Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
I am combining CWW with Books From the Backlog hosted by Carole at Carole's Random Life in Books. This will allow me to feature some newly "rediscovered" books, which I plan on reading, alongside a new release.
This week I can't wait for
Published by Berkley on September 26, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
Two hotel receptionists--and arch-rivals--find a collection of old wedding rings and compete to return them to their owners, discovering their own love story along the way.
It's the busiest season of the year, and Forest Manor Hotel is quite literally falling apart. So when Izzy and Lucas are given the same shift on the hotel's front desk, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and see it through.
The hotel won't stay afloat beyond Christmas without some sort of miracle. But when Izzy returns a guest's lost wedding ring, the reward convinces management that this might be the way to fix everything. With four rings still sitting in the lost & found, the race is on for Izzy and Lucas to save their beloved hotel--and their jobs.
As their bitter rivalry turns into something much more complicated, Izzy and Lucas begin to wonder if there's more at stake here than the hotel's future. Can the two of them make it through the season with their hearts intact?
For me, O'Leary's books just keep getting better and better. The last one came out of nowhere and got me right in my feels. I thought it was brilliant. As much as I loved it, I am looking forward to something a bit lighter, and I think that will happen with The Wake-Up Call.
How could I not love a story about rivals that become lovers as they set about returning wedding rings? I love it! The hotel setting during the holiday season is sure to add an extra something to the story as well. I have a lot of faith that this will be a good one for me.
Published by Pinkity Publishing on November 1, 2022
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
He’ll win her heart one mixtape at a time.
Ashley Cooke will do just about anything to save her struggling ski hill. When she hires the men from a local sober living home for the season to cut costs, even she thinks she’s gone too far. With her credit cards maxed, her cheating ex-husband intent on buying the mountain out from under her, and record-breaking snow in the forecast, she can’t afford to be distracted by the six-foot-tall bearded and tattooed sober living home owner moving onto her mountain.
Recovering addict and ex-grunge rocker Matthew Madigan has devoted every minute of the last decade to the men residing at his sober living home. When he meets tightly wound and adorably flustered Ashley, desires he’s put on the back burner for years start to simmer. Immune to his infamous albeit rusty charm, Ashley presents a challenge he can’t resist. When she offers to give him skiing lessons in exchange for his help training her St. Bernard rescue dog, he jumps at the chance to ride next to her on the chairlift despite his debilitating fear of heights.
During bunny hill shenanigans, chairlift confessions, and steamy cabin serenades, Madigan teaches Ashley that a person’s past doesn’t define them, and Ashley shows Madigan that the men he helps aren’t the only people who deserve a second chance. When sabotage threatens both the men and the mountain, Ashley and Madigan will have to decide if they’re only having a winter fling, or if the mountain isn’t the only thing worth fighting for.
I mean, the title is a nod to quite an epic song. It just called to that early 90s grunge girl in me. It's also a Gen X romance - these are my people! I have lamented, time and again, that we need more "mature" characters in romances. It's always a thrill to encounter people around my age. I have also read some great recent reviews for this book which was just the push I needed to finally get it on my weekly TBR.
Let us know in the comments!
The "Gen X romance" tag is interesting. I don't think I've seen that before. I definitely like the addition of slightly older characters. Reading romance after romance with 20-somethings leaves me wanting older, more relatable characters.
ReplyDeleteI started it this morning. It's good far. The title fits. The hero is 53 and the heroine is 46. Much older than the norm.
DeleteA 53 year old hero... I love it!!
DeleteI haven't been keeping up with O'Leary's books, but I do like the sound of this one!
ReplyDeleteI loved the last one so much!
DeleteI'll be curious to hear about the gen x characters. I hope they do them well and don't make them seem older than they actually are. I have found that a few times.
ReplyDeleteThey are great - one over 50, one almost 50, both trying to be loved for who they are. (Hence the name of the book) I am enjoying it
DeleteI'm really excited for the Beth O'Leary book too. Her last one was my favorite from her so far and this one sounds just as good.
ReplyDeleteThe last one was so good. I am getting chills thinking of when I realized what was going on. I was on vacation and remember yelling out "WHAT!", and then I cried.
DeleteA 53 year old hero? Yes, that's my age! I've loved the last couple of Beth O'Leary books, but I would like a lighter one from her. I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster with The No-Show even though I loved the story. I have to mentally prepare for those kinds of reads, lol! Hope we both love it. :)
ReplyDeleteThe No-Show was a roller coaster I did not see coming, but I thought it was brilliant. I LOVED Come as You Are. It was a great, feel-good "mature" romance.
DeleteI can't wait for Beth's next book either!
ReplyDeleteI hope it's a hit for us both
DeleteHey, I'm Gen X! I love that there are romances featuring our generation. Both of these sound like great reads.
ReplyDeleteSo exciting to see older people in romances.
DeleteI am pending for the O'Leary book on NG, so will probably have to wait until it is published to get a hold of it. I hope you enjoy both of these books, Sam.
ReplyDeleteCome as You Are was a big hit for me. Totally feel-good story. It will be a few weeks until I read the O'Leary book, but I am confident it will be great. Hope your approval comes through
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