This was light hearted, cozy and delightful. I truly love this author's Christmas novels. This was light hearted, cozy and delightful. I truly love this author's Christmas novels. ...more
4.5 Stars Rounded Up This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Alex Travis, Brilliance Audio and NetGalley.
This is primarily 4.5 Stars Rounded Up This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Alex Travis, Brilliance Audio and NetGalley.
This is primarily a mid-twenties coming-of-age: professional career edition story with a second-chance romance plot running concurrently. The romance is handled lightly and is part of the main storyline without becoming the sole focus of the story. Genevieve (Gen) is a lovable, smart, funny, and relatable Black mid-twenties junior reporter for a small town newspaper. Her career has stalled since her initial hiring almost four years ago directly out of college. She is in a demoralizing and frustrating work environment in which her talents are ignored and her coworkers are petty with a side of antagonism. There's an opportunity for a junior reporter to interview the CEO of an important local large family owned business which could offer Gen the chance to turn her career around. The CEO who requested her specifically is her ex-almost fiancé, Jude. Jude is a white man from an extremely wealthy, privileged family. Gen is from a more average middle class Black family. Jude and Gen met through their mutual friend, Oliver, in high school. They were a couple for 6 or so years, well into college, before breaking up in a dramatic public manner. It's four years later and this is Jude's first publicly published piece on his role as CEO. This story is a huge win for Gen's small local paper and an amazing opportunity for her career. This novel deftly manages Gen's ongoing struggles with racism professionally and personally. This is delicately managed without leaning into preachiness or a lecturing tone . At times I felt frustrated as a reader with situations which serves as an excellent indicator of how thoroughly this subject is explored. I appreciate that the romance isn't the only story being told here because it allows this novel to avoid the third act breakup awkwardness. I quite liked both Gen and Jude which also helped. I'd consider Jude a cinnamon roll hero love interest. The conclusion to the multiple storylines is so incredibly satisfying. Whew! I was not prepared to enjoy this as much as I did. This does directly address racism with an overall tone that I deeply enjoyed and appreciated. This is funny, relatable, handled microaggressions in the workplace perfectly, and I liked that Gen really understood her worth as both an employee and a love interest. I will definitely follow this author so I can read their next book.
The narrator of this audiobook is Joniece Abbott-Pratt, one of my favorite narrators. Her voice is rich and lyrical and just immediately immerses you into the story. I'm not surprised I liked Gen with Joniece narrating her.
Thank you to Alex Travis, Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This is truly sweet, with strong Hallmark Xmas Movie vibes.
Both Nia & Andrew are relatable and extremely like-able.
I loved the Xm4.75 stars rounded up
This is truly sweet, with strong Hallmark Xmas Movie vibes.
Both Nia & Andrew are relatable and extremely like-able.
I loved the Xmas Magic feel of this. This was a 'clean' romance by a xtian author and I wouldn't have expected to enjoy it as much as I did. No heavy religious or respectability themes. Aggressiely straight-hetero representation only downside....more
This was sweet and Christmasy, kinda like a Hallmark Christmas Movie. I would've rated this higher but I found Allison annoying and insufferable. Way tThis was sweet and Christmasy, kinda like a Hallmark Christmas Movie. I would've rated this higher but I found Allison annoying and insufferable. Way too much respectability politics nonsense for my tastes....more
I liked this book the least of the trilogy. I liked Eve quite a bit but the books all follow the exact same formula: reluctant or outright dislike, faI liked this book the least of the trilogy. I liked Eve quite a bit but the books all follow the exact same formula: reluctant or outright dislike, fall for each other, man overreacts in panic and then happily ever after. 3.75 stars rounded up...more
This was perfect in nearly every way! I loved this SO much. What a sweet contemporary romance story, chock full of humor, sweetness and surprisingly sexThis was perfect in nearly every way! I loved this SO much. What a sweet contemporary romance story, chock full of humor, sweetness and surprisingly sexy....more
I totally finished this book and loved it. I mean truly loved this. I liked the delicacy that went into crafting this style romance in that time period.I totally finished this book and loved it. I mean truly loved this. I liked the delicacy that went into crafting this style romance in that time period. Well done Ms Jenkins....more