#BookReview: Love By The Slice by Maddie Evans

Solidly Short Sequel. This book is a direct sequel to the Christmas 2024 era book A Wood-Fired Christmas, and like that book, it works quite well indeed as a particularly short romance novella that manages to pack quite a bit of tale and even emotional heft in its short, sub 100 page, length.

Long time fans of Evans know what to expect, but for newbies – and this series *is* a great introduction to her style with minimal time commitments – Evans tends to write “clean” (I wouldn’t go so far as to say “sweet”, as they usually involve some level of emotional drama) somewhat off-beat or even quirky romances, and this one is absolutely that.

Here we get two well meaning people who come from very different backgrounds trying to figure out how to come together as a couple, along with the continuing escapades of the brother of one of them an the boss of all of them (including the brother)… who are both the couple featured in Wood Fired Christmas.

Overall truly a fun little romance book perfect for when you’re just trying to make it to double digit books read by the end of the month (as I was, perfect timing Maddie!) or whenever you may have only a few spare minutes to read.

Very much recommended.

This review of Love By The Slice by Maddie Evans was originally written on February 4, 2025.

#BookReview: The (Not So) Perfect Second Chance by Maggie Dallen

Short. Quick. Hallmarkie. Perfect For Holiday Season Or Any Time You Need A Quick Break From Reality. Let’s face it, particularly barely two weeks out from polls beginning to close in the 2024 Presidential Election, we could *all* use a break from reality… but we don’t all have hours to spend in some 300+ page book, much less a 700+ page fantasy tome. Enter this short story originally written as part of an anthology, but now available independently. I read it in I want to say 2.5 hrs or so, it really is that quick. And can be mostly read in shorter chunks still, if that is all the time you have. It works *best* as a finale to the Falling In Friar Hollow series, as it was written as, but in all honesty, if you don’t mind knowing that the couples featured in a *romance book* wound up together… this could also work as an introduction of sorts to the series. Similarly, if you’ve never read Dallen and/ or her contemporary books, this is a solid introduction to her general style for that type of tale. Very much recommended.

This review of The (Not So) Perfect Second Chance by Maggie Dallen was originally written on October 22, 2024.