thereadedit's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Plot: 5/5
Series: FoxBrooke #2
Place: FoxBrooke, UK
Tropes: second chance, forbidden love, super-steamy, small town romantic comedy with a guaranteed happily ever
TW: Alcoholism, death of a hated parent, brief mention of suicide, brief mentions of past physical and emotional child abuse, mild injury and illness requiring hospitalization,
Main Characters: Eveline & Jack
I absolutely love this series. It gives me all the laughs, swoons, and oh my gosh moments I need within a book. I already loved Eveline from what I saw of her in the first book. So when I saw she was the FMC of this book I was so excited. There aren't many books in the romance world about Vicars, so I was beyond intrigued.
I loved Eveline as a character and person. She was such a love filled person no matter the situation even when others wouldn't have been. I rooted so hard for her throughout the book because I wanted her to stand up for herself. I wanted her to tell people what was happening and what she wasn't going to put up with. She is a strong woman but she was lacking in that department. I would have gladly told about a couple people and their actions towards her.
Jack, Jack, Jack. What a man, what a man, what a man. He is a multifaceted man and has so much to offer. He just had a few hurdles to go through to get to that person he was always meant to be. I felt for him on so many levels, and hopes that he could heal old wounds. Or get as close to healing as he could.
I'm not going to lie. The miscommunication and not speaking up within this book kind of took off points for me. There needed to be accountability for those that chose the wrong things.
I received a complimentary copy via the author and BookSirens. All opinions are my own, honest and voluntary.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Plot: 5/5
Series: FoxBrooke #2
Place: FoxBrooke, UK
Tropes: second chance, forbidden love, super-steamy, small town romantic comedy with a guaranteed happily ever
TW: Alcoholism, death of a hated parent, brief mention of suicide, brief mentions of past physical and emotional child abuse, mild injury and illness requiring hospitalization,
Main Characters: Eveline & Jack
I absolutely love this series. It gives me all the laughs, swoons, and oh my gosh moments I need within a book. I already loved Eveline from what I saw of her in the first book. So when I saw she was the FMC of this book I was so excited. There aren't many books in the romance world about Vicars, so I was beyond intrigued.
I loved Eveline as a character and person. She was such a love filled person no matter the situation even when others wouldn't have been. I rooted so hard for her throughout the book because I wanted her to stand up for herself. I wanted her to tell people what was happening and what she wasn't going to put up with. She is a strong woman but she was lacking in that department. I would have gladly told about a couple people and their actions towards her.
Jack, Jack, Jack. What a man, what a man, what a man. He is a multifaceted man and has so much to offer. He just had a few hurdles to go through to get to that person he was always meant to be. I felt for him on so many levels, and hopes that he could heal old wounds. Or get as close to healing as he could.
I'm not going to lie. The miscommunication and not speaking up within this book kind of took off points for me. There needed to be accountability for those that chose the wrong things.
I received a complimentary copy via the author and BookSirens. All opinions are my own, honest and voluntary.
theweebookworm's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lauriereadsrom1's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When his estranged father passes away, Jack Newton reluctantly returns to his hometown of Foxbrooke. His mother isn't coping well, plus she's just had cataract surgery and needs help until she's able to drive again. Shortly after his return, he answers the front door of his childhood home and unexpectedly comes face to face with Eveline Shaw, the woman who's haunted his dreams ever since he met her in a London bar a year ago. The attraction between them is as strong as ever, and while Jack can't help but be tempted to pursue her, he knows that she's off limits. After all, what hope could there be for a future between the town's beloved vicar and a man who secretly makes his living as an escort?
I can always count on Evie Alexander's books to deliver a laugh, and this one was no exception. But Jack and Eveline's story also managed to give me all the feels. They were incredibly likeable and well-developed protagonists, and despite the fact that their backgrounds were so different from my own, I couldn't help but relate with their struggles. Their fiery chemistry and witty banter had me captivated from the very first page, and I was rooting for them the whole way.
Overall, I adored "An Unholy Affair" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book of the series!
*Review copy provided by the author via BookSirens. All opinions expressed are my own.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Child abuse
abercrombie1986's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love reading Evie’s romcoms. They always have a lot of humor and some spice. This one was a little new for me as it also had some underlying more serious issues, but it is still a romcom. Definitely check out trigger warnings if that could possibly affect your reading.
So in this one Jack is an escort and Eveline is a vicar. See she already has you smiling with that setup, am I right? I am not normally a fan of the miscommunication trope but this one didn’t seem so over the top with it. Maybe I connected a little more with the characters or in this one both main characters had their own weighty issue to work out in addition to maneuvering the start of a relationship. I always find that life comes full circle sometimes and I just saw The Princess Bride for the first time and there were references of the movie in this one. Finally I was in on the secret. (smile)
The characters, even the supporting ones, are so likable and relatable and of course I was rooting for Eveline and Jack. It’s a little bit of a second chance for them because they meet in the opening chapter with terrific chemistry and are then thrown together a year later as Jack is back in his hometown.
If you haven’t read one of Evie’s books, they are great characters with lots of laugh out loud humor and characters you want to keep reading about. This is book 2 in the Foxbrooke series and can be read as a stand alone, but after you read this one, you will want to go back and read all of her books.
theredheadbookaddict's review
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Okay so from the get go I loved this one. It was so swoonworthy and it is definitely worth having the bingeable word associated with it. This technically is a standalone but as ever it's encouraged to read book one beforehand.
Jack and Evelyn have insane chemistry. It's undeniable. It's the most unlikeliest of matches due to their jobs but somehow Evie made it work. The slow burn between these two was off the charts - I was fanning myself! When they did finally give in and combust there were fireworks.
There are some pretty strong conversations around alcoholism which i think is amazing and done brilliantly. This is something that I can relate to having had family members suffer from it.
There's so much humour and banter throughout the entire book and you'll be guaranteed some LOL moments with the movie references.
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘
• small town
• forbidden romance
• second chance
• she's a vicar & he's an escort
• found family
• alcoholism
Jack and Evelyn have insane chemistry. It's undeniable. It's the most unlikeliest of matches due to their jobs but somehow Evie made it work. The slow burn between these two was off the charts - I was fanning myself! When they did finally give in and combust there were fireworks.
There are some pretty strong conversations around alcoholism which i think is amazing and done brilliantly. This is something that I can relate to having had family members suffer from it.
There's so much humour and banter throughout the entire book and you'll be guaranteed some LOL moments with the movie references.
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘
• small town
• forbidden romance
• second chance
• she's a vicar & he's an escort
• found family
• alcoholism
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
em_mcd's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
a_workman89's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
“Will he show her heaven, or take her straight to hell?”
Eveline is a vicar. She is looking for marriage and kids. Jack is an escort who keeps his job a secret from everyone back home. They meet one night in a bar in London; sparks fly but their time is interrupted. A year later, when his father passes, he returns home. Eveline is living and working in his hometown. Can they move past their jobs and find love?
An Unholy Affair is the second novel in the Foxbrooke series. Despite this, these books can be read as standalone novels. Like Love and Lib, this is a super cute story. I absolutely loved the character and plot development. There are a few twists that will surprise you. There is some plot appropriate mild spicy scenes.
I would recommend both books in this series. An Unholy Affair is more serious than Love and Lib. But there is still a good deal of humor, especially thanks to Estelle. Everyone has certain assumptions of Eveline and Jack, yet these assumptions are incorrect.
elviolet's review
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Alcoholism
Minor: Child abuse
memull17's review
3.75
After a chance meeting in a bar in London, Jack can’t get the beautiful redhead named Eveline out of his mind but he knows the odds of every seeing her again are slim. When he returns to his hometown after the death of his father he meets Eveline again only to discover she’s the town vicar.
Jack is hiding a secret from Eveline but the more time he spends with her the more he wants to let her in and he starts to envision a different future. But the future Jack is envisioning could all be derailed when Eveline learns of his past.
I liked Jack and Eveline together and I loved that his first instinct was to take care of her because he recognized how much she gave of herself to others.
An Unholy Affair is the second book in this interconnected romance series set in the town of Foxbrooke with an eccentric group of family and friends and I can’t wait for Estelle (Henry from book 1, twin sister) to meet her match in The Upper Crust.
Thank you @eviealexanderauthor for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Jack is hiding a secret from Eveline but the more time he spends with her the more he wants to let her in and he starts to envision a different future. But the future Jack is envisioning could all be derailed when Eveline learns of his past.
I liked Jack and Eveline together and I loved that his first instinct was to take care of her because he recognized how much she gave of herself to others.
An Unholy Affair is the second book in this interconnected romance series set in the town of Foxbrooke with an eccentric group of family and friends and I can’t wait for Estelle (Henry from book 1, twin sister) to meet her match in The Upper Crust.
Thank you @eviealexanderauthor for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
readastray's review
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to read an ARC of An Unholy Affair in exchange for an honest review. I was not sure what I was getting myself into, but I was intrigued by the cover artwork and the synopsis. Technically this is the second book in the Foxbrooke series of interconnected stand-alones - the first being Love ad Lib.
I went into this thinking that maybe Jack and Eveline would have been childhood sweethearts or first loves, but it was more along the lines of strangers meeting up again after a chance encounter. However, their connection is still very compelling and I was rooting for them the whole time. There were also various characters that I was booing at as they tried to interfere.
Eveline might be one of the loveliest, most genuine members of the clergy I’ve ever read about (in truth, there haven’t been many, but it’s the thought that counts, right?). She is the vicar of a small town church who wants nothing more than to find love and keep her church thriving. Jack has been using his “God-given talents” to fund a lavish lifestyle far away from his childhood home. A series of events bring these two back together a year after they first met and sparks start flying once more.
I was not expecting this book to touch on such serious topics, but I grew to love Jack and Eveline even more from what they persevered through in their pasts - and a bit of the present. Jack and Eveline’s pasts shaped them into the people they are now - ones that are perfect for one another. Although the story didn’t shy away from some tough topics, it also made me laugh out loud several times and left me with a smile on my face.
This book is definitely worth your time even if you haven’t already read Love ad Lib. I fully plan to go back and read Love ad Lib in the near future and I’m hoping that the next book will focus on Eveline and Jack’s friend, Estelle.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism