Maggie Reads Romance

When the book opened with the hero's mother texting him she's to busy on the farm to come to his wedding, on the day before the wedding, I knew this wasn't going to be a contemporary romance like any others I've read. And if I thought the groom-to-be's mother was unlikeable...shortly after, I met his fiancée and her parents and was proven it could be even worse. But rest assured, not all family members/secondary characters were . I really liked Aunt Bridie and friends Olivia (Fiona's) and Jonas (Gavin's). Also I must admit someone I wasn't expecting was redeemed in my eyes and I hope this person (cryptic but don't want to give spoilers) gets their HEA somewhere along time too.

After reading a bunch of erotic romances in a row this book was a refreshing welcome. Romance, contemporary romance doesn't always need sexing up to be entertaining. When done right the story, the journey the characters take from the beginning of the book to their HEA and the sensual tension is enough to keep me turning the pages.

LOVE AND SHENANIGANS reminded me of the romances I used to read when I was much younger, the Penny Jordan's and the Sara Craven's. The focus was on the relationships, not only between the hero and heroine but also their relationships with friends and family. I loved all the small plotlines going on next to the romance, like the bookstore and the stuff with the will.

Zara Keane made the small town of Ballybeg come to life for me with her lovely descriptions. Normally I'm not much for descriptive writing as it often hinders the pace and takes me out of the story but in LOVE AND SHENANIGANS it was very well-dosed, functional and complemented the story perfectly. I really liked the writing, it was crisp and clean with an easy flow to it. Funny moments alternated with more emotional and romantic ones, making it a joy to read.

LOVE AND SHENANIGANS is a sweet contemporary romance that's a tad heavier on the storylines than on the romance, especially in the first part of the book . It is wonderfully written with great characters that left me wanting more and luckily for me there will be more!

Favorite Quotes:
“Nowadays, every female over the age of twelve is going around with bare bellies and bosoms on display.”
“Now, Bridie,” Olivia said with a wicked grin. “Surely not every female over the age of twelve. I’m sure the ladies of the Ballybeg House and Crafts Society would be scandalized to learn one of their leading members was displaying her blubber to the world. Are you planning on starting a trend?”
A chortle resounded in Bridie’s throat. “Blubber? Why, I’ll give you blubber!” She pulled up her plus-size blouse and grabbed a substantial handful of flesh from around her midriff. “This, here, is what a genuine Irish woman looks like. If you two had eaten a decent meal of meat and potatoes every day when you were growing up, you wouldn’t be the scrawny beanpoles you are today.”

“Ah, Fiona. Isn’t the knight in shining armor supposed to slay the dragon and rescue the princess?”
She gave him a playful shove. “You’re reading the wrong fairytales, Maguire. In Celtic mythology, the heroines kick arse.”