littlemisscass's review
3.0
A duke who needs to marry an heiress to save his family falls in love with someone unsuitable? Sign me up.
Melonie Johnson writes good, well-rounded characters and this book is great, but the beginnings of her romances just make me cringe. Definitely may work for another reader, but this is the second of Johnson’s books where the early romance (prose and dialogue) just seemed really forced to me. I don’t understand it, because everything else works well. I managed to power through, it got a lot less cringe-worthy and I actively started enjoying it.
I may be a very picky reader when it comes to details but I’ve travelled from London to Cambridge and back and meeting someone at Charing Cross is not the easiest or fastest way to get to Piccadilly. I’ve spent a total of nine days in London in my life and even I immediately questioned that detail.
Cute premise, enjoyable story.
*An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Melonie Johnson writes good, well-rounded characters and this book is great, but the beginnings of her romances just make me cringe. Definitely may work for another reader, but this is the second of Johnson’s books where the early romance (prose and dialogue) just seemed really forced to me. I don’t understand it, because everything else works well. I managed to power through, it got a lot less cringe-worthy and I actively started enjoying it.
I may be a very picky reader when it comes to details but I’ve travelled from London to Cambridge and back and meeting someone at Charing Cross is not the easiest or fastest way to get to Piccadilly. I’ve spent a total of nine days in London in my life and even I immediately questioned that detail.
Cute premise, enjoyable story.
*An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
cassire's review
4.0
This is the second book in the Sometimes in Love series. I believe it can be read as a stand-alone. The heroine is American and the hero is British. I like that these books take place all over the world. It fulfills the travel bug in me.
I had a good time reading this book. It’s a slow burn. My big issue is that I felt like a major relationship milestone was rushed. They barely got together. It didn’t feel like the right time. I’m still plan on reading more books in this series.
I voluntarily read an early copy.
I had a good time reading this book. It’s a slow burn. My big issue is that I felt like a major relationship milestone was rushed. They barely got together. It didn’t feel like the right time. I’m still plan on reading more books in this series.
I voluntarily read an early copy.
katekate_reads_'s review
4.0
Another fun read in the Sometimes in Love series! This time we get the story of Bonnie - Cassie’s best friend from Getting Hot with the Scot. You could certainly read this as a stand-alone - but I think you’ll like it even more if you’ve read that first as we get to see more of Cassie and Logan in this story.
Bonnie loves books and reading - and I love all the references again. While Cassie was all about romances, Bonnie loves classics - specifically Shakespeare and Austen. When she finds real life becoming more like an Austen novel, she learns it isn’t necessarily what she imagined. I really enjoyed this story - making me want some delicious gingerbread and time in a cafe with a journal...and a duke.
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
Bonnie loves books and reading - and I love all the references again. While Cassie was all about romances, Bonnie loves classics - specifically Shakespeare and Austen. When she finds real life becoming more like an Austen novel, she learns it isn’t necessarily what she imagined. I really enjoyed this story - making me want some delicious gingerbread and time in a cafe with a journal...and a duke.
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
Smitten by the Brit by Melonie Johnson is a cute contemporary romance. Although this latest release is the second installment in the Sometimes in Love series, it can be read as a standalone.
Bonnie Blythe is patiently waiting for her childhood boyfriend and fiancé Gabe to FINALLY set their wedding date. He is about finished with his dissertation, so she is certain the upcoming summer will find her happily planning their nuptials. But alas, her heart is crushed when Bonnie discovers the real reason Gabe has been unenthusiastic about wedding plans. Luckily she has a group of gal pals who will do anything to help her through her heartbreak. Bonnie is even more delighted to spend time with Theo Wharton, the charming Brit she met last summer while on holiday with her friends. Is there a happily ever after waiting in the wings for Bonnie and Theo?
Bonnie loves all things British but she was a little unnerved by her attraction to Theo last summer. After all, at the time she was happily engaged even though she was a bit frustrated with Gabe's lack of interest in wedding planning. Bonnie always sees the best in everyone and she is a little naive so it is unsurprising she missed a few glaring red flags where her now former fiancé is concerned. Although she is of course saddened by the end of her engagement, she is a bit shocked to discover she is not as heartbroken as she expected to be. Bonnie works hard to keep Gabe's betrayal from shredding her self-esteem and well, Theo's obvious attraction to her is a confidence boost. She genuinely likes and admires the sexy Brit, but is there any chance their blazing hot attraction will lead to a lasting relationship?
Theo is incredibly loyal and knows exactly where his duty to his family will take him. Under increasing pressure from his mother to wed a suitable woman of means, he is completely captivated by Bonnie. He is a little sly and sneaky as he maneuvers his way into her life, but Bonnie quickly gets over her pique. Agreeing to a "friends with benefits" arrangement, they give their sizzling attraction free rein. Theo is a complete gentleman in and out of the bedroom so he is very understanding when Bonnie is not sure she is ready to become involved so soon after her messy break up. Is there any chance these star-crossed lovers will find a way to make a relationship work for them?
Smitten by the Brit is a light-hearted, sexy romance. Bonnie and Theo are delightfully engaging characters who are easy to like and root for. The relationship between them is full of sexual tension and they genuinely care for each other. This newest romance by Melonie Johnson is a marvelous addition to the Sometimes in Love series that readers are sure to enjoy.
Bonnie Blythe is patiently waiting for her childhood boyfriend and fiancé Gabe to FINALLY set their wedding date. He is about finished with his dissertation, so she is certain the upcoming summer will find her happily planning their nuptials. But alas, her heart is crushed when Bonnie discovers the real reason Gabe has been unenthusiastic about wedding plans. Luckily she has a group of gal pals who will do anything to help her through her heartbreak. Bonnie is even more delighted to spend time with Theo Wharton, the charming Brit she met last summer while on holiday with her friends. Is there a happily ever after waiting in the wings for Bonnie and Theo?
Bonnie loves all things British but she was a little unnerved by her attraction to Theo last summer. After all, at the time she was happily engaged even though she was a bit frustrated with Gabe's lack of interest in wedding planning. Bonnie always sees the best in everyone and she is a little naive so it is unsurprising she missed a few glaring red flags where her now former fiancé is concerned. Although she is of course saddened by the end of her engagement, she is a bit shocked to discover she is not as heartbroken as she expected to be. Bonnie works hard to keep Gabe's betrayal from shredding her self-esteem and well, Theo's obvious attraction to her is a confidence boost. She genuinely likes and admires the sexy Brit, but is there any chance their blazing hot attraction will lead to a lasting relationship?
Theo is incredibly loyal and knows exactly where his duty to his family will take him. Under increasing pressure from his mother to wed a suitable woman of means, he is completely captivated by Bonnie. He is a little sly and sneaky as he maneuvers his way into her life, but Bonnie quickly gets over her pique. Agreeing to a "friends with benefits" arrangement, they give their sizzling attraction free rein. Theo is a complete gentleman in and out of the bedroom so he is very understanding when Bonnie is not sure she is ready to become involved so soon after her messy break up. Is there any chance these star-crossed lovers will find a way to make a relationship work for them?
Smitten by the Brit is a light-hearted, sexy romance. Bonnie and Theo are delightfully engaging characters who are easy to like and root for. The relationship between them is full of sexual tension and they genuinely care for each other. This newest romance by Melonie Johnson is a marvelous addition to the Sometimes in Love series that readers are sure to enjoy.
tiffee07's review
4.0
I recieved a free copy of this book. I really enjoyed this book. I had the perfect balance of sweet and heat for a book in the romance genre. I will be checking out other books on this series!
sandlynn's review
3.0
Melonie Johnson’s Smitten by the Brit, published in 2019, is the second book in a series called, Sometimes in Love.
I did not read the first book in this series titled, Getting Hot with the Scot, but the opening pages of this story has our heroine, Bonnie Blythe, attending an event in Chicago involving the couple from the first book. Bonnie is the best friend of the previous heroine and was also on the trip to the United Kingdom that led to the engagement of the previous couple. During that trip, Bonnie met the best friend of “the Scot,” an Englishman — Theo Wharton — who she “sparked” with but couldn’t act upon because she had a live-in boyfriend at home. Needless to say, Bonnie is surprised to find that Theo is also at this Chicago event and that they still find each other very attractive.
Bonnie is not only “bothered” by Theo, but she’s also unhappy with the fact that her best friend is planning her own wedding, after such a short time, while Bonnie is still in limbo waiting to plan a wedding with her long term boyfriend, Gabe. That eventuality disappears when Bonnie returns home to find Gabe in their bed with another woman, propelling Bonnie into the arms of Theo. What Bonnie doesn’t know is that Theo has his own obligations and demands back in the U.K. that involves the solvency of his family and their ancestral holdings. They mutually decide on a no-strings involvement, but when Bonnie — who is an English professor — gets an offer to become a guest lecturer at Cambridge during the summer, Theo and she meet again and the constraints weighing on Theo suddenly become far more important.
So often readers say that you don’t need to read the former books in a series in order to read the current one, but I found myself annoyed that the couple from the previous book were such a big part of this book that I felt that I should’ve read the first one. If I had read that one, would I have proceeded to Smitten by the Brit? I’m not sure. There are things about this story that bothered me - specifically the constant reference to “the Scot,” “lass,” “lad,” and other stereotypical references that made me think that the author was treating these characters as caricatures instead of people. I liked Bonne and Theo, but not enough to care about their possible relationship. I especially didn’t care much for the resolution of Theo’s problem — which was an impediment to his being with Bonnie — it was rather simplistic, last minute, and rushed. The fact that Theo and his family hadn’t thought of it earlier since every other landed family in Britain, with a limited cash flow, has seemed like a”duh” moment. I think this was a “C” read. Average. Not bad, but not a stand-out.
I did not read the first book in this series titled, Getting Hot with the Scot, but the opening pages of this story has our heroine, Bonnie Blythe, attending an event in Chicago involving the couple from the first book. Bonnie is the best friend of the previous heroine and was also on the trip to the United Kingdom that led to the engagement of the previous couple. During that trip, Bonnie met the best friend of “the Scot,” an Englishman — Theo Wharton — who she “sparked” with but couldn’t act upon because she had a live-in boyfriend at home. Needless to say, Bonnie is surprised to find that Theo is also at this Chicago event and that they still find each other very attractive.
Bonnie is not only “bothered” by Theo, but she’s also unhappy with the fact that her best friend is planning her own wedding, after such a short time, while Bonnie is still in limbo waiting to plan a wedding with her long term boyfriend, Gabe. That eventuality disappears when Bonnie returns home to find Gabe in their bed with another woman, propelling Bonnie into the arms of Theo. What Bonnie doesn’t know is that Theo has his own obligations and demands back in the U.K. that involves the solvency of his family and their ancestral holdings. They mutually decide on a no-strings involvement, but when Bonnie — who is an English professor — gets an offer to become a guest lecturer at Cambridge during the summer, Theo and she meet again and the constraints weighing on Theo suddenly become far more important.
So often readers say that you don’t need to read the former books in a series in order to read the current one, but I found myself annoyed that the couple from the previous book were such a big part of this book that I felt that I should’ve read the first one. If I had read that one, would I have proceeded to Smitten by the Brit? I’m not sure. There are things about this story that bothered me - specifically the constant reference to “the Scot,” “lass,” “lad,” and other stereotypical references that made me think that the author was treating these characters as caricatures instead of people. I liked Bonne and Theo, but not enough to care about their possible relationship. I especially didn’t care much for the resolution of Theo’s problem — which was an impediment to his being with Bonnie — it was rather simplistic, last minute, and rushed. The fact that Theo and his family hadn’t thought of it earlier since every other landed family in Britain, with a limited cash flow, has seemed like a”duh” moment. I think this was a “C” read. Average. Not bad, but not a stand-out.
amyma's review
5.0
Smitten by the Brit by Melonie Johnson is the second steamy book in the Sometimes in Love series. Having read the first book, Getting Hot with the Scot, I was familiar with Bonnie and Theo, so was looking forward to their story. Fortunately, it did not let me down, I was drawn in right from the beginning and did not want to put the book down until the end. I sometimes found Bonnie's annoyance with Theo's chivalry to be stupid, but I was happy when she finally realized it was not so bad that he was a gentleman. I really enjoyed that the characters from book one played a prominent role in this book, so was able to continue their stories. This could be read as a standalone, but the books are super easy reads, so I would read them all, it is more fun that way! Looking forward to book three. Thank you to St. Martin's Paperbacks and NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.
slovenianbookworm's review
5.0
I loved the previous book in this series and I loved this one as well. If Logan had me swooning with his ”lass”, Theo had me with ”love”. I suspected there will be a book about them from Getting Hot with the Scot and I was so happy when I saw that yes, the author made him a main character in the next book. So, if you haven’t read the previous book I strongly recommend to read it (just to give you some background) but since both books are stand-alone, it’s up to you if you want to do that.
I don’t really read classics – such as Jane Austen or William Shakespeare – but I have heard of them (I mean, who didn’t? :D) so I do know a little of their works. I’m saying that because this book is filled with quotes from Austen’s books and also from Shakespeare’s. So if you’re a literary geek, an Austen fan, this is your book. Not only does Bonnie talk a lot about books, what is surprising is that Theo knows some quotes too. They are a match made in heaven, I guess.
As I said for the first book, this was fun to read too. I like Bonnie’s loyalty to her friends and her fiancé, but what it did bother me at the moment was that she kept comparing Cassie’s love life to hers – like how could she marry after knowing a guy for a year while Bonnie was engaged for a year and knowing her fiancé for her whole life. I understood where her thoughts came from but at the same time, I was like ”yeah, you mentioned that before please stop”. But at least, she wasn’t like crazy jealous or something.
Theo, on the other hand, was very loyal to his family. He knew he had responsibilities to the family but at the same time, he didn’t know what to do with his feelings for Bonnie. I love how the author included side characters – his sisters, especially Tabitha – to the story.
Like in the previous books in this too I didn’t like that the POVs weren’t separated. I know, I know, it’s a minor detail but I like to know which POV I’m reading. Since the book releases in May I’m sure all these things will be fixed.
5 stars.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Slovenian review and full post here: https://slovenianbookworm.wordpress.com/
I don’t really read classics – such as Jane Austen or William Shakespeare – but I have heard of them (I mean, who didn’t? :D) so I do know a little of their works. I’m saying that because this book is filled with quotes from Austen’s books and also from Shakespeare’s. So if you’re a literary geek, an Austen fan, this is your book. Not only does Bonnie talk a lot about books, what is surprising is that Theo knows some quotes too. They are a match made in heaven, I guess.
As I said for the first book, this was fun to read too. I like Bonnie’s loyalty to her friends and her fiancé, but what it did bother me at the moment was that she kept comparing Cassie’s love life to hers – like how could she marry after knowing a guy for a year while Bonnie was engaged for a year and knowing her fiancé for her whole life. I understood where her thoughts came from but at the same time, I was like ”yeah, you mentioned that before please stop”. But at least, she wasn’t like crazy jealous or something.
Theo, on the other hand, was very loyal to his family. He knew he had responsibilities to the family but at the same time, he didn’t know what to do with his feelings for Bonnie. I love how the author included side characters – his sisters, especially Tabitha – to the story.
Like in the previous books in this too I didn’t like that the POVs weren’t separated. I know, I know, it’s a minor detail but I like to know which POV I’m reading. Since the book releases in May I’m sure all these things will be fixed.
5 stars.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Slovenian review and full post here: https://slovenianbookworm.wordpress.com/
mags_louise's review
4.0
Smitten by the Brit was an enjoyable story. Yet I must admit to not being sure about it to begin with. As you have a Duke, who's on the verge of bankruptcy and whose mum is looking to marry him off to any wealthy, titled girl so that he can save the family fortune, and an English teacher, who forever quotes Shakespeare and is expecting her life to play out like she is Anne of Anne of Green Gables. But the more I read, the more I liked it and the more engaging this story became. Plus, it was undeniably sweet, easy to read, quirky and charming. As well as a little different to a lot of the contemporary romances I usually read, and I have to say overall I enjoyed this story more than Getting Hot with the Scot. And so I would happily recommend it to others.
**I was kindly provided with an ARC by St Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review**
**I was kindly provided with an ARC by St Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review**
gothai's review
3.0
We met Bonnie and Theo in the first book. Bonnie is a English professor who is engaged to her childhood sweetheart and Theo is a duke who is in situation wherein is mother is forcing him to marry for money. Bonnie and Theo start of with friends with benefits and fall in love overcoming all odds. There are lots of literary reference and quotes. We also see Cassie's and Logan's wedding (characters from the first book)
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC