Library Loans

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Love Story by Lindsey Kelk
Published by HarperCollins on July 4, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

She’s a small-town schoolteacher.

He’s a hotshot marketing director.

Together, it’s hate at first sight.

Sophie Taylor has a secret and Joe Walsh thinks he knows it (all). He’s devilishly handsome, incredibly hot – and far too sure of himself.

Unfortunately, Sophie desperately needs his help. She has lost her laptop – and her sequel to the sensational, spicy romance that everybody’s talking about.

Because Sophie is not just hiding something small. She is Este Cox, the mysterious romance author the entire world is desperate to unmask.

When a trip to Sophie’s hometown leads to the disgruntled pair sharing a one-bed cottage, it’s a short step to sharing a whole lot more besides… Can Sophie trust Joe with the truth – and be herself?

What's one to do when they are the spawn of literary royalty but they write romance books? They assume a secret identity, of course. But will Sophie be able to hide her alter ego forever?

I had a great time reading this book. As a romance reader, I am bothered by how literary snobs feel its beneath him. Of course, I loved that Este Cox rocketed to success, but I hated that Sophie felt she would be ruined if her true identity was known. I understood that her spicy books would be frowned upon in the elementary school circles, but it pained me that she thought she had to hide this success from her family.

The bulk of this story takes place over a celebration weekend for Sophie's father's 60th birthday. There was chaos and shenanigans, and it was quite hilarious. It also put Sophie in close proximity with Joe who was a current bad boy in the publishing industry. There were undeniable sparks between the two, and their banter was fizzy and fun.

The cast was rounded out by Sophie's family who contributed largely to the weekend's antics. Her mother, father, sister, and brother were wacky and wonderful. There was never a dull moment when one of them was on page.

Overall, I enjoyed this tongue in cheek take on the publishing industry which was filled with lots of humor and witty observations that were truly delightful.

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The Grump Whisperer by Katy James
Published by Afterglow Books on November 26, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

Keep calm and ride on…

For fans of Elsie Silver and Hannah Grace comes a charmingly engaging story about tumbling down, falling in love and getting back into the saddle when it counts…

Horse barn manager Bronwen Jones is just about at her wit’s end. The barn is under new ownership, and things are going downhill fast. Now the situation is dire: bills are unpaid, they’re low on feed and hay, and the mountain of manure is the stuff of nightmares.

Which is when he arrives. Former show jumper Ian Kingston is an absolutely gorgeous wreck of a man with a deep scowl. He had the career she always dreamed of—until his most recent injury destroyed any hope of professional riding. Ian wants nothing to do with Bronwen, the responsibilities for horses or anything that reminds him of what he’s lost.

Only, Bronwen isn’t about to let their resident Mr. Rochester off easy. Not when there are horses that need tending. And when a glorious but skittish stallion arrives, Bronwen and Ian are forced to work together—even as attraction crackles between them. Both must face the pile of crap that’s keeping them from moving forward…and the outcome may be the greatest ride of their lives.

Four years ago, Bronwen was looking for a refuge, and she found it at Morning Song Farm. Now, it was Ian looking for a place to regroup after a career ending injury. He wanted nothing to do with horses or riding but found the pull of Morning Song changing his mind.

This was absolutely a romance, but it was also a story of healing and community. Ian was grumpy for sure, but he had a good reason. No longer able to ride, it seemed the world he worked so hard to be a part of didn't want or need him. But that wasn't the case at Morning Song. Though he initially kept his distance, he turned to Bronwen for help training a new stallion, and eventually, gave in to the pull of the this wonderful community. This was one of my favorite aspects of this story. Ian did not have an easy life. He fought and worked for everything he accomplished. It made me happy that he was able to find people to support him during this time of transition, and the farm needed him just as much as he needed them as he was an invaluable resource with a massive knowledge of horses, riding, and training.

Ian had been angry and depressed, but then he met Bronwen - the grump whisperer. She had quite a positive effect on him and he did the same for her. They both pushed and encouraged each other, and together, they were able to find their way back to things they were passionate about.

Though I was never a horsey girl, I throughly enjoyed being in this world. From days on the farm to competitions, I liked learning about the different aspects of it all. I do hope we get a follow up to this book because I am looking forward to seeing Morning Star Farm and the Morning Star family grow.

Have you been horse back riding?
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