Category Archives: Laurelin McGee

Review: Love Struck by Laurelin McGee

love struckTitle: Love Struck by Laurelin McGee
Miss Match Series Book Two
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Welcome to a seductive world where two solo artists combine their talents-and their hearts-to make beautiful music together…

SHE’S GETTING INTO THE GROOVE
Lacy Dawson is a young singer-songwriter with a record deal, a studio gig, and a serious case of writer’s block. After looking for love songs in all the wrong places, she finds inspiration at an online support group called Song Writers Anonymous. Thanks to one mysterious member who motivates her and inspires her, Lacy’s career is back on track. But is she ready to meet her sexy musical muse…face to face?

HE MAKES HER HEART SKIP A BEAT
Eli is definitely interested in hooking up with Lacy, aka “LoveCoda.” But between writing her new album and his band’s success, they can’t find the time to face the music-or each other-about their burgeoning online romance. All that changes when Eli and Lacy get booked on tour together. In person, the attraction is all too real and explosive. They both should walk away, but once they are in each other’s arms, there is no turning back…

Review:

Love Struck, the second book in Laurelin McGee’s Miss Match series, is a charming romance that relies heavily on misunderstandings to create conflict for lead protagonists Lacy Dawson and Eli Frank.

Lacy is a singer/songwriter who has been suffering from severe writer’s block since her fiancé’s death. After joining an anonymous online songwriter’s support group in hopes of finding inspiration, she and another member, Folx, have grown very close. Forum rules prevent them from revealing their identities, but Lacy and Folx decide to set up a meeting in real life. Due to professional obligations, they have to put off their “date” for a few months and things get very complicated for both of them in the intervening months.

Lacy has been struggling for months to recapture her songwriting mojo and she definitely feels the pressure when her recording date for her next album moves up. No one but Folx knows how much trouble she has been having creating enough material for her new project but she still remains hopeful her creativity will resume before she hits the recording studio. When an unexpected opportunity arises for her fill in as opening act for another group, Lacy hopes spending time with other musicians will help get her back on track.

While Eli has no trouble writing new songs, he and his band mates have been struggling with creative differences for the past several months. Their lead singer, Jax, is temperamental and the rest of the band has been treating him with kid gloves for quite some time. Although he has been putting aside his personal differences with Jax because of their longstanding friendship, Eli’s compassion and patience are about to run out but fear of making it on his own keeps him from making a decision about the band.

Until Lacy goes on tour, Love Struck is fast paced and engaging with witty banter and an obvious connection between Lacy and Folx. However, after Lacy meets Eli, the novel gets bogged down in misunderstandings and miscommunication. The pair are instantly drawn to one another and their attraction soon turns physical. It does not take long for their relationship to turn into a repetitious cycle of on again/off again as they push one another away only to give in to their desire then the whole cycle starts all over again. As if they do not have enough problems, Eli comes to shocking realization and makes decision that is well-meaning but becomes another source of conflict between them.

Love Struck is an enjoyable (albeit frustrating) romance between two very appealing characters. Lacy’s portion of the storyline is poignant and Laurelin McGee deftly handles some difficult subject matter with a great deal of sensitivity. Eli is at a crossroads professionally and although it is not easy for him, he is eventually forced to make a difficult decision. The conflict between Lacy and Eli is initially interesting, but it drags on a little too long which makes it difficult to remain invested in the final outcome of their relationship. However, the overall premise of the novel is unique and the story is well written. All in all, a lovely addition to the Miss Match series.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Laurelin McGee, Love Struck, Miss Match Series, Rated C+, Review, Romance, St Martin's Paperbacks

Review: Miss Match by Laurelin McGee

miss matchTitle: Miss Match by Laurelin McGee
Publisher: St. Martin’ Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Welcome to the sexy, crazy, wildly unpredictable world of modern matchmaking, where fixing up strangers is part of the job–but falling in love is an occupational hazard…

HE’S THE PERFECT CATCH.
Blake Donovan is tall, handsome, rich, and successful–so why would a guy like him need a matchmaker? Andrea Dawson has no idea, but a job is a job. After being blackballed from a career in marketing, Andrea agreed to use her unique profiling skills to play matchmaker out of pure desperation. But when she meets her highly eligible–and particular–first client face to face, she wonders what she’s gotten herself into…

IS SHE HIS PERFECT MATCH?
Blake knows exactly the kind of woman he’s looking for–and it’s the total opposite of Andrea. Though smart and undeniably sexy, she is simply too headstrong for a man who’s used to being in charge. Still, Blake’s blood pressure rises whenever she’s near him. How can he explain the smoldering attraction that sizzles between them? And how can Andrea deny she’s feeling it, too? Maybe, just maybe, they’ve finally met their match…

Review:

Miss Match by Laurelin McGee is a super cute and downright fun novel with a delightfully unique premise. This charming and rather unconventional romance has plenty of witty banter and giggle inducing inner dialogue that will keep readers laughing out loud as Andrea “Andy” Dawson and Blake Donovan unexpectedly fall in lust while Andy tries to find Blake a wife.

Andy is in desperate need of a job when her sister Lacy convinces her to answer Blake’s ad for a “personal concierge” aka matchmaker. Andy really has no intention of taking the job but once all her other leads fizzle out, she reluctantly accepts the position. She has a very unwanted attraction to her new boss, but his less than appealing attributes make it easy for her to resist the sparks between them. But once Andy jumps to conclusions about his dates, Blake proposes they indulge in a no strings fling while she continues trying to find him his perfect match. Much hilarity and extreme hotness ensues but a will a misunderstanding destroy their chance at happiness?

Andy is a tad bit annoying at first but once she starts working for Blake, she becomes a much more enjoyable character. She has a very unusual ability to read people and this skill was the basis for her previous job. She might be attracted to Blake but his cold, businesslike approach to marriage makes it difficult for her to like him, and she does not hesitate to point out his character flaws. She is exasperated by his ridiculous qualifications for a wife but she has a job to do, so she begins the onerous task of finding prospective brides for him while at the same time trying to make Blake appear more interesting and approachable.

Blake is rather unlikable when he is first introduced, but thankfully, any misconceptions about him are quickly cleared up. He comes across as a little cold and calculating with a side of chauvinist thrown in, but first impressions can definitely be misleading. Blake really does have softer side but he goes to pretty extreme lengths to keep his more endearing traits hidden. Although he wants a submissive, serene bride, he cannot help but appreciate Andy’s feistiness and he surprises both of them by immediately changing the rules of her employment so he can spend more time with her. Andy keeps Blake off balance right from the start and he gradually begins envisioning a different life than the one he thought he wanted.

Miss Match by Laurelin McGee is a sweet but sexy read. Andy and Blake are beautifully developed quirky characters that are very easy to like. The chemistry between them is palpable and their sex scenes are scorching hot. The storyline is quite distinctive and outrageously entertaining with a few unexpected twists and turns. It is an absolutely hilarious and very heartwarming love story that is sure to be a hit with fans of contemporary romances.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Laurelin McGee, Miss Match, Rated B+, Review, Romance