Romance Roundup: August
Welcome to “Romance Roundup” where I share mini-reviews of 3 to 4 romance novels I’ve recently read. This month’s edition includes a whimsical witch, warring pasta chefs, and a rising star living in disguise.
The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1) by Erin Sterling (2021)
Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.
That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.
Review: This romance follows a reconnection trope as Rhys and Vivi, try to deny that they are each other first love. They harbor such deep feelings for each other and when they meet again the spark between them ignites. This romance was entertaining from beginning to end and I enjoyed the cozy small-town setting of Glen Graves. This town would be fun to visit during the Halloween season and the theming alone makes it a great seasonal read.
The dialogue is full of fun banter and a bit of snark in tricky situations providing lots of laughs for the reader. The characters are very colorful including the curse gives them time to work through their past and see that still have a possible future together. A cute read with multiple steamy scenes as well.
Final Verdict:
Pasta Wars by Elisa Lorello (2016)
Slim, successful, and soon to marry the man of her dreams, Katie Cravens is leading the life she always wanted. As the face and CEO of Pasta Pronto, a Carbs for the Calorie-Conscious line of frozen food, Katie chooses to live life like one of her Slimline Spaghetti dinners no mess, no surprises, and everything tied up in a neat little package. But when Katie s fiance runs off with another woman and a quality control fiasco sends her customers running for the hills, it s time for Katie to make a change.
Her company s salvation presents itself in the form of a partnership opportunity with the legendary Ristorante Caramelli of Rome, and Katie has no other choice but to jet off to Italy to convince gorgeous, hotheaded co-owner Luca Caramelli that she is a worthy partner. Gaining Luca s respect proves harder than Katie could have ever imagined, however, when he insists that she must learn how to cook and how to eat true Italian food before he will ever agree to their companies partnership.
Review: If you enjoy romances with delicious food (especially pasta) and adventure, this story is for you. Though a romance this novel also felt like a story of self-discovery as the main character, Katie tries to figure out the future of her company as well as what she desires for her own life. Readers get to see the sights and sounds of Italy and how dishes we love are handcrafted carefully. Katie is faced with some harsh truths about how she truly hasn’t lived for herself.
Luca helps her to relax and be more spontaneous and Katie in return helps him to center himself. The attraction between the two is instant and their romance provides for a few steamy scenes as well. Most of all what I enjoyed about this story is that it is light, humorous, and full of heart. It has a message of living life to the fullest.
Final Verdict:
Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest (2020)
Following in the footsteps of her überfamous grandma, eighteen-year-old Evie Jones is poised to be Hollywood’s next big star. That is until a close friend’s betrayal leads to her being blacklisted . . .
Fortunately, Evie knows just the thing to save her floundering career: a public appearance with America’s most beloved actress—her grandma Gigi, aka the Evelyn Conaway. The only problem? Gigi is a recluse who’s been out of the limelight for almost twenty years. Days before Evie plans to present her grandma with an honorary award in front of Hollywood’s elite, Gigi does the unthinkable: she disappears.
With time running out and her comeback on the line, Evie reluctantly enlists the help of the last person to see Gigi before she vanished: Milo Williams, a cute musician Evie isn’t sure she can trust. As Evie and Milo conduct a wild manhunt across New York City, romance and adventure abound while Evie makes some surprising discoveries about her grandma—and herself.
Review: This novel encompasses the sights, sounds, and smells of the Big Apple which gives the novel a heightened sense of adventure. The main character Evie has come to a crossroads in her career and is trying to navigate what she wants for herself. Milo, the male lead is also a rising star and is trying to get his music career off the ground. Both have a lot more in common than they think and when they race through the streets of New York they gain a different understanding of each other and catch feelings at the same time.
I appreciated the simplicity of two characters trying to figure out their lives while falling in love. The whole novel felt very cozy, and the romance was too cute! Milo was so sweet to Evie, who at first is a bit unlikable but then grows on you as a character. The story, characters, and romance were very much swoon-worthy and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Final Verdict:
What romance novels have you read lately? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have any recommendations, feel free to share those as well.
