Synopsis:

Samantha Casey loves everything about her job as an elementary school librarian on the sunny, historic island of Galveston, Texas—the goofy kids, the stately Victorian building, the butterfly garden. But when the school suddenly loses its beloved principal, it turns out his replacement will be none other than Duncan Carpenter—a former, unrequited crush of Sam’s from many years before.

When Duncan shows up as her new boss, though, he’s nothing like the sweet teacher she once swooned over. He’s become stiff, and humorless, and obsessed with school safety. Now, with Duncan determined to destroy everything Sam loves about her school in the name of security—and turn it into nothing short of a prison—Sam has to stand up for everyone she cares about before the school that’s become her home is gone for good.

Booktimistic Star Rating:

Review:

Joy was cumulative. It wasn’t about finding one big thing – but about collecting as many tiny pieces as you could.

Delightful, heartfelt and filled with joy and hope, What You Wish For by Katherine Center was exactly the kind of story I needed in my life right now. And since this was my first book by Center, I am already excited about all of those back titles that I now need to catch up on.

It is easy to understand why this author is so well loved. She writes simply, but beneath those simple sentences, much deeper meanings are hidden. She tackles extremely heavy topics with an ease and grace that resonates and makes the reader think. And alongside those profound life lessons, there is a light heartedness to her storytelling that just makes us readers feel good.

I am not happy because it comes easily to me. I bite and scratch and claw my way toward happiness everyday.

Life hasn’t been very kind to Samantha Casey, but she’s finally found her place in the sunny town of Galveston, Texas, and as an elementary school librarian she is trying to be as happy and contented as humanly possible. When the beloved school principal Max suddenly passes away, his replacement turns out to be Duncan Carpenter – Sam’s long time ago, unrequited crush. Now, Sam is both giddy and nervous at the prospect of seeing Duncan again. But after just a few days working with him, she is absolutely dumbstruck. Who is this rigid, unsmiling and unapproachable guy? The Duncan she fell in love with used to be one of the nicest and kindest person she knew. Where did he go? What happened? How can a person change so much in a matter of years? As the story unfolds, we gradually get all the answers.

I loved the characters in this story so much. From Max’s wise words to Babette’s calm demeanor, Alice’s nerdy jokes to little Clay’s trivia knowledge, the absolutely adorable Chuck Norris, and of course our main characters Sam and Duncan. There’s also the right amount of romance in the story that I savored. Some might say that the characters were a bit overblown, and you know what, maybe they were, but it was totally fine. I loved them in all their quirkiness. And there’s a beach scene towards the end that added so much to this book. Personally, I think that when heavier and more serious topics are dealt with plain simple words they are more impactful rather than when they are made an absolute big deal of. Really, I deeply admire Katherine Center’s emotional intelligence and her way of making her reader feel good.

I know all about darkness. That’s why I am so hell bent, every damn day, on looking for the light.

The underlying theme in this book is choosing joy, prioritizing happiness and opting to leave pain behind when doing that doesn’t even seem like an option. And it all comes down to having the courage to live joyfully and celebrate life despite all its sufferings and heartbreaks. All in all a wonderful story that I highly recommend.

But that’s the thing about joy. You don’t have to wait for it to happen. You can make it happen.

Disclaimer: An e-ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Note – The quotes are from an uncorrected proof and might change in the final copy.

The post What You Wish For – Book Review appeared first on Booktimistic.

Synopsis:

Where do you see yourself in five years?

When Type-A Manhattan lawyer Dannie Cohan is asked this question at the most important interview of her career, she has a meticulously crafted answer at the ready. Later, after nailing her interview and accepting her boyfriend’s marriage proposal, Dannie goes to sleep knowing she is right on track to achieve her five-year plan.

But when she wakes up, she’s suddenly in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger, and beside a very different man. The television news is on in the background, and she can just make out the scrolling date. It’s the same night—December 15—but 2025, five years in the future.

After a very intense, shocking hour, Dannie wakes again, at the brink of midnight, back in 2020. She can’t shake what has happened. It certainly felt much more than merely a dream, but she isn’t the kind of person who believes in visions. That nonsense is only charming coming from free-spirited types, like her lifelong best friend, Bella. Determined to ignore the odd experience, she files it away in the back of her mind.

That is, until four-and-a-half years later, when by chance Dannie meets the very same man from her long-ago vision.

Brimming with joy and heartbreak, In Five Years is an unforgettable love story that reminds us of the power of loyalty, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of destiny.

Booktimistic Star Rating:

Review:

I have said this before but let me reiterate the fact that it’s nearly impossible for me to resist a hyped book and In Five Years by Rebecca Serle is an extremely hyped book these days. It’s all over Bookstagram, every other day I see a review for it popping up on my Goodreads feed and it also happens to be the March pick for Good Morning America Book Club. My hands were itching for a copy and I couldn’t wait for release day, March 10th, but oh my stars, I won it in a giveaway before that. Naturally, I started reading as soon as it landed on my doorsteps and finished it in two days.

Now, the obvious question is – was it worth the hype? My take on it is yes, it certainly deserves the praise it has been getting, though I’d like to mention that it’s not being rightly marketed. If you read the blurb (which I suggest not doing if you plan on reading the book because it has a small spoiler), this’ll seem like a light and fluffy romance, both of which it absolutely isn’t. I’d put it in the contemporary/women’s fiction genre and say it’s really heavy on the emotions, so if you cry easily while reading sentimental stories, be prepared to shed a few tears. Simply put, In Five Years is an extremely emotional story centered around fate and friendship, destiny and relationship with a whiff of magical realism.

Imagine if you saw a tiny tiny glimpse of your life in five years and it’s nothing like what you imagine it being how would it affect your decisions and feelings? Would you want to change the future? Would you be able to make any difference at all? Or would you simply let destiny take its course? So many questions but no right answer! That’s a basic gist of it’s plot. (Oh but it’s also so much more!)

The writing is effortless yet effective, paced perfectly, and for a less than 300 page book with a pretty solid storyline, at no point it feels rushed. In Five Years is a book with a unique plot, well-drawn characters and a whole lot of emotions, all of which I savored. I also loved the NYC setting and descriptions of cafes and restaurants, food and fashion and the general hustle of city life. Those few unexpected turns in the story took me completely by surprise and I was proven very wrong in my predictions on how things might proceed.

It’s just that one thing that happens towards the end that has me conflicted, but knowing what I did since the beginning it was probably inevitable. Sorry if I am not making any sense, I don’t want to spoil anything for people who haven’t read the book yet.

Overall, I really liked the story, and the author’s storytelling style. She managed landing emotional blows with a subtlety that made them all the more worse! Despite this being a quick read, it leaves its mark and makes the reader think. A beautiful sad story that I am glad I read. Also, adding The Dinner List to my TBR pile because I loved Rebecca Serle’s writing and want more.

The post In Five Years – Book Review appeared first on Booktimistic.

Synopsis:

As an etiquette coach, Margot teaches her clients to fit in. But she’s never faced a client like Bianca, an aging movie star who gained fame—and notoriety—through a campaign of shock and awe. Schooling Bianca on the fine art of behaving like a proper diplomat’s wife requires intensive lessons, forcing Margot to move into the monastery turned mansion owned by the actress’s intensely private son. Like his incredible home, Alec’s stony exterior hides secret depths Margot would love to explore. But will he trust her enough to let her in?

Sunshine has always been the good-time sister, abandoning jobs to chase after guys who used her, then threw her away. No more. She refuses to be “that girl” again. This time, she’ll finish college, dedicate herself to her job as a nanny, and she 100 percent will not screw up her life again by falling for the wrong guy. Especially not the tempting single dad who also happens to be her boss.

Master storyteller Susan Mallery weaves threads of family drama, humor, romance and a wish-you-were-there setting into one of the most satisfying books of the year!

Booktimistic Star Rating:

Review:

The Summer of Sunshine and Margot by Susan Mallery is an ideal example of what I love in a light summer contemporary fiction – charming characters, plenty of humor, family drama, just the right amount of romance and most importantly a satisfying and happy ending. The author certainly knows how to tell a story and with easily flowing simple words she manages to keep her readers engaged, leaving them completely content towards the end.

The plot revolves around two fraternal twin sisters Sunshine and Margot who are poles apart in both looks and temperament but share a deep sibling bond. Margot is the practical sister, prim, proper and with a no nonsense attitude, she excels at her job as an etiquette coach. But her most recent client Bianca, baffles her. Bianca is an aging movie star who has had a glamorous and very scandalous youth. Now that she’s marrying a European diplomat she needs Margot to coach her to follow the rules of decorum in order to move among the political elite and be the dignified wife. Teaching Bianca self-control and the proprieties of aristocracy is much more demanding than anything Margot has ever handled before, but what’s even more challenging is trying not to fall for Bianca’s eccentric yet gorgeous son Alec.

Sunshine on the other hand is a dreamer and a romantic to the extent of being gullible. She has abandoned her life and job one too many times chasing after guys only to be dumped mercilessly every time. Now at thirty one, she’s had enough and hence has decided to be in control of her life. She enrolls herself in college to get a degree in child psychology, meanwhile working as a nanny for a sweet eight year old boy, Connor. Now if only she could keep her heart safe from the tempting single dad Declan, her boss aka Connor’s dad!

The plot isn’t elaborate as you can tell, but I believe it doesn’t need to be for stories like this. The focus is on sibling relationship, human connection, overcoming the pain in past and moving on, in giving life a second chance and thereby getting one ourselves. The characters were all relatable and realistic, flawed in their quirks and vulnerabilities and very human, as were the backstories associated with the two sisters and their respective love interests. Bianca, was an exception though, I wouldn’t really say she was relatable per se, but nonetheless a delight to read about. The romance is a sweet one, but it does get steamy towards the end. The conclusion was well done, not rushed, not totally unbelievable even if a bit cheesy, but I was satisfied. Although I would have loved an epilogue with a wedding maybe!

Yes, the story is predictable but it doesn’t make it any less endearing. I am all for intense literary reads, but sometimes, particularly in summer I long for a simple, sweet, predictable yet extremely satisfying story, exactly like this one which is just so good for the soul.

I’ll recommend it if you’re on the lookout for a light breezy heartwarming story that’ll be perfect to flip through on a long hot summer afternoon, especially if combined with a tall glass of iced tea.

Disclaimer: A free finished was provided by Harlequin Books and TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The post The Summer of Sunshine and Margot – Book Review appeared first on Booktimistic.

Synopsis:

Sunny, carefree days splashing in the ocean–it’s the life Anna George has always wanted for her five-year-old twins. And now that they’ve made it to Safe Haven, South Carolina, she won’t let anyone stand in her way. Not the abusive ex she’s just escaped and not the rugged contractor who caught her setting up house in the shuttered beachfront cabins he’s refurbishing. When he offers Anna and her daughters a place to stay in exchange for her help with renovations, she’s tempted. His gentle way with her girls makes her want to trust him, but she’s been wrong before.

A family is the last thing contractor and former military man Sean O’Dwyer wants right now. But when he discovers Anna and her girls, he recognizes kindred spirits. They are survivors who’ve seen the worst of people, just like he has, and he’ll do anything he can to help them. As he and Anna spend their days bringing the cottages back to life and their nights sharing kisses in the warm bayou breezes, Sean must choose between the life he always wanted and the family he can’t live without.

Booktimistic Star Rating:

Review:

Low Country Hero by Lee Tobin McClain is a heartwarming story full of hope and compassion. Primarily a romance, it also contains a trickle of suspense. Set in Safe Haven – a charming little beach town in South Carolina, this is a heartfelt story about healing and second chances, of kindness and acceptance, friendship, love and the strong bond of a close knit community.

For Sean O’Dwyer, Safe Haven has always been home, the small town that accepted him and his brothers when they had nowhere to go and no one to turn to. Former military man, now a full time contractor and part time shelter volunteer, Sean tries to give back as much as possible to the community and yet, is still struggling to find peace in life. Memories of his harsh childhood and abusive father are like a constant burden that never cease to leave. However, Sean seeks comfort in knowing that he and his brothers were fortunate enough family in the compassionate community of Safe Haven.

Anna George is on the run from her abusive ex and is determined to provide a safe and happy childhood to her five year old twin daughters. She is constantly on the lookout for the perfect abode to settle down. The tiny beach town of Safe Haven seems like just the place where Anna could maintain a low profile and afford a decent life for her daughters. When Sean finds this little family setting up house in one of the beachfront cabins he has been contracted to renovate, it doesn’t take long to figure out their story. Just like him and his brothers, Anna and the little girls are survivors, and Sean is bent on helping them out, despite Anna’s reluctance. There’s something about this family that tugs at Sean’s heart. And so begins the story of two kindred spirits and their path to self acceptance, love and contentment.

The story is mostly romance, but alongside there is also quite a bit of suspense, small town drama, and a little action. In addition there are backstories associated with secondary characters. This is the first book in the Safe Haven series and there is another background story unfolding parallel to Anna and Sean’s. I believe the author intends to complete one brother’s love story per book while continuing with the background one and finally unravelling everything in the final installment. Personally, I love stories structured like this, where with every book in the series you get closure on certain characters and then in the last book everything falls perfectly in place.

Overall, I really enjoyed this sweet and emotional story with its charming small town quirks and picture perfect setting of a tiny beach city in South Carolina. If you’re looking for a new romance series, centered around family and community, you’ll get that in Safe Haven. I loved this well done happily-ever-after and will be eagerly awaiting the next book in line, Low Country Dreams.

Disclaimer: An ARC was provided by Harlequin Books and TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The post Low Country Hero (Safe Haven #1) – Book Review appeared first on Booktimistic.

Synopsis:

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases–a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn’t help that Stella has Asperger’s and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice–with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can’t afford to turn down Stella’s offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan–from foreplay to more-than-missionary position.

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he’s making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic

Booktimistic Star Rating: 

Review:

It is so rare to come across a romance novel these days with an authentic refreshing story line that is also sweet without being cheesy and sexy without getting overdone. The Kiss Quotient is that unique find, that perfect romance which is both sweet and sizzling and leaves you with a warm happy feeling.

Stella Lane is a thirty year old successful econometrician. She loves her job and is pretty satisfied with her life. The only one thing lacking in Stella’s life is a relationship. However, she is not very keen about being in one either, because her last handful of experiences weren’t good and also because Stella has Aspergers Syndrome – a high functioning form of Autism, which makes her slightly socially awkward.

Since her mother keeps insisting that she needs to find a partner and start a family, Stella is determined to make her happy. But finding a partner and starting a family would require sex, and Stella thinks she’s not good at it, or rather really bad when it comes to any form of touching. So, she thinks the problem analytically and figures the only solution is to practice, get good at sex and being in a relationship before actually being in one. So, she hires an escort, Michael Pham and proposes that he teach her everything required in a happy successful relationship. She even has a proper lesson plan made.

Michael Pham is a totally gorgeous, half Swedish half Vietnamese (think Daniel Henney, only hotter) part time escort, who is forced to be in this line of work in order to deal with severe financial and family issues. When Michael meets Stella, he is stunned that she would think about needing an escort to learn the nuances of a relationship. To him, she appears perfect, but after Stella manages to convince him that she really needs help, he agrees to guide her step-by-step.

Michael and Stella are both amazingly crafted characters. Their interaction was a perfect blend of funny and sweet and their chemistry just oh so steamy. It was a delight reading about how they both developed as characters, defeating their fears, overcoming their limitations and facing all of life’s challenges and falling for each other.

The Kiss Quotient is easily one of my favorite reads of this year. It is sweet, sexy, diverse, and also smartly voices an essential subject aka autism that people need to be aware about. It is difficult to believe this is a debut. I’ll happily read whatever Helen Hoang writes in the future. In fact, I cannot wait for her next book to come out! All of you romance readers, be ready to swoon!

Here’s a cute fun book trailer that I hope you  enjoy!

Disclaimer: An e-ARC provided by Berkley via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The post The Kiss Quotient – Book Review appeared first on Booktimistic.

Synopsis:

Louisa Clark is an ordinary young woman living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair-bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

A love story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

Booktimistic Star Rating: 

Review:

Push yourself. Don’t Settle. Just live well. Just LIVE.

After years of procrastinating and assuming it to be yet another one of those cheesy girl-meets-boy story (proven wrong, hence never assume), I finally read Me Before You and am completely blown away.

I knew this book was essentially an emotional sucker punch, I’ve seen people cry and pull their hair after reading this, I’ve also known a few who have nothing good to say about this, I knew not to expect a happy dance after finishing it, but in spite of all that knowledge, I was still a raging crying mess after having read this. And you know what, I am more than likely to re-read it.

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl with an ordinary life. She has lived her whole life in a small English tourist town and doesn’t demand much from life. Her family and her job at a small cafe keep her contended. Until one day the cafe closes and she’s out of a job. And then there is Will Traynor, adventurer, extreme sports lover, a rich and arrogant finance tycoon living a big life in London, until one day an unfortunate accident brings him on a wheelchair, paralyzing everything below his torso, and he is stuck in his small hometown. Louisa ends up working as caregiver for Will, and so begins a story of these two completely opposite human beings.

The writing is beautiful and flows in a way that you won’t notice the pages flying by, making you laugh and sob at the same time. The characters, their interactions, the family dynamics, it is all laid out with such finesse, that most scenarios and situations in the story seem quite realistic rather than made up.

Me Before You is so much more than a simple love story. There is love, of course and without any cheesiness or cliches, but along with romance, the story focuses on friendship and family, it focuses on the importance of life and more so on being grateful for the things we have rather than on what we don’t. It also tackles the difficult and controversial topic of euthanasia, simultaneously emphasizing on the significance of choice.

So much laughter, so many tears and a multitude of perspectives, Jojo Moyes has convinced me to read more of her works.

The post Me Before You – Book Review appeared first on Booktimistic.

Title: Dating You/Hating You
Author: Christina Lauren
Pages: 368
Publication Day: June 6th, 2017
Publisher: Gallery Books
Format: eBook

Synopsis:

Despite the odds against them from an embarrassing meet-awkward at a mutual friend’s Halloween party, Carter and Evie immediately hit it off. Even the realization that they’re both high-powered agents at competing firms in Hollywood isn’t enough to squash the fire.

But when their two agencies merge—causing the pair to vie for the same position—all bets are off. What could have been a beautiful, blossoming romance turns into an all-out war of sabotage. Carter and Evie are both thirtysomething professionals—so why can’t they act like it?

Can Carter stop trying to please everyone and see how their mutual boss is really playing the game? Can Evie put aside her competitive nature long enough to figure out what she really wants in life? Can their actor clients just be something close to human? Whether these two Hollywood love/hatebirds get the storybook Hollywood ending or just a dramedy of epic proportions, you will get to enjoy Christina Lauren’s heartfelt, raucous, and hilarious romance style at its finest.

Booktimistic Star Rating: 

Review:

Dating You Hating You was my first book by the amazing duo Christina Lauren and I think I have found a new favorite contemporary author, or should I say authors. Sweet, sexy and just the right amount of snarky, Dating You Hating You is an entertainingly addictive standalone romance. Full of witty banter, snappy comebacks and a delicious chemistry between the two lead characters, this was truly a fantastic read.

Being a high-powered agent at one of the most prestigious Hollywood firm is no piece of cake. The hours are crazy, the pressure always overwhelming and the clients are, well, as demanding as they come. Evie and Carter are both successful agents at two such competing Hollywood firms. When a mutual friend sets them up at a Halloween party, in spite of being a bit embarrassed with the situation at first, they both hit it off. But, with an interesting twist of fate, their two companies merge and Evie and Carter find themselves competing for the same position. What might have blossomed into a beautiful romance turns out to be an ugly war of sabotage, competition and some hilarious pranks.

Simply put, Evelyn Abbey is my former almost-girlfriend-turned-archnemesis-turned-tentative-ally whom I would now very much like to permanently seduce.

The writing style is flawless and Christina Lauren does wonders with the witty, kickass dialogues, perfectly balancing the emotional and the funny. Evie is such a wonderful heroine, feisty and grounded, confident yet not conceited and like a person you can be friends with in real life. Carter is the ideal hero, easygoing, charming and charismatic, outright approachable with an admirable sense of humor, not the arrogant, rude and domineering alpha male that we see mostly featuring in romance novels. Along with these two, the supporting characters were incredibly drawn and a special shoutout to the fabulous girl-gang. Beneath all the light entertainment and delightful romantic tension, this story also covers a serious social issue of sexism at work and the struggles that modern women face in the corporate world compared to their male counterpart.

A delectable mix of amusing banter, effortless humor, sizzling chemistry and delicious tension, Dating You Hating You is pure entertainment and a joyful read. For all rom-com lovers, this one is not to be missed. I wish it gets made into a movie and can only imagine it to be one of those laughing-out-throughout kind.

The post Dating You/Hating You – Book Review appeared first on Booktimistic.

Synopsis:

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive aggressive maneuvers as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight, meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude.

Now up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her dream job…But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

Booktimistic Star Rating: 

Review:

You know how it is, there is this new book everybody is obsessed with and keep talking about and you see it everywhere. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne was one of those books I kept seeing everywhere, so I did what anyone would, read the blurb on Goodreads. But then I was like – Huh, another office romance, the hate-to-love game. Big deal! I knew I would read the book anyway because it sounded like a rom-com, and from time to time I need one of those light fluffy books. And now, I am so glad I did read this one, my only regret being – why didn’t I pick it up earlier.

Josh and Lucy, the two central characters kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish. Lucy is the ideal combination of quirky and adorable. The way her mind works is just so logical yet hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud again and again at her monologues. Josh is a perfectionist. Extremely good at his work, neat-freak, orderly and a closed book. Your perfect brooding hero, but also one who does not hesitate a bit to poke fun at Lucy. The banter between these two is seriously addicting and the humor is absolutely contagious. For a romcom, the plot is very well built and there is not a single dull moment. Oh and talking about their chemistry, it is seriously off the charts. You could literally feel the slow burn of all the sexual tension. This is like the perfect feel-good romance that’ll put a big smile on your face.

All in all this is a distinctly witty and extremely entertaining read. An excellent debut novel. I look forward to reading all of Sally Thorne’s work.

The post The Hating Game – Book Review appeared first on Booktimistic.