With a stunning cover like that, how could I resist checking this out? I openly admit that it was the cover that drew me in, and I was intrigued once I read the blurb. But it only took a few pages before I was hooked – the premise is unique, the characters are compelling, and the humor had me smiling right away. It’s an interesting mix of romance and cozy murder mystery, pairing up a pink-haired firecracker of a heroine and a sweet, sexy professor-esque hero. I love a good roommates to lovers romance, and adding in the unexpected history between this couple made the story even richer. I loved how vibrant our heroine is, and I also loved the one-of-a-kind hero. He’s a genuinely kind and compassionate man, one who falls for a woman’s personality before her body, and he’s got just enough grumpiness to him to spark plenty of banter. Add in the murder mystery, and this was such a fresh and enjoyable read.
The story follows Aiden (35), a teacher who devotes much of his time to helping others. He volunteers at the local food bank, and inevitably ends up donating goods each month. That’s part of the reason why he still lives with a roommate, and he’s about to get a new one. Except Aiden’s new roommate is sure to be trouble – Juniper (30) is one of the students Aiden tutored when he was in college. At the time, Juniper admitted that she had a huge crush on Aiden, but he made it clear that was not okay. So living together – and seeing what a beautiful, interesting woman Juniper has become – is sure to be trouble. And when the two find a dead body together, well, things get even more complicated. Teaming up to solve the mystery, Juniper and Aiden realize they’ve got all kinds of trouble on their hands.
I went into this without knowing much about the story or the vibe, and I quickly discovered that it was all working for me. It’s equalparts romance and murder mystery, with soft, small town vibes and a slow-burning love story. The lighthearted romance, humor, and playful bickering balance out the heaviness of the murder mystery and Juniper’s backstory. I really enjoyed both pieces. It was easy to get drawn in, because both Aiden and Juniper make great characters, and I loved learning more about their pasts. The romance definitely has a soft, sweet feel to it – it’s very much a slow burn, and there are only a few kisses. I personally think a little bit of spice would’ve upped the intensity in a good way, but I also enjoyed the cozy murder mystery vibes. It’s a layered story with a nice amount of depth, and I loved that it remained so easygoing while still delving into heavier topics. All in all, this was a breath of fresh air in a lot of ways, and I had a great time with the experience.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/40EFwQm
Blurb:
Love, laughter, and a dead body…
Juniper Bean has big plans for her writing career. Swoony kisses, sigh-inducing happily ever afters—she’s going to write them all.
There’s just one problem: she can’t seem to stop killing off her main characters.
After accepting that a genre change is in order, Juniper sets out to do some research. What’s the best way to carry a dead body? How exactly does one pick a lock? Juniper is going to find out—with the unwilling help of her new roommate, Aiden.
But Juniper’s plans go haywire when she stumbles across an actual, real-life dead body—and before she knows it, she and Aiden are thrust into the middle of a murder mystery that seems suspiciously tied to Juniper’s past.
Who killed the girl in the woods? Can Juniper ever get the hang of mystery writing? And, perhaps the biggest question of all: Why the heck does Aiden look so good in a tweed jacket?
Amazon: https://amzn.to/40EFwQm
About the Author:
Gracie lives in a tiny town in Idaho, where she subsists on a diet of chocolate, romance novels, and kisses from her cute family. She may or may not have a cheesecake addiction, as well as an addiction to scribbling story ideas on whatever flat surfaces happen to be nearby. Clean romance and romantic comedy are her passion.
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Jeeves Reads Romance 