Isn't It Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams

Isn't It Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams

Release Date - July 20, 2021 

Publisher Website - Penguin Random House Canada
Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages - 352 pages
My Rating - 3.5/5

**received for review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

With his passion for romance novels, it was only a matter of time before Vlad took up the pen to write a novel the Bromance Book Club would swoon over.

Elena Konnikova has lived her entire adult life in the shadows. As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared after speaking out against government corruption, she escaped danger the only way she knew how. She agreed to marry her childhood friend, Vladimir, and move to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville.

Vlad, aka The Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience. But after four years, it's become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he's learned is that he deserves more. He's ready to create his own sweeping romance--both on and off the page.

The Bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love--and this time they're not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad's senior citizen neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves The Loners. Just when things finally look promising, the danger from Elena's past life intrudes, and the book club will face their first-ever life-or-death grand gesture as they race to a happy ever after.

Fans of the Bromance Book Club series have been eagerly waiting for the character affectionately known as The Russian to have his own stand alone book which Lyssa Kay Adams has delivered with the fourth book in the series. Vlad takes center focus in this sweet romance that is sure to please fans.

If you like your romance on the sugary sweet side this is definitely the book for you. It may be a little on the too sweet side for some readers. There is plenty here for fans of the series to love but I predict this will be most popular with those who like this specific type of romance. If Vlad isn't your favourite character a large dose of him may not be for you.

Vlad is a fan favourite because he is an incredibly sweet soul. He is a gentle giant, and it was a delight to have his character expanded further. He is often the comic relief in the series but we get to see what a caring, and consuming heart he has. I think fans of his character will be pleased with how he is portrayed and the love story he has been given. He is a romantic at heart and very sensitive so it makes his romance a little more of the wear your heart on your sleeve variety.

Elena is a great character. Determined, stubborn, and focused. She is a natural fit with Vlad in a lot of ways. Her desire to be a journalist was something I found interesting and I wish that a certain part of her story arc had been developed more. It felt a little quickly tied up and I think it would have worked a little better if fleshed out more.

The romance is a blend of sweet and sexy. The sex scenes are similar to the other books in their more retrained but still sexy way. There are definitely moments that the chemistry is palpable between them. This is a connection built on friendship so that element feels especially earned.

The members of the aforementioned book club are delightful as usual. This group of tight-knit friends is always a joy to return to. All of the guys have grown throughout the series and each new addition works their way into your heart. I cannot wait to see who the next book is about (I have my guesses) because this is a world I cannot wait to visit again.

While this particular book may not have been my favourite in the series it still offered up a strong and enjoyable addition to it. I highly recommend this series if you enjoy romance reads. 

Waiting On Wednesday ... Isn't It Bromantic

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is Isn't It Bromantic by Lyssa Kay Adams

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

With his passion for romance novels, it was only a matter of time before Vlad took up the pen to write a novel the Bromance Book Club would swoon over.

Elena Konnikova has lived her entire adult life in the shadows. As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared after speaking out against government corruption, she escaped danger the only way she knew how. She agreed to marry her childhood friend, Vladimir, and move to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville.

Vlad, aka The Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience. But after four years, it’s become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he’s learned is that he deserves more. He’s ready to create his own sweeping romance–both on and off the page.

The Bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love–and this time they’re not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad’s senior citizen neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves The Loners. Just when things finally look promising, the danger from Elena’s past life intrudes, and the book club will face their first-ever life-or-death grand gesture as they race to a happy ever after.

Anyone who has read the previous Bromance Book Club books knows that Vlad (aka The Russian) is a fan favourite who provides a ton of humour to these adorable reads.

He is (finally) getting his own book and I am sure that nobody is surprised that he wants to write a romance novel of his own. It makes a lot of sense for him to be the character that would do it.

This comes out in July so we have quite a wait but if you haven't read the previous books in this series I highly recommend getting started so you can join me in (im) patiently waiting. 

Expected release date - July 20, 2021

Waiting On Wednesday ... Crazy Stupid Bromance

 Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

A hacktivist and a cat café owner decode the friend zone in this romantic comedy from the author of Undercover Bromance.

Alexis Carlisle and her cat café, ToeBeans, have shot to fame after she came forward as a victim of a celebrity chef’s sexual harassment. When a new customer approaches to confide in her, the last thing Alexis expects is for the woman to claim they’re sisters. Unsure what to do, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts—her best friend, Noah Logan.

Computer genius Noah left his rebellious teenage hacker past behind to become a computer security expert. Now he only uses his old skills for the right cause. But Noah’s got a secret: He’s madly in love with Alexis. When she asks for his help, he wonders if the timing will ever be right to confess his crush.

Noah’s pals in The Bromance Book Club are more than willing to share their beloved “manuals” to help him go from bud to boyfriend. But he must decide if telling the truth is worth risking the best friendship he’s ever had.

I love the books in the Bromance Book Club series and I was particularly intrigued by Noah in the last book. I also really liked Alexis so I am excited to read her story. 

These books are a jolt of sunshine and I cannot wait to be back in this world again! If you're a romance book fan I highly recommend reading the first two books in this series while you're waiting for this to be released in the fall.

Expected release date - October 27, 2020

Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
Release Date - March 10, 2020

Publisher Website - Penguin Random House Canada
Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages - 320 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**arc received from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Braden Mack thinks reading romance novels makes him an expert in love, but he’ll soon discover that real life is better than fiction.

Liv Papandreas has a dream job as a sous chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef.

Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub entrepreneur offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. He’ll need to call in reinforcements: the Bromance Book Club.

Inspired by the romantic suspense novel they’re reading, the book club assist Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart… even while she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned. 

We were introduced to a group of romance reading men in The Bromance Book Club. The companion novel, Undercover Bromance, focuses on a different member of the book club and on the very timely topic of sexual harrassment in the work place.

I feel like each book is going to have the guys reading a different genre of romance book. We find them reading a romantic suspense novel in this one which ends up being useful to them later on in the story. I am really excited about this idea and cannot wait to see if they tackle paranormal romance at some point.

There are going to be many people who do not like Liv. She is abrasive and I can see why some would find her offputting at times. I think the author has gone through great pains to ensure that we see that the armour Liv has up is a result of trauma that she has yet to deal with. It also makes her a character who has the potential to grow and we do see a bit of that within these pages.

Braden and Liv may seem like opposites but as we get to know what is under the charming, self confident exterior we see that they are actually really compatible. They each are working through things that they have let fester for a long time, and it makes them an interesting couple. They have some great banter and some really sweet vulnerable moments that worked for me. If you, like me, brushed Braden off as some cocky pretty boy I promise that your opinion if him will change by the end of this novel.

Braden and Liv use his knowledge of romantic suspense novels to plot a way of bringing down her former employer. While the first novel was peppered with excerpts from the novel the group is currently reading, that is not the case in this follow up. Those who loved that element of the story will be disappointed to learn that we only get a brief glimpse of the novel in question this time.

Much will be made of Liv's reaction to the victims in the sexual harassment story arc. She cannot comprehend how someone would not come forward to protect others from expirencing the same harrassment. She puts an onus and expectation on the victims that is unfair and feels a little like victim blaming. The reason I am on board with this portrayal is because she is immediately called out on her behaviour. She grows and realizes why she was wrong and makes amends. It is shown in a way that will hopefully also help educate people about the many reasons victims may not come forward and why that expectation should not be placed on them if they are not comfortable doing so. I particularly like that it is not just one person calling her out. I also appreciated the emphasis on men calling out other men when they see them exhibiting toxic behaviour.

Lyssa Kay Adams has created a group of characters that you cannot help but love. Each of the main members of the book club are charming and that will make these companion reads all the easier for fans to eagerly anticipate. I cannot be the only reader to take notice of Noah (and he just so happens to be the focus of the next book).

If you are looking for a fun and fresh spin on the romance read I highly recommend checking out this series. They play with romance tropes while fully embracing them. It will make you laugh, swoon, and leave you with a smile on your face. 

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

I know this is late, but it is a holiday here for most of Canada so I decided to share it today instead. Happy Monday, everyone!

BOOKS

Cover of Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams (goodreads)

This cover is incredibly cute! I love the covers for this series and think this one just might be my favourite out of the bunch

I need to read this as soon as possible! I urge you to read the other books in the series if you haven't already done so.

MOVIES/TV

*** DO NOT WATCH IF YOU DO NOT WANT INFORMATION ABOUT SEASON FOUR ***

The Stranger Things creators gave us a Valentine's Day present when they dropped this teaser for the fourth season of the show. The fact that they revealed the information contained in this video has me excited for a couple different reasons.

If you're okay with knowing some information about the fourth season check out the video below.

The fact that they are revealing this only makes me excited for what BIGGER reveals are to come. This felt like a huge thing to share so I expect that whatever they are holding back is going to be pretty exciting.

I am just glad we got this bit of information so that it doesn't have to be the focus of the upcoming marketing campaign for the show!

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

Release Date - November 5, 2019
Publisher Website - Penguin Random House Canada

Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  352 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

The first rule of this book club:
You don't talk about book club.

Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott's marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him.

Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.

Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville's top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it'll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.

The Bromance Book Club immediately sounded like a fun, cute, humourous read that offered up a unique sounding romance read. I was delighted to find out that it was just as fun, and funny, as I anticipated it being, and just as sweet.

This is the kind of read that leaves you feeling light and bubbly. You'll be grinning your way through most of this, and that is in large part to the breezy feel of the writing. It's a story that feels effortless and I expect a lot of effort went into making it read that way.

Thea's character is one that I found myself liking easily. She is someone who kind of got caught up in this whirlwind and is finding herself untethered. Faking it is a large part of Thea's story in many ways and her journey of rediscovering herself tied into that theme perfectly. She and Gavin both have issues to work through that stem from baggage that both are carrying around and I found this element to be one of the strongest parts of the story.

Gavin is a character with a stutter. A part of his character that I felt was perfectly written into the story. His stutter is not the biggest part of his character. There are so many other aspects of his character that would come up first when describing him. He is athletic, determined, and caring for example. It is portrayed as part of who he is instead of all that he is. It is simply another part of him like anything else.

Gavin's stutter is part of what I loved the most about the love story being told in this one. Thea doesn't treat him differently because of his stutter and that has not always been the case for Gavin with people that he meets. We all want someone who loves us fully and completely and that is exactly what exists here. I loved how Thea didn't push him or rush whatever he was saying. It made Gavin comfortable which is such a huge part of a relationship.

It is not just the two main characters who shine in this novel. The other members of the book club are just as delightful. They are the kind of side characters that you hope books get written about. They not only provide a lot of humour but a lot of the heart as well. The book club itself provides plenty of laughs but is also rather feminist. I loved that they discussed toxic masculinity, and how to be better partners. I predict many romance readers will appreciate the book clubs insights and banter.

This is a must read for any romance fans out there. It's exactly what you are looking for from a romance and more. It is a sweet, charming read that is basically made for book clubs and pairing with a glass of wine.

Best of 2019 - Book Edition

As the year comes to a close it is once again time to reflect back on the books I read and highlight a few that I particularly enjoyed reading this year.

My reading suffered this year. I did not read nearly as many books as I hoped to. I am resolving to fix this in 2020. I did manage to read some pretty awesome books this year though.

Here are my top ten reads of this year (in no particular order). They each link to my review (where one has been written and posted) if you want to see exactly why I loved them.


1 Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

2 Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

3 Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

4 Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

5 The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

6 Transcend/Epoch by Jewel E Ann

7 Chase Darkness With Me by Billy Jensen

8 The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

9 American Royals by Katharine McGee

10 A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer


This list, obviously, includes books released this year and some that were not. My only criteria was that they had to be books I read this past year.

Do you agree with any of the books on list? Feel there is a book I missed this year that I should make a priority to read in 2019? Let me know in the comments.

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Sunday post this week is thanks to the nasty end of summer cold I got this week. I was pretty much in bed for two days straight and am now behind on pretty much everything. I expect that I caught something on the flight back from Orlando.

BOOK

Cover of Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams (goodreads)

The sequel to The Bromance Book Club recently had it's cover revealed and it is just as fun as I expected it would be. This entire series has me really excited and I cannot wait to read the The Bromance Book Club and begin eagerly anticipating this sequel.

The animated style covers that have been popular with romance novels recently are some of my faves! They're cute and offer up something a little different.

TV/MOVIES

American Horror Story: 1984 Trailer

The first official trailer for AHS: 1984 was recently released and it is giving me major slasher film vibes! I love the camp setting, and the obvious nods to some classic horror tropes.

I am expecting there to be two killers running around thanks to the casting reveal trailer BUT I think one is going to be more featured than the other. I cannot wait for the soundtrack this season!

The Aeronauts Trailer

Heights are not really my thing but this takes them to a whole new level. Some of the images are breathtaking and dizzying. I image it is going to look stunning in IMAX.

The plot also sounds interesting. I have no clue how accurate this is but I predict it'll be a fun, visually stunning film that will offer plenty of tense moments of the characters almost falling to their death.

Joker Final Trailer

This movie is going to be polarizing. It is going to have a bunch of strong opinions behind it (both for and against) and I predict there will be a ton written dissecting it. The trailer, however, indicates a beautifully shot, and incredibly acted movie. A, perhaps, controversial one.

We'll have to see what critics and fans think once it is released but I do like the grittier look of the trailer.

Joker Movie Poster

We also got a new poster to go along with the new trailer. We actually got a few but I love this new poster the most out of all of the new ones we got.

OTHER

New Stranger Things Funkos

I enjoyed both Robyn and Alexi in this new season of Stranger Things. I was excited that Funko would be releasing Funko Pops for both of them in the next wave and both are featuring moments from the third season that are fan favourites.

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

Waiting On Wednesday .... The Bromance Book Club

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

The first rule of this book club:
You don't talk about book club.

Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott's marriage is in major league trouble. He’s recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, it’s the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he’s let his pride and fear get the better of him. 

Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.

Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville's top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it'll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.

I love the entire premise of this book so much! A group of men meeting to read romance novels is perfect. I need this to become a Netflix movie and I haven't even read it yet.

I am excited to meet these characters and get to know Thea and Gavin and their love story.

It releases in the fall and while it may sound like a perfect summer book I think this is going to pair nicely with a cozy blanket and some delicious wine!

Unrelated but how cute is that cover?!

Expected release date - November 5, 2019