Only for the Holidays by Abiola Bello

 “City girl Tia Solanké is dreading the festive season. She and her boyfriend are on a break and the last thing she wants is to spend Christmas away from London. Dragged to Saiyan Hedge Farm by her mother, Tia takes an instant disliking to the countryside estate. She falls in horse manure, is chased by sheep and the Wi-Fi sucks. How can she stalk her ex and concoct a foolproof plan to win him back from here?

Country boy Quincy Parker and his family run the farm, and this year they’ve been selected to host the biggest event in the town’s calendar—the Winter Ball. Preparations are underway, and Quincy is working around the clock to make it a success. The only problem is, he’s told everyone he has a date to the ball, when in reality that couldn’t be further from the truth.

At first, Tia and Quincy don’t see eye to eye, until they realize they both have something to gain by pretending to be a couple. But when a snowstorm threatens to cancel the Winter Ball, their fake relationship is put to the test. Will Tia and Quincy be able to keep up appearances and save the day, or will real feelings get in the way?” - taken from Goodreads.

Tia is unhappy to be spending the Christmas holidays in the countryside, away from her boyfriend who wants to take a break from their relationship. A true city girl, she struggles at the farm much to her chagrin. Determined to find a way back to London for her boyfriend’s party, even though he is distant, she strikes up a deal with super cute Qunicy. She will be his fake girlfriend for the town’s winter ball if he will take her to London for the party. What starts as a sham between them soon turns into something more. Will Quincy and Tia’s Christmas wishes come true? 

Visit Abiola Bello’s website.

ASAP by Axie Oh

 

SPOILER ALERT. It's not necessary to read the first book in this series, XOXO, but it will greatly enhance your reading pleasure with this one. Previous characters do play a role.

“Sori has worked her whole life to become a K-pop idol, until she realizes she doesn’t want a life forever in the spotlight. But that’s not actually up to Sori—she’s caught between her exacting mother’s entertainment company and her father’s presidential aspirations. And as the pressure to keep her flawless public image grows, the last person she should be thinking about is her ex-boyfriend.

Nathaniel is off limits—she knows this. A member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world and forbidden from dating, he isn’t any more of an option now than he was two years ago. Still, she can’t forget that their whirlwind romance was the last time she remembers being really happy. Or that his family welcomed her into their home when she needed it most. . . .

So when Nathaniel finds himself rocked by scandal, Sori offers him a hideaway with her. And back in close quarters, it’s hard to deny their old feelings. But when Sori gets an opportunity to break free from her parent’s expectations, she will have to decide: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love?” - taken from Goodreads.

This book centered around Nathaniel from XOXO and Sori, Jenny’s friend. These two try to toe the K-Idol line and ignore their feelings for one another. But when things go awry, Nathaniel and Sori find that the one person they can rely on is each other. A cute and quick romance read. 

Visit Axie Oh’s website.

Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon (Rowan & Neil book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Today Tonight Tomorrow, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“They fell for each other in just twenty-four hours. Now Rowan and Neil embark on a long-distance relationship during their first year of college in this romantic, dual points of view sequel to Today Tonight Tomorrow .

When longtime rivals Rowan Roth and Neil McNair confessed their feelings on the last day of senior year, they knew they’d only have a couple months together before they left for college. Now summer is over, and they’re determined to make their relationship work as they begin school in different states.

In Boston, Rowan is eager to be among other aspiring novelists, learning from a creative writing professor she adores. She’s just not sure why she suddenly can’t seem to find her voice.

In New York, Neil embraces the chaos of the city, clicking with a new friend group more easily than he anticipated. But when his past refuses to leave him alone, he doesn’t know how to handle his rapidly changing mental health—or how to talk about it with the girl he loves.

Over a year of late-night phone calls, weekend visits, and East Coast adventures, Rowan and Neil fall for each other again and again as they grapple with the uncertainty of their new lives. They’ve spent so many years at odds with each other—now that they’re finally on the same team, what does the future hold for them?” - taken from Goodreads.

Over the course of a year, Rowan and Neil must learn to navigate a long distance relationship while finding their place in college. Follow along through the ups and downs of Freshmen year as they struggle to find their footing. The epilogue was a fantastic finish.

Visit Rachel Lynn Solomon’s website.

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth

 

“Nerds are so hot.

Especially battle robot building nerds.

Bel would rather die than think about the future. College apps? You’re funny. Extracurriculars? Not a chance. But when she accidentally reveals a talent for engineering at school, she’s basically forced into joining the robotics club. Even worse? All the boys ignore Bel—and Neelam, the only other girl on the team, doesn't seem to like her either.

Enter Mateo Luna, captain of the club, who recognizes Bel as a potential asset—until they start butting heads. Bel doesn’t care about Nationals, while Teo cares too much. But as the nights of after-school work grow longer and longer, Bel and Teo realize they've built more than just a combat-ready robot for the championship: they’ve made space for each other and themselves.” - taken from Goodreads.

Told from both Bel and Teo’s points of view, the story covers their senior year being on the school's robotics team. Bel is a newcomer who is dealing with her parents divorce and trying to find her path for the future. Teo has his entire life planned out down to the last stressful detail. As sparks fly between the two of them, can Bell survive? What is a boy dominated world to find her place? The end of this book was perfect

Visit Alexene Farol Follmuth’s website.

Plus One by Kelsey Rodkey

 

“They say that those who can’t do, teach.

Lahey Johnson is notorious for helping her friends and classmates find love. Sure, she’s never had a boyfriend herself. But she could. If she wanted to. Right? She just hasn’t had a reason to focus on her own love life—but now, with her detested cousin Summer’s sweet sixteen coming up, she’s got the ultimate reason: revenge.

Lahey will do anything to prove that she can get a date to Summer’s party—anything, including juggle six prospective suitors in seven days. She’s matched people before—all she needs to do is figure out who these guys are looking for and become that girl. Easy.

The only issue? Her older sister’s irritating friend Adler has decided to take a front-row seat to the spectacle that is Lahey’s life. He can bother her all he wants—nothing will distract Lahey from her goal of one-upping Summer.

But as the party creeps closer, the panic sets in.

Can a matchmaker ever really meet her own match?” - taken from Goodreads.

I really enjoyed this book even though I wanted to shake Lahey at times for her selfishness. For someone who was so good at being a matchmaker for others, she failed miserably when it came to herself. Thankfully, she came to her senses before it was too late.

Visit Kelsey Rodkey’s website.

The Lightstruck by Sunya Mara (The Darkening book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Darkening, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Vesper Vale sacrificed everything to save her city from the cursed storm. After becoming a vessel of The Great Queen, Vesper awakes from a slumber three years after her life altering choice.

What she finds isn’t a home freed from the terror of the storm, but one where its citizens are besieged by the even more sinister force of The Great King and his growing army of the lightstruck—once regular citizens who are now controlled by the ominous light encroaching on the city. And the people are all looking to Vesper, now revered as a goddess after her sacrifice, as their city’s only hope.

To save the rings from the Great King, Vesper must contend with the obligations of being a deity to her people and the growing chasm between her and Dalca, the prince she swore never to love. Haunted by the guilt of their past choices and faced with the pressures of a city near ruin, Vesper and Dalca find themselves torn between the growing factions within the city and the royal court.

But in order to save her city from the light, Vesper must face the power most outside of her control—the goddess within.’ - taken from Goodreads.

Three years have passed and when Vesper Vale finally wakes up, things aren’t necessarily for the better. With the Great Queen now residing in her body, the Great King has been freed and is causing destruction now. Unsure of her role in this new world, Vesper tries to find a way to stop the Great King and his Lightstruck from taking over. This story does drag in parts, especially near the end. The ending doesn't tie everything up in a neat bow but is full of promise. 

Visit Sunya Mara’s website.

Omen of Ice by Jus Accardo (Omen of Ice book 1)

“Keltania Tunne has spent her whole life training to become a bodyguard for a Winter Fae. It’s the highest of honors for a druid…only when Tania arrives at the Winter Court for the first time, nothing is what she expected.

Her assignment is the heir to the throne, Valen, and he doesn’t want her protection. In fact, he wants her gone. Yesterday. But Tania will not compromise, even if he is the most arrogant jackass she’s ever met―because something isn’t right in the Winter Court.

Everyone has secrets. From the Winter Lord to the kitchen maids to the rising faction that wants the prince dead―no one is who they seem. And now it’s up to Tania to keep her sacred oath and protect Valen, even when his smart mouth makes her skate the razor-thin edge between love and hate.

But the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes his secret is the biggest of all―and might just get them both killed.” - taken from Goodreads.

Here is another enemies to friends/almost lovers story. Sworn to protect a prince who doesn’t want her protection, the stakes get extremely complicated when a protection spell goes wrong and ties Tania and Valen together. In an attempt to rectify the situation, the two realize that they are each harboring secrets as they discover their lives are in danger. Plenty of jaw dropping surprises come one after the other as the ending thunders along. 

Book two has not been announced.

Visit Jus Accardo’s website.

Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool (Garden of the Cursed book 1)

“Since fleeing the gilded halls of Evergarden for the muck-filled canals of the Marshes, Marlow Briggs has made a name for herself as the best godsdamn cursebreaker in Caraza City. But no matter how many cases she solves, she is still haunted by the mystery of her mother’s disappearance.

When Adrius Falcrest, Marlow's old friend and scion of one of Caraza's most affluent spell-making families, asks her to help break a life-threatening curse, Marlow wants nothing to do with the boy who spurned her a year ago. But a new lead in her mother’s case makes Marlow realize that the only way to get the answers she desperately seeks is to help Adrius and return to Evergarden society—even if it means suffering through a fake love affair with him to avoid drawing suspicion from the conniving Five Families.

As the investigation draws Marlow into a web of deadly secrets and powerful enemies, a shocking truth emerges: Adrius’s curse and her mother’s disappearance may just be clues to an even larger mystery, one that could unravel the very foundations of Caraza and magic itself.” - taken from Goodreads.

I loved this book! Marlow is a cursebreaker and when Adrius comes to her for help, she wants nothing to do with the boy who rejected her. She soon realizes that by helping Adrius, she may uncover what happened to her mother. Drawn into the politics of not only the upper crust of Evergarden but the Marshes, Marlow will need to do her best to keep from the same fate as her mother, missing. With the killer ending, readers will be eagerly waiting on the next book. 

The story will continue with book two, Masquerade of the Heart, out June 18, 2024.

Visit Katy Rose Pool’s website.

Throwback by Maurene Goo

“Being a first-generation Asian American immigrant is hard. You know what’s harder? Being the daughter of one. Samantha Kang has never gotten along with her mother, Priscilla—and has never understood her bougie-nightmare, John Hughes high school expectations. After a huge fight between them, Sam is desperate to move forward—but instead, finds herself thrown back. Way back.

To her shock, Sam finds herself back in high school . . . in the ’90s . . . with a 17-year-old Priscilla. Now this Gen Z girl must try to fit into an analog world. She’s got the fashion down, but everything else is baffling. What is “microfiche”? What’s with the casual racism and misogyny? And why does it feel like Priscilla is someone she could actually be . . . friends with?

Sam's blast to the past has her finding the right romance in the wrong time while questioning everything she thought she knew about her mom . . . and herself. Will Sam figure out what she needs to do to fix things for her mom so that she can go back to a time she understands?” - taken from Goodreads.

Samantha and her mother have a contentious relationship. Things between the two of them go from bad to worse when her grandmother has a heart attack. After a failed attempt by her mother to get Sam's mind off of her grandmother, words explode between them with Sam saying she hates her mother and her mother abandoning her at the mall. Securing a ride through an app called Throwback, Sam arrives at school. She is not prepared to arrive 30 years in the past when her mother was in high school. With no foreseeable way for her to return to the present, Sam must figure out a way to solve whatever problem of her mother’s in order to go back to her time. 

Have you ever wondered what your mother was like at your age? If so, this is the book for you.

A Disaster in Three Acts by Kelsey Rodkey

 

“Saine Sinclair knows a little something about what makes a story worth telling.

Your childhood best friend refuses to kiss you during a pre-adolescent game of spin the bottle? Terrible, zero stars, would not replay that scene again. The same ex-friend becomes your new best friend's ex? Strangely compelling, unexpected twist, worth a hate-watch. That same guy--why is he always around?--turns out to be your last shot at getting into the documentary filmmaking program of your dreams?

Saine hates to admit it, but she'd watch that movie.

There's something about Holden that makes her feel like she's the one in front of the camera--like he can see every uncomfortable truth she's buried below the surface. Saine knows how her story's supposed to go. So why does every moment with Holden seem intent on changing the ending?” - taken from Goodreads.

Saine dreams of going to Temple University and becoming a documentary filmmaker. When the subject of her film bails on her, Saine is left scrambling to find a replacement. Her savior turns out to be her former best friend, Holden. The two come to a mutual agreement to help one another with their respective projects. But when Saine decides to change the storyline of her film to one Holden will not agree with, can her resurrected friendship with Holden survive when he discovers the angle Saine takes with her film?

Visit Kelsey Rodkey’s website.

Revelle by Lyssa Mia Smith

 

“On the island of Charmant, magic flows like bootlegged champagne, and fantasies can be bought for the price of a gemstone.

Luxe Revelle, star of her family’s fantastical show, knows the splendor is just an illusion. With Prohibition threatening their livelihood, her family struggles to make a living, watering down champagne and patching holes in their sequined costumes. So when the son of Charmant’s wealthiest family makes her an offer—everything the Revelles need to stay in business, in exchange for posing as his girl and helping him become mayor—she can’t refuse.

The moment Jamison Port sets foot in Charmant, he can’t shake the feeling of familiarity. An orphan with as few memories as gemstones, he’s desperate to learn what happened to his parents. But as he delves into the island’s secrets, he risks angering the wrong person and discovering a truth that just might break his heart.

When Luxe and Jamison accidentally meet, the sparks that fly are more than her magical enchantments. But keeping secrets from powerful people is a dangerous game . . . one that could destroy them both.”  - taken from Goodreads.

Welcome to Charmant where magic is the norm. Luxe Revelle and her family are struggling with the effects of Prohibition. Without booze, the tourists will stop coming to spend their jewels at her family’s show under the big top. When her uncle hatches a plan for Luxe to make the island’s young bootlegger, Dewey Chronos, fall under her spell to procure cheap liquor, she agrees.

Jamison Port has come to Charment with a couple of friends looking for clues to his past. Raised in an orphanage from a young age, the only clue he has is a photo of his parents. When Dewey offers Jamison his coat to replace his ripped one and his box seat under the Nib Top, Luxe sets her sights on the wrong target. The attraction between Luxe and Jamison is  immediate, even after she realizes her mistake.

When Dewey wants to take on his political family for control of Charmant, he sees the Revelle family as a way to gain votes towards the mayoral election. Partnering with Luxe starts as a means to the end but as time passes, Luxe soon realizes that she may be in over her head.

With dangerous secrets threatening to come to light, can Luxe save her family and will Jamison discover his?

Visit Lyssa Mia Smith’s website.

Seoulmates by Susan Lee

 

“Hannah Cho had the next year all planned out—the perfect summer with her boyfriend, Nate, and then a fun senior year with their friends.

But then Nate does what everyone else in Hannah’s life seems to do—he leaves her, claiming they have nothing in common. He and all her friends are newly obsessed with K-pop and K-dramas, and Hannah is not. After years of trying to embrace the American part and shunning the Korean side of her Korean American identity to fit in, Hannah finds that’s exactly what now has her on the outs.

But someone who does know K-dramas—so well that he’s actually starring in one—is Jacob Kim, Hannah’s former best friend, whom she hasn’t seen in years. He’s desperate for a break from the fame, so a family trip back to San Diego might be just what he needs… that is, if he and Hannah can figure out what went wrong when they last parted and navigate the new feelings developing between them.

Her ex-boyfriend wants her back. Her former best friend is in town. When did Hannah’s life become a K-drama?” - taken from Goodreads.

I was sucked into this story right away as Hannah, a Korean American teenager, doesn’t quite fit in. She isn’t American enough for some people but when a new girl comes to town, suddenly she isn’t Korean enough either. With her plans for summer drastically changed, she receives the news from her mother that their old friends, the Lees, are coming to spend time with him. Angry with her former best friend, Jacob Lee, Hannah is determined to not to forgive him for moving to Korea and becoming a star. Can Hannah find it in her heart to forgive Jacob, especially when she discovers what life is like for a popular K-drama star?

Perfect read for fans of XOXO by Axie Oh.

Visit Susan Lee’s website.

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black (The Stolen Heir book 1)

 

SPOILER ALERT! The Stolen Heir duology continues the story originally told in The Air of Folk trilogy.

“A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.

Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.

Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.

Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.” - taken from Goodreads.

Suren’s life didn’t get any easier when she left the Court of Teeth for the mortal world. When she catches the attention of Bogdana, Prince Oak is the one to come to her rescue. Dragged back into the politics of Elfhame, Suren is not sure who to trust. Once childhood friends, Suren tries not to let herself fall under the allure of Oak. On a mission to her former home, can Suren finally find it in herself to trust or will she always need to watch her back? Fans will be eagerly awaiting the conclusion to this story.

The story will be concluded with book two, The Prisoner’s Throne, on February 27, 2024.

Visit Holly Black’s website.

The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

 

“After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed—and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again. And the next day? Another nightmare V-Day.

Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she re-watches her boyfriend, Josh, cheat on her day after day. In addition to Josh’s recurring infidelity, Emilie can’t get away from the enigmatic Nick, who she keeps running into—sometimes literally—in unfortunate ways.

How many days can one girl passively watch her life go up in flames? And when something good starts to come out of these terrible days, what happens when the universe stops doling out do-overs?” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a fabulous book that was a mixture of Groundhog Day and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Emilie is a planner, down to the perfect boyfriend. When her plans for the perfect Valentine's Day start to go awry, beginning with crashing her van into her chem lab partner Nick, who acts like he doesn’t know her. The rest of the day is an excruciating disaster. She catches her boyfriend kissing his ex, her father is moving to another state, etc. Heartbroken, she is shocked to wake up the next day to a repeat of her not so perfect Valentine’s Day. Find out why Emilie's disastrous day is on repeat and what or who it will take to get her to the 15th.

Visit Lynn Painter’s website.

Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen

 

“High school junior Gigi Wong strives to be the best: the top student, the perfect friend, and the ideal daughter. But it's tough when there's always someone who is just a little bit better. With college applications looming, she can't help but worry that she won't make the cut. Thankfully, her best friend Kyle never fails to find the right words--and the perfect bowl of ramen--to cheer her up.

After her teacher, Ms. Harris, announces she'll be nominating students for an app writing contest, Gigi is determined to be picked. After all, first prize is an exclusive tech internship, sure to make her application stand out. There's only one problem: she doesn't have a winning program. It isn't until transfer student Etta admits she's struggling to fit in at Superbia that Gigi stumbles on an idea. She'll use her coding skills--and the matchmaking experience she's gotten from weekends with Auntie Rose--to create a friend matching app! Etta will meet new people, and Gigi will guarantee her acceptance into college. It's foolproof.

What Gigi doesn't expect is for her app to go viral around school. Soon, she finds herself at the center of a scandal--and at odds with both Etta and Kyle. Can Gigi fix what went wrong, or will her desire to be perfect cost her the people she cares about most?” - taken from Goodreads.

I didn’t realize that this story was based on Emma by Jane Austen. Gigi’s aunt is teaching her the art of matchmaking, but she thinks she can do a better job with an app she is programming. Misunderstandings and hijinks ensue as Gigi tries to make matches and fails without seeing what is happening around her. Will Gigi see the error of her ways or will she finally realize what is right in front of her?

Gigi is the younger sister of James from the author’s first book, A Taste of Love.

Visit Jennifer Yen’s website.

Talk Santa to Me by Linda Urban

“Francie was born in a stable. Really. Granted, it was the deluxe model with the light-up star on the roof, one of the many Christmas items for sale at her family’s Hollydale Holiday Shop. Their holiday gift empire also includes the Santa School, which was founded by Francie’s beloved grandpa, who recently passed away.

Francie’s always loved working in the shop, but lately Aunt Carole has been changing everything with her ideas for too-slick, Hollywood-inspired Santas and horrible holiday-themed employee uniforms. Aunt Carole’s vision will ruin all the charm and nostalgia Francie loves about her family’s business…unless she does something about it.

But this winter is about more than preserving the magic of Christmas. Francie is saving up for a car and angling to kiss the cute boy who works at the tree lot next door—hopefully it will be good enough to wipe her fiasco of a first kiss from her memory.

As the weather outside gets more and more frightful, can Francie pull off the holiday of her dreams?” - taken from Goodreads.

This book was not the cute holiday romance story that I thought it was. Instead, Francie’s family business is Christmas but since the death of her Grandpa Chris, things have been strained, especially since the arrival of her aunt. She is working to save money for a car but she wouldn’t mind a kiss from the cute boy who works across the street at a tree lot. When her father is unable to fulfill his role as Santa for a cable TV broadcast, Francie is forced to become Santa’s intern. When the letters to Santa’s intern start flooding into the store, can Francie rediscover the magic of Santa in the wake of her healing?

Visit Linda Urban’s website.
 

Flip the Script by Lyla Lee

 

“The first rule of watching K-dramas: Never fall in love with the second lead.

As an avid watcher of K-dramas, Hana knows all the tropes to avoid when she finally lands a starring role in a buzzy new drama. And she can totally handle her fake co-star boyfriend who might be falling in love with her. After all, she promised the producers a contract romance, and that’s all they’re going to get from her.

But when showrunners bring on a new girl to challenge Hana’s role as main love interest—and worse, it’s someone Hana knows all too well—can  Hana fight for her position on the show while falling for her on-screen rival in real life?” - taken from Goodreads.

Hana’s story of being the lead actress in a K-drama was delightful. As a Korean American, it’s not smooth sailing for her. She reluctantly agrees to fake date her co-star Bryan, a K-pop idol in his own right, to boost the show’s ratings. When the producer brings on her friend Minjee for a love triangle, Hana’s feelings and her desire to be a star take center stage in ways she never thought possible. This book was a sweet rom-com, coming out story for the ages, even if the ending was a bit too perfect. 

Visit Lyla Lee’s website.

One True Loves by Elise Bryant

 

“Lenore Bennett has always been a force. A star artist and style icon at her high school, she’s a master in the subtle art of not giving a . . . well, you know what. But now that graduation is here, she’s a little less sure.

She’s heading to NYU in the fall with a scarlet U (for “undeclared”) written across her chest. Her parents always remind her that Black kids don’t have the luxury of figuring it out as they go—they have to be 110 percent prepared. But it’s a lot of pressure to be her ancestors’ wildest dreams when Lenore’s not even sure what her dreams are yet.

When her family embarks on a post-graduation Mediterranean cruise, her friend Tessa is sure Lenore’s in for a whirlwind romance. But Lenore knows that doesn’t happen in real life. At least not to girls like her.

Then she meets Alex Lee. After their parents bond over the Cupid Shuffle, she ends up stuck with him for the remainder of the cruise. He’s a hopeless romantic and a golden boy with a ten-year plan. In short, he’s irritating as hell.

But as they get to know each other during the picturesque stops across Europe, he may be able to help her find something else she’s been looking for, even if she doesn’t want to admit it to herself: love.” - taken from Goodreads.

Even though this is a companion novel, there is no need to have read the first book to enjoy the Lenore’s story. Heart broken and not thrilled about her college plans, Lenore is adrift. While on the family's Mediterranean cruise, her parents have given her a deadline, decide her future by the end of the trip. After a different disastrous encounter with the handsome Alex Lee, can Lenore find her one true love and satisfy her parents demands? 

Visit Elise Bryant’s website.

As If On Cue by Marisa Kanter

 

“Lifelong rivals Natalie and Reid have never been on the same team. So when their school’s art budget faces cutbacks, of course Natalie finds herself up against her nemesis once more. She’s fighting to direct the school’s first ever student-written play, but for her small production to get funding, the school’s award-winning band will have to lose it. Reid’s band. And he’s got no intention of letting the show go on.

But when their rivalry turns into an all-out prank war that goes too far, Natalie and Reid have to face the music, resulting in the worst compromise: writing and directing a musical. Together. At least if they deliver a sold-out show, the school board will reconsider next year’s band and theater budget. Everyone could win.

Except Natalie and Reid.

Because after spending their entire lives in competition, they have absolutely no idea how to be co-anything. And they certainly don’t know how to deal with the feelings that are inexplicably, weirdly, definitely developing between them…” - taken from Goodreads

Reid and Natalie have competed against each for years. When their childish prank war ramps up with some serious collateral damage, the two are forced to work together to develop Natalie’s play into a musical. In putting aside their differences for the greater good, the two begin to see one another in a new light. This book was a fun enemy-to-couple story.

Visit Marisa Kanter’s website.