Review Briefs: Lexi's Pathetic Fictional Love Life by Jo Noelle & The Boardwalk Antiques Shop by Julie Wright, Melanie Jacobson, & Heather B. Moore

In case you don't already know, I occasionally do review briefs. These are reviews that are shorter than usual for books I want or need to review or reviews grouped together due to limited time, space on my blog, or not wanting to write a full review for. I really should make up a graphic for these. Next time. ;)

Lexi's Pathetic Fictional Love LifeLexi's Pathetic Fictional Love Life
by Jo Noelle
YA Contemporary Romance
ebook, 283 Pages
August 10th 2014 by Little Box Press LLC

Summary

Lexi Middleton has been socially invisible to her classmates, but starting her junior year, that’s going to change. First, she’s determined to hook a boyfriend, ensuring dates with flowers and possible kisses on the doorstep. Second, she wants to be a writer for the school paper, even though it freaks her out to think of everyone judging her by her punctuation and metaphors.

High school is difficult enough—keeping up her grades, dealing with increasing sibling rivalry, and trying to stay out of the way of her personal nemesis, Amberlee—but when Lexi catches the eye of her long-time crush, she also becomes the focus of mean-girl tactics.

Caught between who she was and who she wants to be, Lexi must decide how to confront a bully, and choose who to let into her heart.

 

My Review

I was pleasantly surprised by Lexi's Pathetic Fictional Love Life. I pretty much immediately connected with the character and wanted to cheer her on through the book. I have to admit that there were also parts where I wanted to reach out and shake her a little when she was making a choice I could see was a less than stellar one from a mile away. I have to say that her hero in this one was really, really awesome. Great all around guy. He was so good to Lexi even when she didn't see it. There were also the mean girls and Lexi's siter that was so oblivious, but Lexi was oblivious about her too. There was some definite drama, but I was happy with how everything turned out and who Lexi becomes in the end. I'll definitely be up to reading more books from this author.

Content: Some innuendo, but otherwise clean.

Source: Received through eBooksforReview.com, which did not affect my review in any way.

The Boardwalk Antiques Shop (A Tangerine Street Romance)The Boardwalk Antiques Shop
(Tangerine Street Romance #2)
by Julie Wright, Melanie Jacobson, & Heather B. Moore
Adult Contemporary Romance
ebook, 315 Pages
January 12th 2015 by Mirror Press

Summary

Boardwalk Antiques Shop
A Tangerine Street Romance
(a novel in three parts)

Welcome to Tangerine Street

Tangerine Street is a must-see tourist stop with a colorful mix of one-of-a-kind boutiques, unique restaurants, eclectic museums, quaint bookstores, and renowned bed-and-breakfasts. The Boardwalk Antiques Shop is an exclusive shop where every antique has a story, and each story possesses the gift to match true love. The customer who buys an antique also buys its story and soon discovers that its story unites the past with the present, creating an unexpected romantic future…

“Where Every Antique has a Story”

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE: Jennifer is newest owner of The Boardwalk Antiques Shop, inherited from her aunt. When Jennifer arrives in Seashell Beach, her first priority is to meet with a realtor to sell the place. She laughs out loud when she discovers the realtor’s name is Mr. Studly. But the more Jennifer gets to know Paul Studly, the more she finds reasons to stay and run the antiques shop herself.

SOLVING FOR X: Abbie is only a little bit obsessed with antiques, okay, a lot. So when Holden, an out-of-town business executive, tries to purchase the tin soldiers that Abbie’s had her eye on, Abbie refuses to back down. The antiques shop owner issues a challenge: whoever comes up with the best story for wanting the soldiers, will become the new owner. Abbie isn’t about to let some fancy executive beat her out, no matter how charming he is.

A STITCH IN TIME: When Cate learns that antiques dealer Henry Lancaster has purchased the sewing machine left to her by her grandmother, Cate is determined to get it back. What she isn’t counting on is that Henry has just as much claim as Cate. And it doesn’t help that Henry is good-looking and apparently single. Getting to know Henry becomes an unexpected surprise, sending her life into a sudden detour.

You can see my review of The Fortune Café here.


 

My Review

Hands down I just love this series!!! I always think that I'm going into it with too high of expectations, but every time I end up loving each of these short stories. I love how the antiques shop plays a role, some more minor than others, in each story and we also get to stop in to some of the other shops on Tangerine Street, including the home of the famous fortune cookies from the first book in the series.

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE: I knew who the author of this one was from page one without looking. The banter, teasing, flirting, humor, romance, sweetness... Yeah. Pretty much my ideal romance all in a nice little tight package that I loved from beginning to end.

SOLVING FOR X: This story cracked me up on so many levels and so many times. I loved Abbie's character! Loved her! Then you play this straight-laced, up-tight businessman... Pure genius. It worked and they balanced each other marvelously. There were some good moments in this one.

A STITCH IN TIME: This one was a little more on the serious side, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the whole back-story behind the sewing machine and how a house plays a role. Cate and Henry were also characters I really liked and I liked together. Another great, quick, and sweet read.

So if you enjoy reading great chick-lit and contemporary romance, then definitely grab this one. For being novellas they're marvelously written and thoroughly entertaining. My only real complaint? That this series isn't offered in paperback so I can't add it to my physical bookshelves.

Content: Some mild language, but otherwise clean.

Source: Received through eBooksforReview.com, which did not affect my review in any way.


Have you read either of these or do you plan to?

2 comments

  1. Sorry the book didn't live up to your expectations, that cover is beautiful :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I recently binge-read this entire series and I really liked it. Sorry you didn't enjoy it that much. ~Pam

    ReplyDelete

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