Review: Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello

HBO’s Hacks meets Carley Fortune’s Every Summer After in this hilarious and sweeping love story about a comedian forced to return to her Jersey Shore hometown and confront everything she left behind ten summers before—including the man who broke her heart.

SUMMERTIME PUNCHLINE by BETTY CORRELLO

Series: n/a

Publication date: May 21, 2024

Published by: Avon 

Genre: contemporary romance

 

SYNOPSIS

Then. Delfina Silva-Miller wants one thing: to leave behind Evergreen, New Jersey and never look back. Despite her adoring grandmother’s best efforts, Del can’t bear to live another moment at the whims of her deadbeat dad (so cliché) and her ever-temperamental crush, Eddie Rodriguez (humiliating).

Now. If there’s one thing Del knows how to do, it’s spin her bad luck into a killer joke. After years of hard work, she’s finally landed a coveted spot at a huge comedy festival, molding the often tragic raw material of her life into comedic gold. But when Del loses her job, boyfriend, and apartment in the span of a few hours, she’s forced to pack her bags and return to the home she swore off at eighteen.

Del is determined not to let her history with Evergreen distract her. She has 45 days to perfect a new comedy set and march into her new life. Instead, she marches right into Eddie Rodriguez. But he’s nothing like the boy she left behind ten years ago.

As the festival draws closer, Del is faced with the terrifying possibility that everything she’s ever wanted isn’t as far away as it once seemed.

Vividly evoking the boardwalks and beaches of the Jersey Shore, Summertime Punchline is a hilarious, vulnerable, and sweeping love story celebrating the complicated relationships—romantic and not—that impact our lives, for better or worse.

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Praise for Summertime Punchline:

"This is a hilarious and sweeping love story about a comedian forced to return to her Jersey Shore hometown and confront everything she left behind ten summers before. A plucky heroine remaking herself. A beach setting. The meaning of home. Humor. Romance. This one ticks all the boxes.” — Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author

“Fun and fresh...Wry observational humor and a dose of romance strike a good balance with some tough family dynamics.” — Kirkus Reviews

“This novel will provide the LOLs and feels for you this summer.” — Cosmopolitan

“I'm in love with Corrello's voice. Vivid, fresh, and wholly singular, hers is a voice that's been missing from the romcom pantheon. Wonderfully real characters, unexpected heart-twists, and knee-buckling humor makes Summertime Punchline a surprising stand-out. What a delight. Please welcome to the stage... Betty Corrello!” — Julia Whelan, author of Thank You for Listening

"A vibrant sunbeam of a book — I simply inhaled it. Betty Corrello's writing is both achingly vulnerable and wildly funny. The ideal summertime (or anytime) read, guaranteed to make you crave both a funnel cake and a cute single dad." — Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of Business or Pleasure

"Funny and keenly crafted, Summertime Punchline is packed with messy people, perfect chemistry and a satisfying amount of heartfelt forgiveness. I tore through it, you will too." — Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script

"Summertime Punchline is killing it! Betty Corrello brings a fantastic and fresh new voice to modern rom-coms with sharp writing, nimble humor, and an enchanting romance. I can’t wait to read what’s next.”  — Amy E. Reichert, author The Kindred Spirits Supper Club

“Humor, heart, and steam collide in this charming story about how people and places change and grow whether we're there to witness it or not. Betty Corrello's debut is the romcom equivalent of a tight five—everything hits exactly how you want it to. My spouse kept asking what I was laughing at, and the answer was always just, ‘This book!’” — Sarah Adler, author of Happy Medium and Mrs. Nash's Ashes

“A charmingly heartfelt and genuinely funny second-chance romance. Summertime Punchline is a wonderfully witty love letter to stand-up comedy, true love, and there being no place like home. Betty Corrello is a hugely exciting new voice in rom-com. I absolutely loved this book!” — Georgia Clark, author of It Had to Be You

"Betty Corrello writes big-hearted, hot romance and perfectly crafted jokes that kick your ass; reading this book was like taking a beach vacation with an extremely hot single dad and the funniest person you know." — Lex Croucher, author of Infamous

"Summertime Punchline is the funniest romcom I’ve read in years– while also delivering all the chemistry, angst, and emotional depth I could ever want. I was torn between wanting to savor it and devour it as fast as possible. I’m officially a Betty Corrello superfan." — Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake it in Hollywood

“Betty Corrello’s hilarious and sincere debut completely swept me away. The beautifully messy heroine narrates with a dry wit that gives way to a surprisingly earnest and tender core. I laughed, I swooned, I dabbed my eyes. Corrello is a voice to watch.”  — Rachel Runya Katz, author of Thank You for Sharing

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Betty Corrello is an incredibly beautiful and normal woman. Despite her hardened exterior, she is biologically 95% marshmallow. She blames this on the abundance of water in her astrological chart. Her greatest passion is writing stories where opposites attract, but love is chosen. When she's not writing, she can be found fretting about niche historical events most have forgotten––or petting her very tiny dog. In addition to writing books, she previously performed stand-up and sit-down comedy all over the east coast. She calls herself a stand-up comedian to avoid bullying, but she is actually an improv nerd. She does not like The Harold. She is Italian and American and spent time growing up in both countries. She is a proud Philadelphian. Go Birds.

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REVIEW

Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I decided to review an advanced copy of this book because I recently started watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Prime (Yes, I'm regrettably this late to the fantastic series). Like Maisel, this story's heroine is a comedian and the author herself wrote the character using her own real-life experiences in comedy. Generally, when authors draw from their personal experiences, the voice is often strong and genuine, so I was excited to give this debut book a chance. The humor did not disappoint-there were many laugh-out-loud moments, but it was also an introspective look at serious themes as well.

Delfina is returning to her hometown in Jersey feeling very humbled at the turn her personal and professional life have taken.

  There I went, swan-diving into a bright new day

and the crystal-clear pools of my future. What 

I didn’t know was that, when I hadn’t been 

looking, someone had drained the lake.

Her boyfriend cheated, she quit her job, and she's currently without a place to live. The one bright spot on the horizon is her upcoming performance in a huge comedy festival that could skyrocket her career to stardom. Unfortunately, her ex had recently become the main topic of her comedy and now she needs to create a whole new set from scratch for the festival. Coming back to the town that held so many painful memories only brings up feelings she's spent that last decade trying to suppress. Two people have kept her away from Evergreen: her father and Eddie Rodriguez. Her father was an alcoholic and consistently let her down. Eddie...was complicated. When trying to think of the tropes in this book you can kind of classify it as friends to lovers and kind of enemies to lovers. I'm going to go with frenemies to lovers because these two were bouncing from one extreme to the next before settling on "the one that got away." When Del returns to town, we know that things were left in a bad place between them, but their full high school history is revealed gradually through flashback chapters. These two have some baggage-unresolved teen angst that caused hurt on both sides which grew into resentment.

  I had not seen this guy—man?—in a decade, but a 

Silva-Miller never cedes to her enemies. I would 

know. I’ve interviewed every single Silva-Miller

in existence (one—me), and we all agree.

At times, their teen flashbacks were sweet, and then other times you just felt like smashing their heads together until they learned how to communicate their attraction and depth of feeling for each other. Eddie inexplicably would suddenly pull back and retreat just when they were starting to get close and I felt that there wasn't enough shown to the reader to explain his actions. His motivations were either skimmed over or weakly explained. I never disliked his character-he was actually a wonderful hero in the present time, but I wish he was a bit more fleshed out. I don't gravitate towards the single parent trope, but Eddie was so sweet with his daughter and I loved how tender and adoring he was towards her. The way he's wrapped so tightly around her little finger would probably melt the blackest of hearts.

Del must tackle not only writing the best jokes of her life for the upcoming festival, but deciding whether or not she wants to let her father back in her life. All while trying to sort out her mixed emotions involving her former (sometimes) friend. Unfortunately she's not exactly known for her ability to face uncomfortable emotions.

  Being a comedian meant spending 90 percent of 

my time with people who feared earnestness like 

it was an airborne brain-festering pathogen. It 

was exhausting to exist around people who 

consistently skirted intimacy and then, I don’t 

know, gave you their car. An unfortunate 

personality trait that I also suffered from.

For a debut book, this was very well written. I powered through it with ease in less than a day. There was no difficulty getting invested with the characters, no pushing myself through lags in pacing. I was fully engaged and highly entertained. I'm so glad I decided to try this book. It was the perfect mixture of humor, heart, and healing. It's about a woman at a crossroads in her life who must come to terms with her life expectations vs reality and what she truly wanted moving forward. There was also a little twist towards the end of the book that I hadn't predicted and genuinely took me by surprise. That doesn't happen for me all that much, so I applaud the author for putting that element in. I would definitely recommend this book so give it a chance if you're on the fence. I'm really looking forward to reading more from Betty Corrello in the future!

  Eddie must have studied the exact places I was 

sewn together, because he had no problem 

pulling me apart, one thread at a time.

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Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.

 

BRIDE by ALI HAZELWOOD

Series: n/a

Publication date: February 6, 2024

Published by: Berkley

Genre: paranormal romance

 

SYNOPSIS

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

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Praise for Ali Hazelwood:

"Bride is a delight! Passionate and witty and primal in its intensity, Ali Hazelwood's paranormal debut introduces a world as intriguing as its characters. I absolutely adored this read."—Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author

“Ali Hazelwood finally gives us paranormal, with her trademark humor, twisty plot, and spice that doesn’t quit—buckle up.”—Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author on Bride

“Hazelwood unleashes her sparkling voice and wit on a paranormal Romeo and Juliet.”—Ruby Dixon, international bestselling author on Bride

“The romance that blooms from a marriage of convenience is both tender and foxy, indisputably sexy and brimming with heart.”—Isabel Cañas, USA Today Bestselling Author of Vampires of El Norte on Bride

“It’s official. There’s nothing Ali Hazelwood can’t do brilliantly when it comes to writing. LOVED it.”—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Ali Hazelwood is a romance powerhouse and she's put me firmly back in my werewolf era.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Hannah Grace

"Whenever I want a sexy, witty, delicious romance, told in a fresh and intelligent voice, I read Ali Hazelwood. Prepare to get addicted. Each book is pure joy."—Simone St. James, New York Times bestselling author

“Hazelwood is an absolute romance powerhouse.”—New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren

“Funny, sexy and smart.”—New York Times bestselling author Mariana Zapata

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I'm Ali, and I write contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. I love cats, Nutella, and side ponytails. I'm also currently learning to crochet, so as you can tell I'm a super busy gal with an intense and exciting life!

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REVIEW

Bride by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Misery and Lowe are voluntarily entering into an arranged marriage for the good of their respective species. The Vampyres and Werewolves would form a shaky truce between them if their wedding could conclude without anyone killing each other. As the Vampyre Councilman's daughter, Misery is used to sacrificing her happiness and safety for the good of their kind. Her father sent her to live among the humans when she was a child to be what is called the Vampyre Collateral. This is a grudging agreement between humans and Vamps in which a child is exchanged on both sides to live on the alternate side. If the treaty is broken by either side, it's understood that the Collateral child will be killed. Misery's father had no regrets about placing his daughter in danger then, and definitely not now for this dangerous marriage of "convenience."

   Heartbeats are like fingerprints, one of a 

kind, distinctive, the easiest way to tell 

people apart. Father’s was pressed into 

my flesh on the day I was born, when he 

was the first person to hold me, the first 

person to care for me, the first person to 

know me. And then he washed his hands of me.

She takes it all in stride though-if there's one thing she's used to, it's being an outcast with a target on her back. Besides, she has her own motivation for agreeing to marry Alpha Were Lowe Moreland.

Misery is a tough, gritty heroine, and very much a loner-with one exception. Serena Paris is her one and only best friend that she met while growing up with in human territory. Their relationship goes beyond friendship, she's like the sister she never had. Vampyres are notorious for being aloof and undemonstrative with their emotions, but Serena is her weakness. She may not be the touchy-feely type, but she has her own snarky, sarcastic way of showing her that she cares. They are very similar in that way, which is why I really enjoyed their scenes together when we finally meet her in the later chapters. I honestly wish we could have gotten more page time with Serena to establish her character early on and their friendship dynamic. She was a fantastic secondary character that held her own and I'm looking forward to hopefully reading her story in the future. There is foreshadowing at the end that hints that she will be paired with a certain Were character and I'm totally down for it.

Lowe is a strong, respected alpha who has also lived a life of sacrifice. He and Misery have that in common and it is one of the first things that they see and respect in each other. They try to keep their physical and emotional distance, but fate has a way of turning plans upside down. Bride has a "he falls first" trope which I actually really enjoyed. You don't really see that with Were/shifter books so I found that to be pretty unique. You also get forbidden romance vibes from them, because they have a lot of obstacles to overcome due to the prejudices of their species towards each other.

Lowe is a very caring, giving person, so despite the intensity of his feelings for her, he conceals his true emotions for much of the book to protect her. This is something that bothered me a bit because it caused a huge conflict in their potential relationship. Lowe unilaterally makes the decision to hide important information from her as well as his true feelings in order to give her the "freedom of choice." He feels that she's been pushed into situations her whole life that trapped her, and he does not want to do the same. My issue is...by not being completely open and honest with her, he is making the choice for her instead of allowing her the free will to make an informed decision. I don't exactly view that as freedom. So the non-communication and dishonesty on his part caused some mildly irritating issues that could have easily been avoided.

There is a mystery side story which didn't have a lot of page time once Misery was living in Were territory which seemed a bit unrealistic for me. She felt desperate to find answers to all of her questions, but we barely see her looking into the matter at all. Also, I found the antagonist very easy to guess from the beginning, so it lacked any surprise towards the end. None of these things were big issues, but noticeable enough to bring up.

I enjoyed the romance between Misery and Lowe quite a bit and felt that they made a complimentary, supportive pair. You get third person POV snippets of Lowe's thoughts regarding her at the beginning of the chapters as well as the epilogue. This gives you some insight into his private internal battle as he struggles with his very uncomfortable attraction. Misery really blossoms under his care and protection. You see a softer side emerge by the end because Lowe is able to make her feel safe and wanted for the first time in her life. She never fit in quite right with any of the species, but he finally gives her a true home and sense of what family should feel like.

   I would take anything she chose to give me—

the tiniest fraction or her entire world.

I'm glad I chose this book as my first read by Ali Hazelwood. It was a good first impression to her work and I'll definitely be checking out any future additions to this potential series in the future. There is no series listed yet, but all signs are pointing in that direction.

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Review: Never Wager with a Wallflower by Virginia Heath

Never Wager with a Wallflower is the third and final delightful installment in Virginia Heath's Merriwell Sisters Regency rom-com series.

NEVER WAGER WITH A WALLFLOWER

 by VIRGINIA HEATH

Series: The Merriwell Sisters #3

Publication date: November 7, 2023

Published by: St. Marten's Press

Genre: historical romance

 

SYNOPSIS

Miss Venus Merriwell has been waiting for her prince to come since the tender age of fourteen. She wants a man who is a selfless academic like her, and free from all the wretched vices her gambler father enjoyed far too much before he left the Merriwell sisters practically destitute. Unfortunately, after a slew of romantic disappointments, there is still no sign of that prince at twenty-three and the only one true love of her life is the bursting-at-the-seams orphanage in Covent Garden that she works tirelessly for. An orphanage that desperately needs to expand into the empty building next door.

For Galahad Sinclair, gambling isn’t just his life, it’s in his blood. He grew up and learned the trade at his grandfather’s knee in a tavern on the far away banks of the Hudson in New York. But when fate took all that away and dragged him across the sea to London, it made sense to set up shop here. He’s spent five years making a success out of his gaming hall in the sleazy docks of the East End. Enough that he can finally afford to buy the pleasure palace of his dreams—and where better than in the capital’s sinful heart, Covent Garden? The only fly in his ointment is the perfect building he’s just bought to put it in also happens to be right next door to the orphanage run by his cousin’s wife’s youngest sister. A pious, disapproving and unsettling siren he has avoided like the plague since she flattened him five years ago.

While Venus and Galahad lock horns over practically everything, and while her malevolent orphans do their darndest to sabotage his lifelong dream, can either of them take the ultimate gamble—and learn to love thy neighbor?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Twenty books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

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REVIEW

Never Wager with a Wallflower: A Novel by Virginia Heath
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Much to my chagrin, and against all my better judgment, it appears that I am finally starting to like you.”

If you're wondering if you can read this last installment in the Merrill Sisters series without reading any of the previous books, you came to the right review. I'm guilty of starting this series backwards and it did not affect my reading comprehension or enjoyment. Of course there are spoilers about certain events from the series that you may not want to know if you are planning to read the others, but personally, I felt that just enough information was given in order to understand the other couples as well as the cause of Venus and Galahad's animosity. (Yes, you read that right...those are their names) This book has an enemies-to-lovers trope which I haven't been having the best of luck reading lately, but I feel as if the "enemies" portion of the story was not too exaggerated or used simply as a plot device without any realistic background.

Venus Merriwell was a great heroine. She's bookish, which is always a plus, bighearted, very intelligent, and quite independent for a woman of her time. She dedicates her life to taking care of children who need a helping hand at the Covent Garden Asylum for Orphans. Everyone in her family views her as nothing less than a saint for her charitable work, but she's very down-to-earth and humble about herself. All she has ever wanted out of life is a partner whom she could have intellectual conversations with. Someone who enjoys Shakespeare as much as she does, and respects her for her brain rather than her sizable bosom. Having a name like Venus is somewhat of a curse when you're exceptionally endowed like she is. She's like a magnet for men with bad intentions, and she doesn't seem to have the ability to detect these bad traits in them until it's too late and the damage is done.

   She’d picked some corkers over the years—libertines, dandies, 

fortune-hunters, flatterers, dyed-in-the-wool fornicators, 

and failures—but she was really scraping the barrel this time.

Venus seems to have been hurt the most by her last suitor, Lord Argyll, but it isn't revealed what offense he committed until late in the book. The author uses short snippets of her journal entries at the beginning of the chapters to help you understand her feelings and experiences a little better. I enjoyed these little windows into what helped form her current opinions of Gal and men in general. I wouldn't call her a man hater, but she's been quite wounded by men and has decided that she no longer has it in her to trust the opposite sex. She guards her heart fiercely now, and has mostly lost hope of ever getting swept away by passion and romance as her sisters did. Now she looks at love pragmatically, and ironically, that has caused her to pick another man who is completely wrong for her. She has been warned by all of her loved ones that Lord Dorchester is an intolerable, pompous, snob, but she's determined to prove them wrong.

   Dorchester was the dictionary definition of what the Brits called a prig. 

A puritanical, vacillating, know-it-all fuddy-duddy who acted older 

than his already extensive years and wiser than Socrates, 

and was too puffed up with his own importance 

to notice his own shortcomings.

Galahad "Gal" Sinclair is the cousin of Giles, Venus' brother-in-law. As they are related through marriage, they cross paths at family gatherings and other social events. After an unfortunate misunderstanding in their first meeting, Gal just can't seem to get along with Venus. The two of them vacillate between pushing each other's buttons with taunts, and avoidance whenever possible. Gal likes to keep his distance from people in general, and he is a very private person who tends to only show others what he wants them to see. From a very young age, his father's betrayal combined with the loss of his mother has forced him to depend only on himself. He has admirably raised himself up from being penniless to owning multiple businesses and being comfortable financially. However, he's always working towards his big dream of owning a gambling establishment that would be open to both men and women of any social status. When a large property opens up in a prime location, it seems his dream can finally be set into motion. Unfortunately, he soon discovers that his dream may turn into a nightmare, because the shabby building right next door is owned by none other than his formidable adversary, Venus.

Gal never lets a challenge defeat him, so he concocts a plan to get on Venus' good side, which will hopefully help him avoid any conflict in the future. Yes, he is being a bit sneaky in his plan, but in his defense, he isn't aware of information involving the property that would have influenced his decision-making process. Of course, whenever a fragile relationship is founded on misconception and secrets, it never ends well. I thought his deception would be the big conflict at the end, but surprisingly it came out a lot earlier. Because of this, Gal had to prove himself to her a second time, and it was much harder this time around because she was just starting to care for him when his lies by omission were outed. At times, I did feel she was being a bit unreasonable by not listening to his side, but I did understand where she was coming from.

Gal was really struggling with losing the woman he was falling for. He didn't want to sacrifice any part of his dreams for the building, but he did feel a responsibility to make things right with her. He is a good man who made a dumb choice, and he had to find a way to allow himself to be honest and vulnerable with someone for the first time in his life. It was sweet seeing them find their way back to each other as he proved his good intentions and open heart.

   You’ve always felt significant, and I guess that’s why I’ve always 

kept you at a longer arm’s length than I’ve kept everyone else. 

I knew, somewhere deep down, that if I didn’t, you’d be my undoing.” 

He lifted her hand to kiss her fingers. “I was right. You are. I adore you.”

My one complaint is that when they finally professed their love for each other, I felt like he hadn't opened up to her at all about his childhood and many other personal things. He showed her that he had no bad intentions, and that he was a good man, but did she really know him at a deep enough level to be able to say that she loved him yet? All things considered, I did think they were a sweet couple once they worked out their difficulties and they had a lot in common to bond over.

I really enjoyed this first read by Virginia Heath, and I will definitely be checking out other books by her in the future.

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Review: How to Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Anne Long

In USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s thrilling new romance in the Palace of Rogues series, an infamous privateer’s limits are put to the test when he’s trapped during a raging tempest with a prickly female at the Grand Palace on the Thames.

How to Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Anne Long

Series: The Palace of Rogues #6

Publication date: July 25, 2023

Published by: Avon

Genre: historical romance

 

SYNOPSIS

He clawed his way up from the gutters of St. Giles to the top of a shadowy empire. Feared and fearsome, battered and brilliant, nothing shocks Lorcan St. Leger—not even the discovery of an aristocratic woman escaping out a window near the London docks on the eve of the storm of the decade. They find shelter at a boarding house called the Grand Palace on the Thames—only to find greater dangers await inside. 

Desperate, destitute, and jilted, Lady Daphne Worth knows the clock is ticking on her last chance to save herself and her an offer of a loveless marriage. But while the storm rages and roads flood, she and the rogue who rescued her must pose as husband and wife in order to share the only available suite. Crackling enmity gives way to incendiary desire—and certain Lorcan is everything she never dreamed she’d wanted, but he can never be what she needs. But risk is child’s play to St. Leger. And if the stakes are a lifetime of loving and being loved by Daphne, he’ll move any mountain, confront any old nemesis, to turn “never” into forever.

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Praise for Julie Anne Long:

“Smart, funny, and brimming with passion.”  — Julia Quinn, New York Times bestselling author

“Long finds that delectable sweet spot with Angel in a Devil’s Arms, welcoming us all to the cozy warmth of the Grand Palace on the Thames with the peculiar blend of humor and pathos she writes with such aplomb.” — Entertainment Weekly

“Each of the brilliantly written entries in Long’s Palace of Rogues series is master class in how to successfully marry stunning sensuality with scintillating wit, and the fifth entry is no exception with its resplendent prose, impeccable plotting, and perfect-for-each-other protagonists.” — Booklist (starred review)

“Julie Anne Long reinvents the historical romance for modern readers.”  — Amanda Quick, New York Times bestselling author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Well, where should I start? I've lived in San Francisco for more than a decade, usually with at least one cat. I won the school spelling bee when I was in 7th grade; the word that clinched it was 'ukulele.' I originally set out to be a rock star when I grew up (I had a Bono fixation, but who didn't?), and I have the guitars and the questionable wardrobe stuffed in the back of my closet to prove it.

But writing was always my first love. 

I was editor of my elementary school paper (believe it or not, Mrs. Little's fifth grade class at Glenmoor Elementary did have one); my high school paper (along with my best high school bud, Cindy Jorgenson); and my college paper, where our long-suffering typesetter finally forced me to learn how to typeset because my articles were usually late (and thus I probably have him to thank for all the desktop publishing jobs that ensued over the years).

Won a couple of random awards along the way: the Bank of America English Award in High School (which basically just amounted to a fancy plaque saying that I was really, really good at English); and an award for best Sports Feature article in a College Newspaper (and anyone who knows me well understands how deeply ironic that is). I began my academic career as a Journalism major; I switched to Creative Writing, which was a more comfortable fit for my freewheeling imagination and overdeveloped sense of whimsy. I dreamed of being a novelist.

But most of us, I think, tend to take for granted the things that come easily to us. I loved writing and all indications were that I was pretty good at it, but I, thank you very much, wanted to be a rock star. Which turned out to be ever-so-slightly harder to do than writing. A lot more equipment was involved, that's for sure. Heavy things, with knobs. It also involved late nights, fetid, graffiti-sprayed practice rooms, gorgeous flakey boys, bizarre gigs, in-fighting—what's not to love?

But my dream of being a published writer never faded. When the charm (ahem) of playing to four people in a tiny club at midnight on a Wednesday finally wore thin, however, I realized I could incorporate all the best things about being in a band — namely, drama, passion, and men with unruly hair — into novels, while at the same time indulging my love of history and research. 

So I wrote The Runaway Duke, sent it to a literary agent (see the story here), who sold it to Warner Books a few months after that...which made 2003 one of the most extraordinary, head-spinning years I've ever had. 

Why romance? Well, like most people, I read across many genres, but I've been an avid romance reader since I got in trouble for sneaking a Rosemary Rogers novel out of my mom's nightstand drawer (I think it was Sweet Savage Love). Rosemary Rogers, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Laurie McBain...I cut my romance teeth on those ladies. And in general, I take a visceral sort of pleasure in creating a hero and a heroine, putting them through their emotional paces, and watching their relationship develop on the page. And of course, there's much to be said for the happy ending. :) 

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REVIEW

How to Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Anne Long
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

   She did not know how to make a wild rogue 

into a husband, or an interlude into forever.

The sixth installement in The Palace of Rogues series is about privateer Lorcan St. Leger and an impoverished lady named Daphne Worth. I don't know if either of these characters were introduced in the previous book, as it is the only book in the series that I haven't managed to read. Both of these main characters have a significant connection to the owners of the Grand Palace on the Thames, though they do not discover that until they set foot inside together looking for lodging late at night.

The book pulls you in immediately as Lorcan is strolling through a dangerous neighborhood near the docks and stumbles upon a woman's legs dangling out of a window. He debates with himself: should he just stroll on by, or find a bit of entertainment assisting her to the ground? He takes her for a thief trying to make a less than elegant escape, but because of his colorful history, passes no judgement. Lorcan is hardly a saint, as he grew up fending for himself in the roughest of circumstances, but he feels as if he is a stronger person and self-sufficient as a result so he regrets nothing. He has this cavalier, playful attitude about him, but only a fool would be deceived by that and think he's harmless. He is a survivor, after all, and is absolutely lethal to anyone he perceives as a threat. He has clawed his way up from the gutter and made a name for himself as a pirate sanctioned by the crown. Lorcan has achieved a comfortable amount of wealth, a reputation that brings him fear and respect equally, and a life just on the right side of the law.

   By the time he was scarcely more than twenty 

years old he’d built a shadowy empire from 

one end of England to the other of men and 

women who would have killed for him.

It was quite entertaining to see Lorcan deliberately ruffling the prim and proper Lady Daphne's feathers from their first interaction. It becomes a game of sorts for him to find all of the buttons he needs to push in order to fluster her. He isn't really sure why he follows her once she's safely on the ground, but maybe he feels a bit obligated to see her to her destination. He had no way of knowing that once he walks into the Grand Palace with her, he will become entangled in their fabricated story of marriage and forced to continue playing a part. There's only a suite with separate bedrooms available to them, so of course they pretend to be married in order to bypass the rules of propriety. So we have forced proximity, opposites attract, and fake relationship tropes going on in the story. If you like any or all of these in your romances this story will most likely be perfect for you. I will say that even having read the first four books, the two year gap I took in the series left me a little lost in the beginning as I struggled to remember all of the names and situations of previous characters. A completely new reader may find the struggle to be a bit much as they navigate through the list of people to remember.

I think I would have been happier to have more focus centered on the two main characters for the entire book rather than Angelique, Delilah, their spouses, Mr Delacorte, Dot, and the various house guests. While they did lend a good amount of humor to the book (as always) I think the romance would have felt more balanced if the secondary characters played more of a backseat role this late in the series. Daphne and Lorcan's romance kind of went from 0 to 100 in the second half, and needed a bit more of a natural progression.

There was one humorous scene in particular that was one of my favorites that had me chuckling out loud. When the three couples all got into a fight, and there was lots of hall wandering and bed-hopping, poor Lorcan discovered that Mr Delacorte was not a good roommate to have during the night. The sounds and *ahem* scents coming from underneath the covers were just as bad as the obnoxious snoring from above the covers. Their reactions were seriously priceless...best scene in the beginning of the book by far.

Daphne has led a more sheltered, pampered life as part of the ton, however, her family has fallen on hard times due to her father's gambling problem. Since her mother died when she was a child, she has stepped into the role of caregiver for her father and two older brothers. She learned to take care of their home, manage their budget, and do whatever it took to give the three men the illusion that they could still afford the life they were accustomed to. While the men in her life carelessly allow her to shoulder the burden of keeping them afloat, they never show her the appreciation she deserves. She clings to her responsibilities and order, and doesn't let herself acknowledge what is lacking in her family relationships. They are all she has after a failed engagement that broke her heart and changed her opinion about love.

Loving anyone had not yet done much but crush her.

While Lorcan is lightyears ahead of her in street smarts, he's shocked to discover that she has a way of viewing the world that helps him see things in a brand new way. They were both also not able to have a real, carefree childhood. He had to fend for and raise himself, and she had to take on the role of her mother with all of the responsibilities that entailed. So, while she was fortunate enough to have a safe home where her needs were met, she could relate to having to grow up too early as he did. As different as they were in so many ways, they realized that they weren't so different where it counted. He was the first man in her life to listen to her thoughts and feelings, and value her for who she was rather than what she could give. It took a while for me to warm up to them as a couple, but once I did, I enjoyed their connection very much. I absolutely loved how Lorcan went out of his way to bring her birthday gifts that showed her that he genuinely listened to her and valued her happiness.

I gave this one four stars even though it didn't pick up until the second half, because I feel that the second half was good enough to earn that rating on its own. I really loved seeing the romance finally unravel in the story and genuinely felt that the couple deserved the sweet HEA that they were given. If you like the tropes I've mentioned in my review, or if you're just a faithful reader of this series/author in general give this one a shot. I think you'll find a lot to love here.

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Review: A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones

The blockbuster conclusion to the bestselling Sunshine Vicram trilogy

A HARD DAY FOR A HANGOVER by DARYNDA JONES

Series: Sunshine Vicram #3

Publication date: December 6, 2022

Published by: St. Martins Press

Genre: mystery, romance, suspense

 

SYNOPSIS

Some people greet the day with open arms. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram would rather give it a hearty shove and get back into bed, because there’s just too much going on right now. There’s a series of women going missing, and Sunny feels powerless to stop it. There’s her persistent and awesomely-rebellious daughter Auri, who’s out to singlehandedly become Del Sol’s youngest and fiercest investigator. And then there’s drama with Levi Ravinder—the guy she’s loved and lusted after for years. The guy who might just be her one and only. The guy who comes from a family of disingenuous vipers looking to oust him—and Sunshine—for good.

Like we said, the new day can take a hike.

Purchase your copy now!

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Praise for Darynda Jones:

(A Good Day for Chardonnay)

Entertaining...fans of zanier mysteries will welcome Sunshine's further adventures. - Publishers Weekly on A Good Day for Chardonnay

A hilarious amalgam of mystery, hot sex, and comedy of errors. Can't wait for the next episode. - Kirkus starred review

(A Bad Day for Sunshine)

Provides plenty of action. Recommended for fans of Linda Castillo and J.A. Jance. - Library Journal

Jones has a real talent for balancing suspense with laugh-out-loud humor, never losing the tension from either. - BookPage

A Bad Day For Sunshine is a great day for the rest of us - captivating characters, great writing, pace, humor and suspense. - Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author

Fans of Jones' bestselling Charley Davidson series and Janet Evanovich's romps will devour this steamy series launch, which introduces both an irresistible pair crime-busting Gilmore Girls and a quirky, mysterious setting." - Booklist

Compelling characters and a sexy, angst-filled bunch of mysteries add up to a winning series debut. - Kirkus

A Bad Day for Sunshine is everything you want from Darynda Jones ... and more! Laugh-out-loud funny, intensely suspenseful, page-turning fun with a sassy new heroine you will love. Prepare to be hooked by this witty, sexy, and thrilling new series from one of my favorite authors!" - Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author

"Swoon-worthy heroes, quirky characters, and a page turning mystery. Move over Stephanie Plum, Sunshine Vicram has arrived. Prepare yourself. This book is a keeper!" -New York Times Bestselling Author Christie Craig

Darynda Jones has done it again. With trademark humor, eccentric yet relatable characters, and masterful storytelling, she takes us on a journey we don't want to end. A Bad Day for Sunshine is a great day for readers! -#1 Bestselling Author Tracy Brogan

"Smart, sexy, and outrageously funny. Jones masterfully balances heartwarming comedy and bone chilling suspense." Marina Adair, #1 National bestselling author of Summer in Napa

"From the creative genius who brought you Charley Davidson comes your newest obsession: Sunshine Vicram. Mother. Sheriff. Warden of weird." - New York Times Bestselling Author Susan Donovan

Darynda Jones is always on my MUST READ list! No one can pull you into a book like she can!" - New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Donna Grant

All the snarky humor and engaging writing you've come to expect from master storyteller Darynda Jones. I would read her if she scribbled on a napkin. Luckily, her new story has more than just lipstick and a number. Prepare to get sucked in. Her writing is like a vortex; you can't get out until you're done and sobbing for more.- New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Eve Langlais

A new town, new characters to become friends with, same snort-in-public humor . . . you're going to love this story!" - Award Winning Author Laura Drake

A Bad Day for Sunshine is deliciously witty, fast paced and filled with laugh-out-loud dialogue. Darynda Jones knocks it out of the park with this delightful new series!" - Robyn Peterman, New York Times Bestselling Author

"Darynda delivers again! A Bad Day for Sunshine tugs at your heartstrings and tickles your funny bone. From gut-wrenching heartbreak to full-abdominal belly laughs, Sunshine is a literary workout for your core. Another unique read from a stellar storyteller!" -Diane Kelly, Award Winning Author of Hilarious Mysteries

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious RITA, a Golden Heart, and a Daphne du Maurier, and her books have been translated into 17 languages. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, certain they went away the better for it. She penned the international bestselling Charley Davidson series and is currently working on several beloved projects, most notably the Sunshine Vicram Mystery Series with St. Martin's Press and the Betwixt and Between Series of paranormal women's fiction. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

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REVIEW

A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

   Someone had been attacking girls on her watch. 

That was their first mistake. 

Their second was to think they could get away with it.

What a crazy ride the Sunshine Vicram books have been! There are very few series that hook me so deeply and keep me craving more like this one has. Typically, my attention starts to wander a little bit after the first book, but in this case, the anticipation has only grown tenfold. Once again, thanks to my book bestie Astrid for encouraging me to read outside of my comfort zone and try a genre that I didn't think I could love. Mysteries are my least favorite books, but she assured me that if anyone could convert me it was Darynda Jones. If you need a little push like I did to try something different, here's my friendly advice: think outside your reading box and you may be pleasantly surprised.

Darynda Jones has such a sharp, acerbic sense of humor that brings such life into her characters. Sunshine was absolutely hilarious. Even in the more tense, suspenseful moments, she was running her sarcastic mouth and making me laugh. That element has been consistent throughout all three books which really made the series a winner for me. Sun always has a million and one tasks on her agenda for the day and torn in so many directions you often wonder how she juggles it all with so much confidence. She's a no nonsense, suck it up and get it done type of woman who would do anything at all to keep her family and town safe. Not only will I miss her and her smart mouth, I will miss her best friend Quincy, her daughter Auri, and her kooky parents. Even the oddballs around town had so much personality and character that it's sad to see them go too. (Except maybe the town flasher, Doug.) I don't think anyone wants to see *ahem* quite so much of him.

In A Hard Day for a Hangover, we take off right where we left off in book two. (**Please be aware that books one and two end in cliffhangers, so if you haven't read the series yet, you may want to hold off on reading my review as there will be plot spoilers ahead for the previous books.**) Sunshine and Levi were finally just starting to communicate and make headway with all of their secrets and issues. Sun had come clean and...BAM!...book abruptly ends. Unfortunately, Levi left before they could fully work everything out as it was a lot to process, and Sunshine drowned her sorrows with tequila. Hungover is not a state you want to be in when you're in charge of keeping Del Sol safe. Not to mention, daughter is prone to getting herself in one dangerous situation after another, and she's as stubborn as she is impulsive.

The mystery in this book revolves around teenage girls getting attacked. There is also a bit of a suspense element from Levi's being in danger from his Uncle Clay's plot against his life. Sunshine is determined to keep the man she loves safe-not only for herself, but for Auri as well. There is also flasher Doug's stabbing, and Mrs. Fairborn's break-in, but these are minor conflicts adding a bit of action to the plot. The girls getting attacked is the most urgent mystery to be solved and both Auri and Sunshine work to find clues in order to piece the puzzle together. Sunshine tries to warn her daughter away from questioning people, but eventually she realizes that she can help her in a small capacity and they end up making quite a symbiotic team. Auri may be a bit reckless, but she's as smart as a whip and genuinely helps her mom with fantastic leads she may have not otherwise found. Typically her boyfriend Cruz would be right at her side watching over her, but after the events in book two, he's at Quincy's most of the time as he heals physically and mentally. I have to say, I missed seeing his strong presence as it was in the first two books. We still saw him, but not as heavily. They make the sweetest young couple and I always enjoy their POV scenes together.

      Sun was so hyperaware of every aspect of Levi Ravinder—

his nearness, the heat wafting off him, the darkness lying 

just beneath the glint of humor in his eyes—

it was a wonder she could think straight at all.

I've been impatiently waiting for the romance aspect of the series to finally resolve itself. There was another mystery surrounding Auri's conception, how much Levi knew about Sun's kidnapping, and the reasons the never spoke after she left town years ago. So many misconceptions, things left unsaid, and hard feelings that never came out into the open. Sun and Levi just silently pine and brood over what could have been. You are almost desperate for them to share their true feelings and maybe, hopefully, be the family they should have been. There was a glimmer of hope in the previous book, but then things are left hanging for well into this story-around 60% or so. I will say, I got a little bit impatient as the story wore on and Levi was in the wind, nowhere to be found. I'm sure non-romance readers won't be bothered by it, but I was hoping for more interactions a little bit sooner.

There were several things that were left unresolved in the plot overall after book two, so I was wondering if everything would conclude neatly without any plot holes. I'm happy to say that all questions were answered here, even the question over whether Sun's father had ever been to prison. It was a bit of a running joke throughout the series as Sun would try to guess or trip him up into admitting something to her. All in all, I came away from this conclusion a very happy reader and can't recommend the Sunshine Vicram books enough. My only reason for taking a star off of my rating was because the mysteries didn't interest me as much in this one and I felt a little impatient reading through them. I think that was partly because I was waiting so eagerly for Sunshine and Levi's story arc to resolve, and partly because the mystery didn't feel as complex or intriguing as the previous one. However, I was very happy with how everything wrapped up and it was more than a little bittersweet to say goodbye to the residents of Del Sol. Once again, I can't recommend these enough if you're looking for something to keep you laughing out loud, and turning the pages late into the night. Maybe if we're lucky there will be a spin-off series somewhere in the future. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and maybe Ms. Jones will have mercy on us all.

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