'. An internet sensation, she attracts the attention of Mark Bell, a hot London publisher. But when it becomes clear that Mark is interested in more than just a book deal, Claire has to act fast. Because little does Mark know that NiceGirl is a lot more experienced in the bedroom than real-life Claire Kennedy. Mark is offering Claire the life she's always dreamed of - a steady relationship, the literary world of London and a posh Highgate apartment. But when Claire hires the services of struggling artist and commitment-phobe Luca to brush up on her sex skills, things get more complicated... Great sex, friendship AND love ... can't a girl have it all?
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
This was a second read for me and five years between. I have fond memories of this as it was one of the first romances I read after a long reading hiatus. I absolutely loved this then and may actually love it more now. The characters are amazing, with this wonderful depth that grabs you the minute you meet them. Claire is easily someome most women can feel a kinship with. She lives a bit of a dual life, but it is really more two halves of her. She doesn't just learn to be more comfortable with her sexuality but with herself. Her blog persona is who she imagines she should be, but more because she lacks a real understanding of herself and how important HER opinion is. NiceGirl would never say No. Claie learns that she can. Then, Luca. Initially, the yang to Clire's ying without realizing it. He also lacks confidence but in a very different way. It doesn't actually take long at all to see the layers he barely hides, and how quickly he tosses them aside is endearing. The supporting characters were also richly developed without ever taking the spotlight. I wanted to laugh with Espie, smack Michelle, gossip with Yvonne and Ali, and I almost cried over Mary's final violin performance. The rest of the world was tactile and immersive. I felt the rain and Luca's soggy boots, the sunshine, the discomfort of a sexy red dress... Wonderful world building. The emotion without melodrama was perfect. It all was easily believable, which made it all the more enjoyable. Amusingly, I feel as though I said the same thing after my first reading. I also appreciated that it was steamy, but not superficially where you feel like you are reading sex scenes with some plot around it. It all felt seamless.
My Source: I borrowed this from the library, then bought it, for a voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Clodagh Murphy
Clodagh (rhymes with Yoda) is an Irish writer of romantic comedies. She lives in Dublin with a large circle of imaginary friends.

REVIEW: "So That Got Weird" by Amelia Kingston (New Adult, Romance)

SO, THAT GOT WEIRD by Amelia Kingston
	Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance Publication Date: December 24th 2019 Series: So Far, So Good, #1 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Sex Lessons, Introverted Female, Borrowed Time, Finding Yourself, Heavy Subjects (Family), Virgin & Player
Other Books by Amelia Kingston
So Far, So Good, #2 So Far, So Good, #3
Description from Publisher:
A painfully awkward love story. Incomprehensibly awkward Elizabeth Wilde is desperate for love. Connection. Intimacy. After a lifetime of romantic failures, the twenty-one-year-old gamer realizes she needs help. Professional help. She needs… A sex tutor. The devastatingly hot jock Austin Jacobs is just the man for the job. As the reigning campus sex god, he has the playboy act down pat. But underneath those six-pack abs beats a broken heart. He doesn’t trust people and he sure as hell doesn’t believe in love. The odd couple strike a deal. Four weeks of ‘tutoring’ for five thousand dollars. When Austin coaxes Elizabeth out from behind her computer screen, the attraction they feel is undeniable. They’re both a little broken, but somehow their jagged edges fit. And when their world comes tumbling down on top of them, they each have to decide if this weird thing called love is worth fighting for. Reader advisory: This book includes references to inadequate parenting, parental death, a parent with addiction. There are also scenes including the use of performance drugs.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
This gripped me. Like, read it all in one sitting and stayed up all night, gripped me. I immediately liked Elizabeth, with all of her naive awkwardness. She was the perfect "duckling" to become a swan. Her transformation over the course of this was really a pleasure. Austin was another strong character, and I adored him from his first smirk. His humor, vulnerability, and how much he CARED made him a really wonderful character. Suffice it to say, these two together were an amazing push and pull, tear apart and build up and up and up that had me laughing, crying, and cheering. And that's not even acknowledging their chemistry!! They were intense and light, and I loved them together. The best way I have heard love described was "You make each other better," and that felt true for this couple. There was a lot to unpack here, much more than just Elizabeth being a virgin and Austin a stud. Imperfect blood relatives were a heavy theme, blended with "the family you choose" beautifully. Supporting characters were present without taking any of the focus off of Austin or Elizabeth. I really loved how this wasn't a step-by-step "lessons" book, as the virgin student trope often is. The fact that their relationship naturally progressed, as though Elizabeth wasn't awkward or inexperienced, felt much more like a genuine situation, and sold her transformation and their sincere interest in one-another that much more.
My Source: I bought this to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Amelia Kingston
Amelia Kingston is many things, the most interesting of which are probably California girl, writer, traveler, and dog mom. She survives on chocolate, coffee, wine, and sarcasm. Not necessarily in that order. BR> She’s been blessed with a patient husband who’s embraced her nomad ways and traveled with her to over 30 countries across 5 continents (I’m coming for you next, Antarctica!). She’s also been cursed with an impatient (although admittedly adorable) terrier who pouts when her dinner is 5 minutes late. She writes about strong, stubborn, flawed women and the men who can't help but love them. Her irreverent books aim to be silly and fun with the occasional storm cloud to remind us to appreciate the sunny days. As a hopeless romantic, her favorite stories are the ones that remind us all that while love is rarely perfect, it’s always worth chasing.

REVIEW: "The Finn Factor" by Rachel Bailey (New Adult, Romance)

THE FINN FACTOR by Rachel Bailey
	Publisher: Entangled: Embrace Genre: New Adult, Romance Publication Date: September 28th 2015 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Sex Lessons (Kissing Lessons), Heavy Subjects (Grief), Kids (Younger sisters), (Best) Friends to Lovers
Other Books by Rachel Bailey
Description from Publisher:
A new adult romance from Entangled's Embrace imprint... Sometimes all a girl needs is a little practice... It's been twelve months, three days, and eleven hours since accounting student Scarlett Logan made it past a second date. A pitcher of mojitos in hand, she employs her supreme graphing skills to narrow things down to one horrifying explanation. Kissing. Clearly someone needs to teach her how to kiss properly. Like, say, her best friend and roomie, Finn Mackenzie. He's safe, he's convenient, and yeah, maybe just a little gorgeous. Finn knows exactly why Scarlett's boyfriends are disappearing quickly. Him. Not a single guy she's brought home is nearly good enough. And he'll be damned if he lets some loser give her "kissing lessons." No. He'll do the honors, thank you very much. The moment their lips touch, though, everything turns upside down. But Scarlett deserves the one thing Finn can't give her. And if he doesn't put an end to the sexy little shenanigans, he'll teach Scarlett the hardest lesson of all...heartbreak.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
Loved loved loved this!! These two together were nothing short of amazing. Their chemistry and the depth of their emotional intimacy was sublime, everything you could begin to hope for in a best-friends-to-lovers story. I adored Finn from the get-go, and he just got more and more wonderful and complex. The way he stepped up and took responsibility was admirable, and the way he CARED so much was so sweet. Scarlett was fun and not without her own charm. I appreciated her character arc in this the most, I think, as she made some rather significant realizations about her feelings, deaires, and fears. I also loved how giving she was, and how she was Finn's rock when he needed support. All of the supporting characters really brought this to another level. Amelia and Billie, Harvey, Scarlett's parents, and even Rakesh and Cathy were well-developed and very whole characters without stealing the focus away from the stars. The heat in this was sexy and irresistible, burning up the pages even when it was just a look shared or a memory. That first kiss was one for the record books, sexy and combustible.
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: Rachel Bailey