Love Interest is Clare Gilmore’s sparkling debut, a co-worker enemies-to-lovers rom-com that proves falling in love is the risk and the reward.
Casey Maitland has always preferred the reliability of numbers. Now a twenty-four-year-old finance expert working in Manhattan, she wonders if the open project manager position at her company—magazine powerhouse LC Publications—is a sign from the universe to pursue a career with a little more sparkle. That is, until she’s passed over for the job in favor of the board chairman’s son.
Alex Harrison is handsome, Harvard-educated, and enigmatic. Everybody loves him—except for Casey. But when the two are thrown on the same project, what they discover about their company might change everything—including the dreams each of them is chasing and their mutual love interest.
Thank you, SMP Romance, for the free book!
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🎃 Love Interest by Clare Gilmore 🎃
- One-word review: Charming
- Emojis: ✨ 👩🏻💼❤️👨🏻💼✨
- Rating: 4 🌟s
My thoughts:
Every once in a while, I come across a debut that reads like it was written by someone who has been writing for publication for years, and that’s precisely what I experienced with Love Interest. It’s a bright, charming, and amazingly authentic enemies-to-lovers workplace rom-com that is slightly spicy and full of maturity and heart.
My favorite thing about the story is that the characters find it essential to consider their own professional needs while also determining their feelings for each other. It’s refreshingly mature and, I’m sure, something many young professionals have to deal with today. Gone are the days when a woman would drop years of hard work for a man.
Casey, the main character, tells the story with all its fun twists and turns as first she can’t stand Alex Harrison for beating her out for a position in a company she’s worked hard for since graduating from college (2 years) and then gives in to the attraction that made her not like him even a bit more at first. Their romance felt utterly authentic and contemporary.
I adored this romantic comedy for its fresh take on a modern romance between 20-somethings who must consider their career in all critical life decisions. It’s funny and heartwarming, even at times a little heartbreaking, and I adored every minute of it.
When two women meet as judge and contestant on the set of a TV baking competition, they must decide what they’re willing to risk for the ultimate prize in this wholesome and delectable debut.
Food is their love language, but can they follow a recipe for romance?
Tori Moore, high school chemistry teacher, avid home baker, and soon-to-be empty nester, auditions for the American Bake-o-Rama TV competition at the urging of her twin teenagers. The prize money could allow her to finally open her own bakery, but plagued by self-doubt after a messy divorce, it’s not only money standing between Tori and her dreams.
Once on set in Sonoma wine country, Tori catches the eye of Kendra Campbell, the notoriously ruthless celebrity chef and Bake-o-Rama judge. This show is Kendra’s ticket to financial security, but she’s been told to soften her approach for viewers seeking feel-good entertainment—quite the task after years of fighting for space in a male-dominated industry.
Tori and Kendra find it increasingly hard to keep their distance through six slow-burn weeks of cooking challenges and kitchen disasters. For both, the best prize of all might just be love.
Thank you, Random House, for the free digital book!
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🎃 Love at 350° by Lisa Peers 🎃
- One-word review: Delightful
- Emojis: 👩🏻🍳+🥮+🍪+⏳=👩🏻❤️💋👩🏼
- Rating: 4 🌟s
My thoughts:
I love baking shows, whether on the small screen or in a rom-com novel, and Love at 350° is about a National baking contest full of yummy treats, intrigue, and lots of fun. Tori Moore has always wanted to own a bakery, so when her twins nominate her for a National baking contest, she will have a chance to make her dream come true. But when she becomes romantically interested in one of the judges, will she give up that dream for love – again?
The romance takes a backseat to the contest, which makes it feel all the more authentic as it progresses very slowly. Tori and Kendra are each at a transition point and must determine what the rest of their lives will be like – follow the dream or take the practical path. And when they find each other, it could blow up everything.
I loved the character Natalie. She is a conundrum wrapped up in a mystery and provides an unexpectedly intriguing plot line for the story. There is a mystery, tension, and suspense, and I just lapped it up. The story needed that element to give it a bit more entertainment for the reader; otherwise, it risked being rather one-note.
Overall, I couldn’t put this book down! I just had to know how the contest would turn out and who was twirling their metaphorical mustache in the background. Love at 350° is a delightful story!
14 responses to “Love Interest by Clare Gilmore and Love at 350 Degrees by Lisa Peers #bookreviews #romcoms”
Two great sounding romances, great reviews 💕
They are both very good!
I’m always in for cooking contest and Mature romance is something we don’t see often. Amazing reviews!
Me too! And you’re so right – a mature romance between 20 somethings is refreshing
Fab reviews they both sound good!
They really were 💕
Both of these sound fun and fresh! That’s a high compliment you give for a debut novel, too. Wonderful reviews, Tessa💜
I enjoyed them both a lot!
Great romance themed reviews.
Thank you!😊
🙂
I like the settings of both of these – especially with the food where I can drool while I read. Great reviews, Tessa!
I know, right? Baked goods! Yum!😋
So glad you enjoyed Love at 350°! Thank you so much for posting your review – I appreciate it!