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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
Three different stories with one place and person in common...Rose Cottage on the corner of Pumpkin and Vine and the owner Amelia Rose. They say her B&B holds magic and those who stay or meet there, at one of her legendary Halloween parties, will find true love.
Kick up your feet, grab your favorite drink, and take a trip with three different couples who do just that... experience the charm of Rose Cottage and fall in love.
Kick up your feet, grab your favorite drink, and take a trip with three different couples who do just that... experience the charm of Rose Cottage and fall in love.
2.5 star read - not low enough for a two but not strong enough for 3. I picked it up for the Halloween aspect, but Halloween is just window dressing for cutesy small-town cheesy romances. That's not my romance flavor of choice.
The first story, Charmed by You by Kate Angell, is an insta-lust story precipitated by a cringey meet-cute sort of involving B&B owner Amelia Rose's feisty cat and a torn pair of jeans. It also features some fun old-school misogyny like handyman love interest Cade Maxwell observing that his crew "didn't like being bossed around by a woman, not even an attractive one" on the second page. (That almost made me put the whole book down, honestly, except that I knew the stories were by a several different authors.) By the end of two evenings in story time and about 59 pages, they're ready to call what they have a relationship.
The second story, Mesmerized by You by Jennifer Dawson was a little better, featuring two lifelong friends finally confronting the chemistry between them. Once again, busybody Amelia Rose intervenes, reading their tarot cards and finding their fortunes entangled. After veering wildly between lust and trying to maintain their status quo for the duration of the story, it ends happily. Of course, to get there, the first step in realizing their feelings for each other manifests in the male lead Jack throwing a jealous hissy fit over the heroine Chloe wearing a skimpy costume to the party. Romancelandia, can we please find new ways of characters realizing their feelings without it happening through idiotic jealousy and attempting to control the other person?
I was wary when I started Sharla Lovelace's Enchanted by You, hoping it wasn't a story with a conclusion that involves workaholic lawyer Sidney giving it all up for small-town wholesomeness. Early on, I twitched at a character explaining that his niece changed her name from Smith to Blossom to be more feminist... somehow. Because that's apparently how feminism works, I guess. This one pleasantly surprised me though. It's a sweet, second-chance romance with a decent amount of requisite angst. It won't go down as a favorite, but I mostly enjoyed it.
Honestly, after being burned on yet another Halloween romance that barely engages with Halloween, I'm coming to the conclusion that I need to make Halloween a more integral part of one of my next romances I write.
The first story, Charmed by You by Kate Angell, is an insta-lust story precipitated by a cringey meet-cute sort of involving B&B owner Amelia Rose's feisty cat and a torn pair of jeans. It also features some fun old-school misogyny like handyman love interest Cade Maxwell observing that his crew "didn't like being bossed around by a woman, not even an attractive one" on the second page. (That almost made me put the whole book down, honestly, except that I knew the stories were by a several different authors.) By the end of two evenings in story time and about 59 pages, they're ready to call what they have a relationship.
The second story, Mesmerized by You by Jennifer Dawson was a little better, featuring two lifelong friends finally confronting the chemistry between them. Once again, busybody Amelia Rose intervenes, reading their tarot cards and finding their fortunes entangled. After veering wildly between lust and trying to maintain their status quo for the duration of the story, it ends happily. Of course, to get there, the first step in realizing their feelings for each other manifests in the male lead Jack throwing a jealous hissy fit over the heroine Chloe wearing a skimpy costume to the party. Romancelandia, can we please find new ways of characters realizing their feelings without it happening through idiotic jealousy and attempting to control the other person?
I was wary when I started Sharla Lovelace's Enchanted by You, hoping it wasn't a story with a conclusion that involves workaholic lawyer Sidney giving it all up for small-town wholesomeness. Early on, I twitched at a character explaining that his niece changed her name from Smith to Blossom to be more feminist... somehow. Because that's apparently how feminism works, I guess. This one pleasantly surprised me though. It's a sweet, second-chance romance with a decent amount of requisite angst. It won't go down as a favorite, but I mostly enjoyed it.
Honestly, after being burned on yet another Halloween romance that barely engages with Halloween, I'm coming to the conclusion that I need to make Halloween a more integral part of one of my next romances I write.
Three sort of okay romance novels; they are all predictable, but you are willing to read them because the characters seem nice.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Three short stories interconnected by the town (Moonbright, Maine) and the B&B called Rose Cottage that throws the biggest Halloween Party every year. Unknown if this is all the same year, as the characters do not run into each other.
Amelia Rose is the owner, and she’s in every story. All the streets are named Halloween-y type things.
Part of the Moonbright, Maine series (2 more titles: The Bakeshop at Pumpkin & Spice, and The Café Between Pumpkin and Pie)
Three different authors: Kate Angell, Jennifer Dawson and Sharla Lovelace.
This is complicated because you want to review each story on its own merit. The first story sets up the whole town, is full of Halloween feels and introduces Amelia Rose and the cottage, but the romance is lame and the guy is just awful. The main female character owns the local costume shop, so I expected to see her again, but no.
“They didn’t like being bossed around by a woman….not even an attractive one.” Cringe.
“She needed to replace her need for perfection with an orgasm.” Also cringe.
Points for mentioning Sea Dog Brewing.
lighthearted
fast-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Steamy, sexy, and sugar-sweet!
"Mesmerized by You" (the 2nd story) was probably my favorite, followed by "Enchanted by You" (the 3rd story). I liked how all the stories were linked together by Amelia Rose, Rose Cottage, and the small town of Moonbright, Maine. Quick and fun stories - I read all of them in a day.
"Mesmerized by You" (the 2nd story) was probably my favorite, followed by "Enchanted by You" (the 3rd story). I liked how all the stories were linked together by Amelia Rose, Rose Cottage, and the small town of Moonbright, Maine. Quick and fun stories - I read all of them in a day.
Okay....I thought I was getting into a cute series for the Halloween season. Damn.
Romance is not my usual genre of books. But I thought this would be a cozy read for the holiday. This is allllllll about sex. Which is fine if that's what you are looking for in a book.
Just not what I expected or needed in my life. hahaha
Romance is not my usual genre of books. But I thought this would be a cozy read for the holiday. This is allllllll about sex. Which is fine if that's what you are looking for in a book.
Just not what I expected or needed in my life. hahaha
A touch of mystical, a little steamy romance. I enjoyed the second story the most but as with most romance anthologies the stories move fast and seem contrived in order to squeeze it all in. Not being in the mood for spooky or scary reads this October this was a fun substitute.