Recent Romance Reads + Candle Haul

TL;DR

Olive shares her thoughts on three romance books she recently finished and introduces a book-themed candle of the month.

Transcript

hi guys olive here here today to talk to you  about three romance books that i've recently   finished and i want to show you a candle that i  have acquired the month of february just recently   started which means that we are now in valentine's  day season and therefore romance books have   definitely been on the menu over the past week  and also a... Read More

Key Insights

• 📖 Selena Montgomery, the pen name for Georgia lawyer and politician Stacey Abrams, wrote eight romance books between 2001 and 2009.
• ⚾ "Evvie Drake Starts Over" combines romance and baseball, with the main character pretending to mourn her late husband while sharing a house with a former pro baseball player.
• 😑 "The Ex Talk" explores the challenges of pretending to be exes for a radio show about relationships and tackles themes of self-discovery and reevaluating career aspirations.
• 👨‍🔬 Olive appreciates slow-burn romances and enjoys well-researched elements such as legal thrillers and sports.
• 🌒 The candle of the month, "Magnolia Parchment and Leather" by North Ave Candles, offers a floral scent with a balanced aroma of magnolias and other scents.
• 🗯️ A portion of the proceeds from the candle of the month go to Fair Fight, Stacey Abrams's voter rights organization.
• 🧔‍♀️ Olive emphasizes the importance of rethinking what we want at various points in life and appreciates fiction that showcases platonic friendships between men and women.

Questions & Answers

Q: Did Olive enjoy the mix of romance and legal thriller in "Reckless"?

Yes, Olive found the combination refreshing and enjoyed the smooth writing and characterization. However, she mentioned that she prefers a slow burn romance instead of an immediate spark between characters.

Q: Was Olive surprised by the cliffhanger ending of "Reckless"?

Yes, Olive was unaware that "Reckless" was part of a series, so the cliffhanger ending caught her off guard. She expressed interest in reading the next book to see what happens next.

Q: What did Olive appreciate about "Evvie Drake Starts Over"?

Olive loved the platonic friendship between the main character and her best friend, which defied the stereotype that men and women can't be friends. She also enjoyed the well-researched baseball elements in the story.

Q: Why did Olive give "The Ex Talk" a slightly lower rating?

While Olive found the book fun and enjoyed the witty dialogue, she mentioned an annoying point of view issue where the perspective randomly switched to characters who hadn't been introduced before. Despite this, she still recommended the book for its contemporary and spicy romance.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Olive discusses "Reckless" by Selena Montgomery, a romantic legal thriller set in Atlanta, Georgia, where a defense lawyer returns to her hometown to help an innocent woman facing murder charges.

• She reviews "Evvie Drake Starts Over" by Linda Holmes, highlighting the story of a widow who pretends to mourn her late husband while navigating a unique living situation with a former professional baseball player.

• Olive shares her thoughts on "The Ex Talk" by Rachel Lynn Solomon, a contemporary romance following two public radio employees who must pretend to be exes for a new show about relationships.