2-in-1 Review: Worst Wingman Ever and The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez

Author: Abby Jimenez

Narrator: Andi Arndt, Zachary Webber

Title: Worst Wingman Ever

Series: Valentine's Day #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella, Short Story

Format: Audiobook 

Published: January 23, 2024

Where I Got It: Audible

Summary: 

Holly is dealing with the impending death of her grandmother and still reeling from a bad breakup. One bright spot: a Valentine’s Day card on Holly’s windshield—even if it wasn’t meant for her. An amusing mistake soon turns into a lovely exchange of anonymous notes, little acts of kindness, and a growing affection between two strangers. What happens when one of them has to say goodbye?

Review:

Accidently started book 2 first, but I stopped my roll and went and got this one. I knowwww the couple order doesn't truly matter, but I'm glad I did. 

Here we follow Holly and John. Holly is dealing with the impending death of her grandma and still recovering from a bad breakup. She needs a break, but life is not fair. On Valentine's Day, Holly receives a Valentine's Day card on her windshield. It wasn't meant for her. The sender put it on the wrong car. And that sender was John. He was doing a favor for a friend, but he got it all wrong. The worst wingman ever. An amusing mistake soon turns into a lovely exchange of anonymous notes, little acts of kindness, and a growing affection between two strangers. 

Simply adorable. So very unlikely, but I loved how this love blossomed so slowly. They both had bad breakups and life hasn't been kind to either of them. They help each other through it with these kind notes left on her windshield. 

When they finally meet me heart jumped! Awwww they are sooooooooooo cute!!!!

This was a slow-burn and it worked for them. 

The narrators are familiar and I love their voices. Perfect. 

Perfect novella. I loved every second of it. Plus her grandma's secret? I didn't see THAT coming. 

5 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): All of them

Least Favorite Character(s): Not the exes

 Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #44

Author: Abby Jimenez

Narrator: Julia Whelan, Connor Crais

Title: The Fall Risk

Series: Valentine's Day #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella, Short Story

Format: Audiobook 

Published: March 1, 2025

Where I Got It: Audible

Summary: 

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and Charlotte and Seth are not looking for romance. Armed with emotional-support bear spray, Charlotte is in self-imposed isolation and on guard from men. Having a stalker can do that to a person’s nerves. Just across the hall and giving off woodsy vibes is Seth, a recently divorced arborist. As in today recently. Heights, he’s fine with. Trust? Not so much. But when disaster traps them one flight up and no way down, an outrageously precarious predicament forces a tree-loving guy and a rattled girl next door to embrace their captivity. Soon their defenses are breaking away. Considering how close they both are to the edge, Charlotte and Seth could be in danger of falling—in love.

Review:

Seen this and it was free on Audible...so I gobbled it up! This author is so good. 

Here we follow Charlotte and Seth. It is Valentine's Day weekend and they are not looking for love. Charlotte is in a self-imposed isolation and on guard because of a stalker the cops can't find. Seth is a recently divorced arborist and has a hurt ankle. The two live in the same apartment building and are trapped when the stairs are removed. During this entrapment, they start talking and start getting closer and are in danger of falling........in love. 

This one for sure has some triggers, so be aware. 

Oh Charlotte....you sweet bean. 

Seth...you are an angel. 

I loved this couple. They have a lot to work through because Charlotte has some trauma. I loved how they dealt with it. Seth never pushed or rushed things. They took it slow. 

This had some humor in it too! Those old ladies were a hoot. I was howling. 

The ending was.......too clean. It was too easily remedied for the seriousness of the crime. 

I also was on the fence with our little side romance. I hope she treats him well.

The narrators were lovely and fit well. 

I'll give this 4 stars. The ending was just.....too easy. 

Favorite Character(s): All of them

Least Favorite Character(s): The exes

 Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #45

Book Review: The Situationship by Abby Jimenez

Author: Abby Jimenez

Title: The Situationship

Series: Part of Your World #3.5

Genre: Romance, Short Story, Novella, Comedy

Format: ebook

Pages: 37

Published: September 24, 2024

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Travel nurse Maddy doesn't have time for a relationship, not even with the ruggedly handsome farmer who she feels a spark of attraction to.

Doug is a walking green flag. After a run in with Maddy thanks to the Wakan town mascot, Kevin Bacon the pig, he can't help but feel the spark too.

Even though she doesn't plan on staying in Minnesota forever, Maddy believes she and Doug can still have a fling… or maybe they’ll just find themselves in a situationship. 

Review:

After the conclusion of the last book I had to read this little novella. 

Maddy doesn't want or have time for a relationship. She doesn't plan on staying in Minnesota forever...just long enough to make sure her friend is settled. However, she meets Doug who is a ruggedly handsome farmer who is the owner of the town's mascot....Keving Bacon the pig. There is a spark there and they can't help themselves. 

After the ending of the last book (as I mentioned), I had to read this. I had to know how and why these two people fell in love. Out of all the characters in all of the books, I didn't think these two would fall for each other. So unlikely! So opposite! So....of course they fell in love. What is wrong with me? It's like I've never read a romance ;)

But yes, it was a funny and fun meet-cute. I love Kevin Bacon. I didn't think I would like this coupling, but I ended up falling in love with them. 

This needed more. I wanted more. But it worked fine with the length. Maybe we'll see them in future books. 

Short and cute. I actually read this twice because I liked it. I'll give it 5 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Kevin Bacon the pig

Least Favorite Character(s): no one 

 Challenge(s):

- Library Love #22

Audiobook Review: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Author: Abby Jimenez

Narrator: Christine Lakin & Zachary Webber

Title: Just for the Summer

Series: Part of Your World #3

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

Format: Audiobook 

Published: April 2, 2024

Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.

Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected--including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

Review:

This was picked as something to read by my Twitch community BUT I had my eyes on this one as well since I enjoyed the first two of the series. 

Here we follow Emma and Justin. They both have a wild curse where the person they break up with happens to find their true love shortly after. The two meet on Reddit and decide that maybe, JUST maybe, they can break the curse after they "date" and break up. Emma is a traveling nurse and decides to take her next assignment at the hospital near Justin. This is supposed to be a quick and fake summer fling, but they are catching real feelings for each other. However, they have a lot of baggage that could provide some major hurdles for them. 

You really should read the other two books before this one especially since there is a huge connection that is revealed. I do not want to say TOO much because it is a huge twist! I had zero idea. It really took me aback! I didn't see it coming! But this does okay as a standalone overall, but the connections make it just that more special. 

Loved seeing Justin find love. He was such a nice guy in the last book. He deserves all the happiness life has to offer. My heart broke for him learning about what is happening to his family. I feel for them all...even his mom. Life is never black and white.

Oooooh Emma!!! Her backstory and issues broke my heart. I HATE her mother soooo much! I was literally screaming for Emma to stand up and tell her to go away. Booooo!

This was adorable overall. Some humor. Some smexy scenes. Lots and lots of baggage these two had to shift through. Like the other book the author does have a layer of real life mental health or health issues that she gives her characters. I really love it. Yes, you know they will find their HEA but it just feels so real. The author really does a wonderful job of blending everything together that isn't TOO heavy ALL the time or TOO sweet or TOO ridiculously funny. It is simply perfect.

I enjoyed this a lot. I dare say I loved it. 

The narrators are just the cherry on top! They are perfect and bring the story to life. 

In the end, I adored this book just as much as the others. I love our characters and I loved watching them fall in love. It broke my heart seeing them go through all the issues, but it was worth seeing it so they could get to their HEA. 5 stars from me.  

Favorite Character(s): Justin

Least Favorite Character(s): Amber

 Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #32

- Library Love #18

Audiobook Review: Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

Author: Abby Jimenez

Narrator: Kyla Garcia & Zachary Webber

Title: Yours Truly

Series: Part of Your World #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

Format: Audiobook 

Published: April 11, 2023

Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,” and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse.

Review:

I was so excited to read Briana's tale after the conclusion of book 1. Briana deserves happiness and love and joy. 

Here we follow Briana and Jacob. Briana's life is falling apart. Her divorce is about to be finalized and her brother needs a new kidney but no one in her family is a match. Her best friend moved far away. And now a new doctor enters the hospital and could be a candidate for the promotion she wants and he seems like a total jerk. She is ready to hate him for life, but Jacob completely flips the table by sending her a letter. The letter shows the real him and what he struggles to say out loud with his social anxiety. Things get more complex when he is donates a kidney for her brother. He wanted to keep it a secret, but it gets leaked that he is the mysterious donor. Briana wants to do something for him, so all he asks is for her to be his fake girlfriend to get through his brother's and ex's wedding. Yep, his brother is marrying his ex. Of course Briana is game! 

This could do well as a standalone, BUT I highly recommend reading book 1 first.

Oh this broke me at the end. I was enjoying this fake romance with happiness and joy. Yes, there are some sad moments especially in regards to Briana's brother who is struggling. The last 15% had me crying big ol' tears. I couldn't relate more to Briana if I tried. Trust is hard. I don't trust easily so seeing some of my insecurities and fears on page....damn. Okay. Those 15% pages of tears made me love the book. I went from...this is pretty good....to....I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK. 

I think what I truly loved about this book (and book 1) is that we get the goofy and humor parts. We get the romance and when-will-they parts. BUT the author really shows the reality of mental illness. It's not just a fun fact about someone in her book. We get to see how it can impact their decision-making and their relationships. We see our lovers work through it and come out the other end with a HEA we all deserve. *chef kiss*

Also, I love the fact that the "villains" of the story at some point you can't help but find some small shred of sympathy or forgiveness or pity or something. You can still dislike them and hate what they did, but twice now I ended up not hating the character(s). This is hard to do and the author did it twice for me. 

The narrators were perfection. I believe I have heard the male voice before, but the female voice was new to me. I loved them both. 

All-in-all, I really adored this book. It started off as good, but that last 15% made me fall in love. The characters. The humor. The romance. The dog. The extra trauma I was given. Loved it all. 5 stars of course. 

 

Favorite Character(s): Briana and Jacob. But the true hero was the doggo

Least Favorite Character(s): Briana's ex. Sure I forgave him a smidge so I don't "hate" him anymore, but he can still bugger off. 

 Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #30

- Library Love #15

Audiobook Review: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

Author: Abby Jimenez

Narrator: Julia Whelan, Zachary Webber

Title: Part of Your World

Series: Part of Your World #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

Format: Audiobook

Published: April 19, 2022

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable.

While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere” ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people.

Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?

Review:

Been meaning to read this so I was excited when it showed up at the library!

Here we follow Alexis and Daniel. The two couldn't be more different. Alexis comes a family of world-renowned surgeons, but she is "just" an ER doctor. They were okay with this because she was dating the head of surgery. When she breaks up with him, her parents want her to strive for more. On the way home from a funeral, Alexis meets Daniel. Daniel is the honorary mayor of a tiny town and he runs a small hotel in his family's house. There is an instant connection but it seems impossible to bring this small town boy into her world. 

Honestly, this might be a contender for best book of the year. Saying that now. I really, really enjoyed this book. The characters, the humor, the serious tones, the small town, Kevin Bacon the pig....everything. 

Their situation seemed so hopeless because she wants her parent's love SO bad that it would be impossible to bring Daniel into the fold. He's 9 years her senior and he isn't to her parent's standards at all. The answer seems so simple and right there (the author dropped a lot of hints) but just like our lives it is hard to see. 

I also LOVED how the author dealt with Alexis' ex. He was a piece of crap and treated her badly, but there is a small redemption for him. I won't spoil it, but even some "bad guys" can maybe be saved if the "bad guy" does the necessary steps to fix themselves. I loved this so much. 

Gah. I adore this town. I loved Alexis and I have fallen in love with Daniel. He was just so dang sweet and really took care of her. They are so perfect for each other. 

I can't wait to read the next book because it stars Alexis' bestie. She needs love like this after her divorce!!!!

The narrators were fantastic and they literally breathed life into this story. Flawless. 

All-in-all, I really loved this story. I had zero issues and I would listen to it again. I hope the next book is just as good as this one. This had it all. 5 stars from me. 

- Favorite Character(s): Alexis and Daniel

- Least Favorite Character(s): Alexis' father.

 

 Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #22

- Library Love #12

- Romance Reading #16 (Older MC)