There are times when only a fluffy romance will do—especially if it also sweeps you away to a memorable setting. Both of these novels blend wonderful locations, heartfelt romance, and plenty of charm.
Goodreads says, "Lena Westbrook, a perfectionist and workaholic, has carefully planned and orchestrated every detail of her life. So when her boyfriend of two years breaks up with her on the night she expects him to propose, she’s heartbroken and confused. Lena flees to her beloved aunt’s home on Seattle’s picturesque Bainbridge Island to lick her wounds and recalibrate. That night, she falls asleep in the guest house. But when she awakens the next morning, she’s no longer in a cottage nestled on the Puget Sound, but rather in a chic Parisian apartment—wearing an expensive silk nightgown in bed with a handsome French man who seems to think that Lena is his wife.
From the elegant neighborhoods of Paris to the charming landscape of Kinsale, Ireland, to the sparkling skyline of New York City, and many other unexpected destinations in between, each time Lena awakens, she finds herself somewhere else with someone else. In each experience, she’s given a glimpse of what life might have looked like had she chosen the “road not taken.” And as she becomes more clear-sighted about her past decisions, Lena begins to wonder, were any of these former romantic encounters actually...significant?
Marrying the wish-fulfilling romance of Emily in Paris with the high-concept premise of Groundhog Day, Insignificant Others is a lively, surprising, and enchanting novel that explores the relatable and resonant “what ifs” of life, but most especially, love.
What really pulled me into the story of Insignificant Others was the different destinations and their quick pace. One minute you are enjoying a Parisian evening, the next you are in gorgeous Kinsale, Ireland. It bops around like this, which keeps readers interested, especially as they learn more about Lena's past and her relationships. It's an interesting concept and Jio does a good job bringing it to life, although it felt like I couldn't really dive into the characters as, other than Lena, her best friend, and her great-aunt, they kept changing. I also reminded me a bit of The Husbands, but Insignificant Others had a bit more heart than that novel in that it focused on Lena's past relationships and not just random men. However, it's a similar concept, which might take away some of this book's appeal if you are familiar with that novel. Nonetheless, this was a sweet story that I was glad to be lost in.
Goodreads says, "She's been driving him wild for years. The good kind of wild. The bad kind of wild. But mostly, the kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend's little sister and knowing you can't have her.
Forbes may have labeled Ford Grant the World's Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in gorgeous small town Rose Hill. Something that comes to a screeching halt when he ends up face-to-face with a young girl who claims he's her biological father. Now, he spends his days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old, all while trying desperately to keep his hands the hell off his best friend's sister, Rosie Belmont.
After living in the city, Rosie came blasting back into town like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. And one wide-eyed, desperate plea for a job is all it takes for Ford to hire her. He vows to keep her at arm's length. Tries to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her, verbal sparring is a type of foreplay―friction that soon turns to blistering heat.
Ford knows damn well he shouldn't cross this line. But shouldn't and can't are two very different things. And the only thing he truly can't do is resist her."
Forbes is a billionaire, but all he wants to do is escape the limelight in his small home town of Rose Hill, adjacent to the Rocky Mountains, and work in his recording studio. His life is pretty coapectic, until Cora, a twelve-year-old girl, shows up and upends his life. She claims to be his daughter, and she needs his help. On top of that, his best friend's sister, Rosie Belmont, is back in town, and he has been silently pining for her for years. Rosie has returned to Rose Hill, as she has lost her job and needs a safe place to land. Thankfully, with her background in business, Forbes hires her to work in his recording studio. They have grown up together and share many memories, but they have always been just friends, as in irritating one another as teenagers. However, Forbes has been there for Rosie more times than not, and that comes to the forefront as they spend more time together. They can't resist the chemistry between the two, but this relationship is the last thing either person currently needs. Wild Love by Elsie Silver is a steamy novel that is the start to a great series for romance lovers.
Let me be clear: this novel isn’t usually my type of read. However, I have started to enjoy traditional romance novels more and more. Wild Love took me by surprise. I thought Silver did a sensational job of developing the chemistry between Rosie and Forbes—it was smoking hot! This brings me to the open-door scenes: if you prefer your reads without a lot of steamy details, this book isn’t for you, as there are plenty! However, I thought they were well executed and not just added in as an afterthought. Also, I really enjoyed the plotline involving Cora and how she entered Forbes’s life. This definitely contributed to the character development. My only complaint is that the book is over 400 pages long, which seems rather lengthy for a romance novel. However, when I heard that the Rose Hill series was being adapted for Amazon, I knew I had to pick up a copy. I’m glad I did; it did not disappoint, and I’ll definitely continue with the series.
I’d love to hear what you think! Have you had a chance to read either Insignificant Others or Wild Love? Let me know in the comments below.
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