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: "More Than Water" by Renee Ericson (Contemporary Romance)

MORE THAN WATER by Renee Ericson
	Publisher: Renee Ericson Genre: New Adult, Romance Publication Date: June 22nd 2015 Series: More Than Water, #1 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Friends with Benefits, Opposites Attract, Creatives, Nice Guy, Secret Lovers
Other Books by Renee Ericson
#1.1 #1.2 These Days #1
Description from Publisher:
It doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t feel wrong. It just...feels. EJ Cunning, an art history major, dates musicians. Foster Blake, a chemical engineering major, can’t sing a tune. They’re not each other’s type. They’re coworkers. Then, one night leads to sex—sex between friends—which leads to an agreement. It all seems so simple—but nothing ever is. Many layers build a person’s facade. Look into the depths for what’s hidden within. It’s more than water. It’s a story—a living and breathing substance beyond the reflective surface.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
This was sweet and sexy, and their chemistry (ha!) was solid. I really loved their slow build up as their friendship formed and deepened, alongside their passion for one another. The distinct difference in EJ's personality when she was herself with him and not with her family was done well, I think. Their banter was fun, and the amount of science and puns felt right. I also appreciated how the reason they started out as just friends, their exes, wasn't actually a big deal and there was actually something else that threw a wrench in things.
My Source: I purchased this from Amazon to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Renee Ericson
Renee Ericson is the author of More Than Water and the These Days series--After Tuesday, Forgotten Yesterday, and Deciding Tomorrow. Originally from the Midwest, she now resides in a small town just outside of Boston with her husband and three children. Most winters, Renee can be found skiing with her family on the slopes of the White Mountains. During the summer months, she likes to spend every spare minute soaking up the sea air at the beach. All those moments in between, she is talking to imaginary characters and caring for her children.

REVIEW: "Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating" by Christina Lauren (Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance)

JOSH AND HAZEL'S GUIDE TO NOT DATING by Christina Lauren
	Publisher: Gallery Books Genre: Contemporary Romance Publication Date: September 4th 2018 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Other Books by Christina Lauren
Description from Publisher:
Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take—and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun. Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air. Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them...right?
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
This was really great! Within a page, I was shaking with laughter and eagerly turning pages. I admit that I liked Hazel at first, then felt she was MAAYBE a bit too wild, but then I fell in love with her. She is just that kind of character, I think, that you really can't help but love her. And Josh was SUCH a great match. I'd say he probably felt the same way, and I really loved how he took her eccentricities in stride, even admiring how brave she was. He was a great "straight man" to be her best friend. And these two had some really wonderful chemistry as well, both as friends and more. I loved their banter, and loved their sweetness, and loved their sexytimes. They made each other laugh and were there for one another as well. I cannot forget to mention Winnie. At times, she still the show just because dogs are awesome. ;) The end was handled really well, too. I won't go into detail, but been there, done that, and appreciated how it was written. I picked this up because I wanted a Best Friends to Lovers book (one of my favorites), and I have loved Christina Lauren every time. This is really no exception!!
My Source: I purchased this book from Amazon. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author:
Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 30+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)