Trope: Enemies to Lovers – A Lovely Little Book Blog

Title: Fun Lessons
Author: Leanne Treese
Source: Netgalley. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Spice Level? Not a ton but lots of cotton candy
Summary: Rebecca Chapman, a singer passionate about her craft, has never felt appreciated by her uber-professional family. When she’s selected to try out for a new reality singing show, it’s her chance to prove she can make it in the music world. All she has to do is get chosen by the network. Problem is, she needs to play an instrument for the audition in two months. And she can’t play a thing.

Amazingly, the solution seems to lie with Ian Ledger, the ultra-annoying co-worker she’s been at odds with since day one. Turns out Ian’s a skilled guitar player. He’s willing to teach her, but there’s a catch. He wants to win back his girlfriend at his sister’s wedding. And he wants Rebecca to help him.

Seems like a perfect solution. She gets the music lessons needed to secure her spot on the show; he wins back the girl destined to be his bride. Easy peasy. Except, during the series of ridiculous “fun” lessons and hours of arduous music practice, Rebecca’s feelings for Ian shift.

As the wedding nears, Rebecca doesn’t want Ian to succeed in his quest for love. But a deal is a deal. They both have dreams to chase. And a dream come true is everything.

Isn’t it?

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Title: Red, White and Royal Blue
Author: Casey McQuiston
Source: My own shelf.
Genre: Contemporary Romance.
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, secret relationship.
Trigger Warnings: Internalized homophobia, forced outing.
Explicit? Yes, yes it is.
Summary: First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations.

The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. Alex is busy enough handling his mother’s bloodthirsty opponents and his own political ambitions without an uptight royal slowing him down. But beneath Henry’s Prince Charming veneer, there’s a soft-hearted eccentric with a dry sense of humor and more than one ghost haunting him.

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. And Henry throws everything into question for Alex, an impulsive, charming guy who thought he knew everything: What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?

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