Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai
Modern Love #2
Contemporary Romance
April 21, 2020 by Avon
ARC

Before we get into this review I need to make it clear that if you saw the cutesy cartoon cover and thought this might be a romantic comedy, you’d be wrong and I don’t want you to be disappointed. There is some heavy subject matter in Girl Gone Viral… PTSD, past trauma, mention of kidnapping, anxiety and panic attacks, and invasion of privacy online. But there is also a hot bodyguard who is secretly in love and yearning for his employer and they finally figure it out because of forced proximity, so that might make you feel better.

I think this might be one of my favorite Alisha Rai books. I just kind of fell in love with Katrina and Jas. They are both just so damn GOOD. Before the story opens there is an entire backstory and ten years of trust built between them already. Yes, they are troubled and dealing with all the shit life has thrown at them, but they are working through it slowly. Kat has decided that she needs to start dating again, but the only man she really has eyes for is Jasvinder Singh. (And honestly I understand why, the man is sigh-worthy.) Jas is quite in love with Katrina as well, but the stoic, serious bodyguard won’t cross the line with her. I mean that is until they end up in a small house on a farm, together and mostly alone.

I really enjoyed how this author built their relationship and didn’t create too much conflict between them. They each had so many internal struggles and problems with PTSD and anxiety and with all the other outside issues they were dealing with I don’t think they needed a whole lot of angst between them. I’m glad they had each other to lean on and seemed to really understand how to help each other. I liked that.

One of the things this author does so well is writing about friendship and found family. The secondary characters bring so much richness to her stories and I look forward to seeing them in each successive book in the series.

There were a few signature Alisha Rai steamy love scenes and a whole lot of sweet, tender moments and I couldn’t stop reading. I enjoyed this romance quite a lot and look forward to more stories in this world.

Final grade- B+

KINDLE * GOODREADS

First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn
Rokesbys #4
Historical Romance
April 21, 2020 by Avon
ARC

Hmmmm…. this is one of those reviews were I really don’t know what I want to write. On the one hand, I read this book straight through because it was just such an easy read. I mean there is almost no conflict between the hero and heroine. Seriously, none. And for the most part I kind of needed that. On the other hand, I got to the end and kept expecting something to happen to create some kind of big misunderstanding and was a little disappointed when that didn’t happen. So I’m still a bit unsure about how I feel.

These characters have the typical Quinn likability and charm. You just can’t help but like them. Nicholas is called down from medical school by his family when the daughter of their closest friend and neighbor is ruined through no fault of her own. It is strongly suggested that he offer for her hand in marriage. Georgie and Nicholas have known each other all their lives, but they never thought they would end up wed. Until now.

Despite Nicholas protesting at first and Georgie feeling like he’s offering out of pity, once the wedding is over they move onto marriage pretty easily. Almost seamlessly. There is pretty much zero conflict. There was an eventful carriage ride and some annoyance by Georgie when she first moves to Scotland, but even that doesn’t really go anywhere angsty and they resolve the problem pretty quickly. And then they realize they are in love and then it’s the end…

…And it all felt just a bit too easy.

An enjoyable quick read, but not my favorite from this author.

Final grade- C+

KINDLE * GOODREADS