Mini Reviews: Apples Should be Red, Thrown for a Curve, A Matchless Romance

Apples Should Be Red by Penny Watson

Recipe for Thanksgiving Dinner:

Start with sixty-two year old politically incorrect, chain-smoking, hard-cussing curmudgeon.

Add fifty-nine year old sexually-repressed know-it-all in pearls.

Throw in a beer can-turkey, a battle for horticultural supremacy, and nudist next-door neighbor. Serve on paper plates, garnished with garden gnome.
Tastes like happily ever after.

Penny Watson presents an over-fifty romantic comedy novella. 21,000 words. Story includes copious profanity and botanical references. ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: Apples Should be Red is a hilarious, romantic, opposites attract, novella about two older widowers forced to spend the holidays together for the sake of their married son & daughter. It’s so nice to see a story written about older characters (Bev is 59 – Tom 62 and both widowers). I mention it because it’s such a rare occurrence in romance, but regardless of age, this is a fantastic, sexy story about second chances and living your life to the fullest. Highly recommend this one.



Thrown for a Curve (A Perfect Fit Novel) by Sugar Jamison

WHEN YOU’RE A big girl

Cherri has often wished she were thin and graceful like a ballerina instead of being a six-foot-tall blonde with curves that require serious caution. Surely a charming Irishman like her new boss Colin, with his throaty brogue and to-die-for bod, would never go for someone like Cherri. Unless maybe he’s looking for the exact opposite of a delicate lass? 

there’s more of you to love

When Colin hired Cherri to work in his furniture-restoration shop, he had his eyes, first and foremost, on her artistic talents. But now he can’t help but see Cherri for the lush, spirited beauty that she is…and, soon enough, he finds himself mixing business with pleasure. But Cherri turns out to be more vulnerable than she appears. Is she in need of more than Colin can give? Or could it be that a feeling stronger than lust has him thrown for a curve? ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: This book got off to such a fun start. Cherrie is awkward and wonderful. She has great friends and a quirky, Ukrainian grandmother. Colin is pretty awesome too. Then things went off the rails. About halfway the story takes an abrupt turn and you just want to throttle Cherrie and Colin. They have the worst communication skills ever. I just couldn’t care less if they got together by the end. In fact, I wished they didn’t.


A Matchless Romance (Aisle Bound #4) by Christi Barth

Tabitha Bell is the face of Chicago's premiere matchmaking service. At least, she hopes it will be someday, once business really takes off. What she needs is more clients, so when she meets a sexy gamer in need of help, it's the perfect opportunity.

His discomfort talking to women almost cost Drew Watson his job. He'd be happy holed up in his office, designing blockbuster video games, but his boss considers talking to investors a nonnegotiable requirement. Who better than a matchmaker to teach him how to be comfortable around the opposite sex? Trouble is, Drew wants to get more than comfortable with Tabitha, while she's determined to keep their relationship all business.

Soon Tabitha learns that beneath the geek-chic hoodie lies six feet of sexy physique--and the more time she spends with Drew, the more she appreciates his brainy brand of charm. Will she succumb to his sweet-but-nerdy charm offensive or will it be game over before he can win her heart? ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: Oh how I swoon over a beta hero. Drew was awkward, sweet and sexy as hell, without even realizing it. Match Drew with the confident, sexy Tabitha, who has a secret nerd side and the sparks fly.

I do have one tiny complaint. Drew was a self proclaimed nerd (he is a video game designer) and thinks gorgeous women like Tabitha are out of his league. But he is somewhat of a player within his own nerdish community - especially at cons. I actually liked that - he wasn't the typical virgin nerd or totally clueless - just awkward outside his nerd zone. Those are random hookups though - he wants a hot girl for a long term relationship. Fair enough. And to Drew a girl like Tabitha is the whole package - hot and plays video games. Score! But I just felt like he was being a snob in the way he thought hot girls were with him. Seems to me he didn't think much of having a relationship with a "nerdy" girl while he held out for a hot girl.

That's a really minor complaint but since it seemed to be a reoccurring point that bugged me I had to bring it up. Don’t let it deter you though -  I absolutely loved Drew and Tabitha as characters and together.

I realized when I finished this was a series. It held up perfect as a stand alone although it did make me want to read the other books. Tabitha's friends and their boyfriends seemed like a lot of fun.