Mini’s: Imperfect Harmony - Scary, Lovesick, Foolish - From Fake to Forever - Frog

Imperfect Harmony by Jay Northcote

Source: Purchased

John Fletcher, a former musician, is stuck in limbo after losing his long-term partner two years ago. He’s shut himself off from everything that reminds him of what he’s lost. When his neighbour persuades him to join the local community choir, John rediscovers his love of music and finds a reason to start living again.

Rhys Callington, the talented and charismatic choir leader, captures John’s attention from the first moment they meet. He appears to be the polar opposite of John: young, vibrant, and full of life. But Rhys has darkness in his own past that is holding him back from following his dreams.

Despite the nineteen-year age gap, the two men grow close and a fragile relationship blossoms. Ghosts of the past and insecurities about the future threaten their newfound happiness. If they’re going to harmonise in life and love as they do in their music, they’ll need to start following the same score. ~ Goodreads


My thoughts: This is a wonderful story about grief and second chances but what this author does REALLY well is write characters and sex scenes that aren’t perfect. I can’t even say how much I enjoyed reading about people that aren’t physically perfect and have non stop, hot sex. Rhys and John are awkward and real as they take a chance and explore this slow building romance.


Scary, Lovesick, Foolish by G.G. Andrew

Source: e-arc in exchange for an honest review

It was a question he had to ask...

Brendan Forrester loves his girlfriend, Nora. Like can't-live-without-her, Gomez-to-her-Morticia-Addams loves her. But when he asks her for more, he can't help but notice the look of fear in her eyes. Then a ghost from their past shows up at the horror theater festival they're both in, and Nora starts to change. Soon Brendan is remembering things he'd rather forget--including the voice of a certain girl he thought they'd long since vanquished.

It was a chance she couldn't pass up...

When Nora Travers is offered a part in a horror one-act directed by the daughter of a Hollywood bigwig, she knows she can't miss the chance--even if it means competing against her longtime boyfriend and getting back in touch with the mean girl she swore she'd never be again. But the past doesn't want to stay buried, and soon Brendan--her usually smart, adoring boyfriend--can't seem to stop sneaking suspicious looks at her. Or spying on her kissing scenes with her new co-star.
It's making them both wonder: do they have what it takes to make it through another Halloween? ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: So fun to revisit these characters. They got a solid HFN in Crazy, Sexy, Ghoulish (an e-book freebie), but you just knew they had more stuff to work through and needed to mature a little.
I loved how Andrew's put Nora and Brendan through the wringer but still managed to convey the love they have - even when they weren't always being the nicest to each other. Despite some rather big fights between the two, I always liked and understood where both were coming from. And kudos for allowing both characters to go after their dreams, even if that means competing or being apart for a bit.

I would love to see more of them - maybe working together on a screenplay that Brendan writes while Nora acts. The author's note seems to hint that there will be more from this world at least.
This is a super quick. light read. You could probably read both books 1&2 in an afternoon.


From Fake to Forever by Jennifer Shirk

Source: e-arc in exchange for an honest review

Sandra Moyer’s preschool is struggling, so when her sister suggests allowing a super-famous actor to research his latest role there, she reluctantly agrees. Except the actor turns out to be Ben Capshaw—a playboy who’s never serious, always joking around, and who knows zero about kids or being a parent. Case in point: his involvement in the untimely death of the preschool’s class pet…

Ben is enjoying teaching more than he thought he would, but that doesn’t mean he’s looking for a permanent position. Sure, he’s ready for more serious movie roles and less goofing off, but the buttoned-up, beautiful Sandra and her young daughter are more than he bargained for. Plus, Sandra still won’t trust him—what if it’s all an act, research for the role? As the lines between make-believe and reality blur, Ben will have to decide if love is worth casting aside the role of his life for a new role…that could last a lifetime.

Previously released as The Role of a Lifetime - (May 2008) and has been enhanced with new material. ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: Cute enough for a quick, clean romance but neither Ben nor Sandra were developed enough or given enough time to explain their quick turn-around from fear of commitment (Ben) and outright hostility (Sandra) to OMG I love you and want to get married.

There were several obstacles that just seemed tossed in as needed instead of more time spent building the relationship. Sandra's sister and her cavalier attitude towards the school was very annoying too.

Even so, I liked Sandra's determination to build up her business and be a good mother and Ben's understanding that a relationship with Sandra is a full time commitment that includes Hannah. And I adored how he noticed that while Sandra was busy taking care of everyone else - NO ONE was helping her. I just wish it wasn't all build up with a rushed ending.


Frog by Mary Calmes

Source: Purchased

Weber Yates's dreams of stardom are about to be reduced to a ranch hand's job in Texas, and his one relationship is with a guy so far out of his league he might as well be on the moon. Or at least in San Francisco, where Weber stops to see him one last time before settling down to the humble, lonely life he figures a frog like him has coming. Cyrus Benning is a successful neurosurgeon, so details are never lost on him. He spotted the prince in a broken-down bull rider's clothing from day one. But watching Weber walk out on him keeps getting harder, and he's not sure how much more his heart can take. Now Cyrus has one last chance to prove to Weber that it's not Weber's job that makes him Cyrus's perfect man, it's Weber himself. With the help of his sister's newly broken family, he's ready to show Weber that the home the man's been searching for has always been right there, with him. Cyrus might have laid down an ultimatum once, but now it's turned into a vow-he's never going to let Weber out of his life again. ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: Web was a cowboy trying to make it in the rodeo circuit. He's older now and his body can't take it so he decides to become a ranch hand but not before stopping by to visit his occasional hook-up Cyrus - a neurosurgeon.

I loved that these two were older - early 40's - and so different from each other. While things like money and education, upbringing *shouldn't* matter - they usually do. If not between the couple then within their social circle. That would have been fun to explore but Web almost takes over everyone's life with his perfection.

Cyrus wants forever but Web feels insecure and thinks Cryus only sees the romanticized version of romancing a cowboy. Once that fades he'll marry an investor or someone more appropriate for him.
So....Web. He's a plain spoken, straight shooting guy who talks with a drawl. He's a drifter but he's got his manners and what he believes in and sticks to it. It was kind of refreshing.

Despite his insecurities everyone loves him on the spot. EVERYONE. (except other guys who want to f*ck Cyrus). Kids, women, dogs, parents....everyone is falling all over themselves in awe of Web.
Parents hand over their kids within 10 minutes of meeting him. The kids, who never listen to their parents, are doing whatever he says instantly. He's the only person the parents in school can agree on to trust with their children on field trips. One of the children's therapists tells him he has to stay because he's the only one who can make a mute child speak again. It was so weird.

Sure he's a nice guy. And sometimes being straight up throws people off and can get them to do things they wouldn't do but this was near magical unicorn levels of perfect.

A weird but an oddly endearing story.