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When it comes to summer reading I love nothing more than to lay out by the pool, reading a juicy chick-lit. A romcom book that has me giggling and kicking my feet in the air over two fictional characters getting together. Books that make me feel good and believe in love. This week I am sharing all the feel-good books I read this past summer.
Ali is a professional organizer, yet her current life is a complete mess. Her husband left, her mother passed away, and she can’t seem to get herself together physically and emotionally. When she finally convinces herself to put on real clothes and head out to the dog park, she meets a cute guy. Well more like her dog stumbled into him. Ethan is handsome, young, and looks like he likes what he sees when looking at Ali. Ali’s life may be a mess, but for a single mother, maybe a summer fling is just what she needs. Summer Romance is about being open to the possibility that anything can happen. Life can change for the good and the bad, but somehow it always works out.
Review
I enjoyed this one! It’s a second chance story about life and romance. It shows you that things eventually workout and everything happens for a reason. I love how sweet and caring Ethan is with Ali. He is patient and supportive. I like how Ali is a mess, but little by little her the puzzle pieces of her life come together. It’s nice for those of us who sometimes feel lost. When we feel we may be too old to start a business or love will never come around again. When we feel not good enough. This book, while still having all the feels of a summer romance chick-lit, makes you feel like everything will be ok.
The first of the Rebel Blue Ranch series. Emmy Ryder for the first time in her life feels lost. She returns home to her ranch in Wyoming; not telling her family or friends of the horseback riding accident she went through. Instead, she tries to make sense of her life. How can she ever get back on a horse and ride again. Luke Brooks is the Ryder brother’s best friend and the town’s most notorious playboy. Emmy has always viewed Brooks as a screwup. When Emmy returns home, for the first time Brooks really see hers. But can Emmy move on from the past? Is Brooks exactly what she needs to get back in the saddle once more? Can Emmy overcome all her fears. Done and Dusted is about not judging people by preconceived notions, people can change. It’s about letting go of fear and being vulnerable. To take risks not only in life but in love.
4.5/5 stars
Review
I was gifted the 2nd book first; so I read that before diving into this one. While I love the relationship between Emmy and Brooks, I am not much for a certain type of smut that sorta borderlines disrespect. ‘Tis to their own. It was the biggest complaint I had. Otherwise I loved that we not only saw a blooming relationship, but also watched as Emmy overcame a traumatic event. I think that is a great lesson in itself to learn. The saying get back in the saddle is both figurative and literal here. Overall I enjoyed the story and thought it was a fun, easy read.
The second in the Rebel Blue Ranch book series. After a short-lived marriage and failing out of interior design school, Ava needs a change of scenery. When she gets hired for a big project designing a new ranch in Wyoming, this is the perfect opportunity for her to not only get a fresh start, but to also grow her business. When arriving in Meadowlark, Wyoming Ava finds herself at a local dive bar. A bar where she can’t seem to take her eyes off of a handsome cowboy. Weston Ryder can’t seem to take his eyes off of the new girl in town… only to discover she is also the interior designer he hired for his dream ranch. While they work closely together, Wes is positive that Ava wants nothing to do with him. Ava is trying to protect herself from another broken heart. Swift and Saddled is not only about allowing yourself to follow your dreams, but to put yourself out there and be vulnerable in more ways than one.
5/5 stars
Review
I enjoyed this one much more than Done and Dusted. I think that’s because Wes seems like the perfect gentleman. He is always kind and happy. He treats Ava with so much respect and admiration. He champions her on her creativity and work, and for who she is. I love how Ava was discovering herself not only with Wes, but also with friends and interior design. Ava feels like an imposter because she didn’t graduate from interior design school, yet she has the skills and the creativity to prove she is just as good. I think we all feel like an imposter at some point in our lives- so this is very relatable. I really enjoyed this book and found it to have all the feel-good things you want in a romcom.
*check out part 1 of what books I read this past summer here