While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory

Brother to Theo Stephens from The Wedding Party, Stephen is the eternal playboy. He loves 'em but he makes sure that they understand that there is nothing there before he leaves 'em. Picked to join a pitch to a big company, he knows that he is the token minority thrown in to impress the clients. Especially since this latest client's commercials are featuring Anna Gardiner a prominent Black actress. When all of the higher ups in Ben's company are stuck at the airport, he steps in for the pitch and impresses Anna so much (yes, she decided to attend the pitches), she picks their company to continue the campaign.

Anna's not too hot on relationships either. Her goal in life is to get to the top of the Hollywood elite. Her recent panic attacks not to mention some pictures that didn't do so well aren't helping her. But she's got an amazing team, including an agent, Simon (who, can we vote for future books? He needs one) and her best friend. And her relationship with the bestie is a great reason to read this book. But her relationship with Ben isn't supposed to be real. Well, they are for sure hot for each other but she needs some newspaper print and dating an ex-backup dancer with a heart of gold is just the way to go.

I really appreciated that there was honesty in how these two treated each other. A little misunderstanding in whether feelings can change but overall they were up front with where they thought the "relationship" was going. Guillory writes amazing characters whose HEA I can definitely believe and this book makes me want to start the series over again just so I can enjoy Ben's character growth. The addition of a secret sibling, honestly, could have been cut for me but I guess it did add some to that same growth. 

Four stars

This book came out July 13th, 2021

Follows Party of Two

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory

 What a wonderful, political book on a wonderful, political day. The politics is not a huge part of the story but it definitely affects how lawyer Olivia Monroe and junior senator Max Powell ultimately end up together. 
It starts with a conversation at a hotel bar discussing the merits of cake versus pie. Olivia is tired after moving back to LA from NYC and her first full day at her own firm but she enjoys talking to the cute guy a few seats down. When she gets back to her hotel room, she is shocked to see him on her television screen. The man is a politician! Even more startling is the fact that he starts courting her with cakes. Well, one to begin with. The more she gets to know him though, the more she likes. 
Max is used to being impulsive. And he's always landed on his feet. But Olivia is a Black woman working in a world run by White men; she doesn't get to be impulsive. Max is fairly Woke but that doesn't mean that he really understands nor that the course to true love really will run smooth.
I liked Olivia. She was a strong lady who knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to ask. I liked Max. He was fairly self aware of his own privileges and, even when he wasn't, he works to pull his own head out of his ass rather than making others do the work for him. I really hope we get a book about Max's friend and roommate.

Four stars
This book came out June 23rd 2020
Follows Royal Holiday

Followed by While We Were Dating
Borrowed this book from my local library
Opinions are my own

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

When the protagonist from "The Wedding Party," Maddie, is asked to go to England and dress "The Duchess" for Christmas, she can't imagine leaving her mother behind. True, she's been dating Theo for a few months at this point but Christmas with her mother is a tradition.

Vivian Forest has been busy the past year and a half and it's about to pay off with a probable promotion. She doesn't want to lose that momentum but she also doesn't want to miss Christmas with her daughter. While Maddie works, Vivian is supposed to amuse herself. Luckily, the man she mentally dubs "Hot Chocolate" introduces himself and offers to show her around the "cottage" she and Maddie are staying in. 

Working as the Queen's private secretary, Malcolm Forest doesn't especially have a lot of free time. But he's drawn to Vivian and doesn't want to lose any time with her.

A lovely romance with an older couple. I wish we had seen more of their relationship building but a good novella.

Four stars

This book came out October 1st

Followed by Party of Two

ARC kindly provided by Berkley and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Decoy Date by Mira Lyn Kelly

Gwen Davis has been in love with her best friend Ted since they were teenagers. But he doesn't even seem to notice that she's there.
Brody O'Donnel doesn't think that Ted is half the man that Gwen believes him to be. And he's sick of watching her woebegone face in his bar. He suggests a bet. The two of them pretend to be hot and heavy and see if Ted reacts how Brody predicts therefore showing Gwen that he's never been in love with her. After some arguing, Gwen agrees. But will being in a pretend relationship with Brody show her exactly how much she'd be missing in a real relationship with Ted?
The first half of the book was exactly as I expected from Ms. Kelly. The second half... was not as good as usual. It was still okay but she was trying to twist a trope and it didn't quite work for me. I'm not sure if there are any more books in the Wedding Date series but I will be on the look out for those and other books by Kelly.

Three stars
This book came out December 11
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and publisher