Tag Archives: Rachel Lynn Solomon

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon -Dual Review

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Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon – Dual Review

 

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Description:
Chandler Cohen has never felt more like the ghost in “ghostwriter” until she attends a signing for a book she wrote—and the author doesn’t even recognize her. The evening turns more promising when she meets a charming man at the bar and immediately connects with him. But when all their sexual tension culminates in a spectacularly awkward hookup, she decides this is one night better off forgotten.

Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. Her next project is ghostwriting a memoir for Finn Walsh, a C-list actor best known for playing a lovable nerd on a cult classic werewolf show who now makes a living appearing at fan conventions across the country. But Chandler knows him better from their one-night stand of hilarious mishaps.

Chandler’s determined to keep their partnership as professional as possible, but when she admits to Finn their night together wasn’t as mind-blowing as he thought it was, he’s distraught. He intrigues her enough that they strike a deal: when they’re not working on his book, Chandler will school Finn in the art of satisfaction. As they grow closer both in and out of the bedroom, they must figure out which is more important, business or pleasure—or if there’s a way for them to have both.

 

 

Review:

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a standalone sexy romantic novel. We meet Chandler Cohen, who loves writing, but can’t get her career started; so she writes other people’s stories as a ghost writer. Chandler shares a house with her bff/ cousin, who happens to work in public relations, making a lot more money, and helps pay their expenses. After a fiasco, where the author, who she ghosted, did not even know her; Chandler ends at a bar, and meets a sweet and fun nerd, and they end up in a one-night stand.  But the sex was a disaster, the worse experience she ever had.  The following morning, Chandler’s agent, arranges a meeting with actor Finn Walsh and his agent to discuss writing Finn’s memoirs.  Of course, when she meets Finn and his agent, to her shock, Finn was the man she had the one night with.  At first, Chandler was going to turn down the offer, but the money was double what she normally did, and accepts the job, which will allow her to travel.

Chandler learns more about the TV show (cult paranormal), Finn, and his co-stars were on, with many hoping for the show to find a way back.  She meets all the co-stars, and sees how popular they all became, especially when they attended the comic cons. Chandler admits to Finn, that their one-night stand was a terrible disaster.  Finn wants Chandler to teach him to learn how to seduce woman, including talking dirty.  Chandler accepts the challenge, and suggests they will need to practice. They start off with kissing, and soon they will begin to explore each other’s bodies, with Chandler teaching him what she likes; and soon they grow closer, both in and out of the bedroom.

What follows is a slow burn romance, that is very steamy, and I really did find myself caring about Chandler and Finn. The made a great couple, with a wonderful fun connection between them; with their friendship & flirting, not to mention their openness with sex. Personally, I did think there were so many sex scenes, that on occasion I did skip some. 

Business or Pleasure was very well written by Rachel Lynn Solomon.  I have loved her books so far, even if I thought this one was steamier then the others.  If you like very sexy romance, I suggest you read Business or Pleasure.

Reviewed by Barb

 

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Sandy’s Review:

BUSINESS OR PLEASURE by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a contemporary, adult, erotic, romance story line focusing on thirty-four year old, former teen actor Finn Walsh, and thirty-one year old journalist/ghost writer Chandler Cohen.

Told from first person perspective (Chandler) BUSINESS OR PLEASURE focuses on the building romance and relationship between thirty-four year old, former teen actor Finn Walsh, and thirty-one year old journalist/ghost writer Chandler Cohen. Chandler Cohen is a journalist by degree but a ghost writer by career, and her latest assignment ends with an awkward one-night stand meant to forgettable and uninvolved, only to discover said one-night stand is Chandler’s next assignment, the man with whom she spent one uncomfortable night. Enter former teen actor Finn Walsh, and the man with whom Chandler will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Chandler and Finn, as Chandler must navigate ghost-writing a memoir for the man who is asking for so much more.

The relationship between Chandler and Finn begins as a bumbling one-night stand of which Chandler was hoping never to remember but Finn, having lied about his true identity to our story line heroine wants Chandler to write his story, and teach him how to please a woman in the bedroom and beyond. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

The world building continues to focus on Finn’s career as a teen heart-throb, his emotional struggles, and his ineptness with the opposite $ex but also focuses on the growing relationship and love between our story line couple.

Finn Walsh’s character overcame many obstacles in his life but his development throughout the story reveals a man who is struggling with his success and his life. Falling for Chandler was never in the cards but fall he did for the woman who knew more about Chandler than anyone else.

Both Finn and Chandler are likeable characters but from the outset Chandler battles with what she remembered about their one night stand, and the discrepancies with what Finn is about to reveal.

The sexual tension is palpable especially in light of their mutual attraction and failed one-night stand, a night Finn believes was a success. As the story line builds, Finn will discover there is more to $ex than reaching the end.

BUSINESS OR PLEASURE is a slow building story line about family, friendships, relationships and love. The premise is engaging, entertaining and captivating but there is limited conflict other than neither one knowing what happens next. The characters are determined; the romance is fated and fun. Like most of author’s books I have read, she does address the Jewish faith in her story line.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Soloman-dual review

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Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Soloman-dual review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 11, 2022

Ari Abrams has always been fascinated by the weather, and she loves almost everything about her job as a TV meteorologist. Her boss, legendary Seattle weatherwoman Torrance Hale, is too distracted by her tempestuous relationship with her ex-husband, the station’s news director, to give Ari the mentorship she wants. Ari, who runs on sunshine and optimism, is at her wits’ end. The only person who seems to understand how she feels is sweet but reserved sports reporter Russell Barringer.

In the aftermath of a disastrous holiday party, Ari and Russell decide to team up to solve their bosses’ relationship issues. Between secret gifts and double dates, they start nudging their bosses back together. But their well-meaning meddling backfires when the real chemistry builds between Ari and Russell.

Working closely with Russell means allowing him to get to know parts of herself that Ari keeps hidden from everyone. Will he be able to embrace her dark clouds as well as her clear skies?

•••••••

Sandy’s Review

WEATHER GIRL by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a contemporary, adult, romance story line focusing on twenty-nine year old single father/ sports reporter Russell Barringer, and twenty-seven year old TV meteorologist Ari Abrams’.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Ari) WEATHER GIRL follows the building romance and relationship between co-workers at KSEA Seattle news station twenty-nine year old single father/ sports reporter Russell Barringer, and twenty-seven year old TV meteorologist Ari Abrams. Life at KSEA Seattle is no longer what Ari Abrams once thought it would be since the break up of her boss, Seattle’s weather woman Torrance Hale, and her ex-husband and KSEA’s news director Seth Hale. The tempestuous fall-out of a twenty year marriage is affecting everyone at the station, and in this, life has been difficult for everyone involved. At the KSEA Christmas party everything goes from bad to worse, and after a drunken sit down with her co-worker, sports journalist Russell Barringer, our couple devise a plan to push the former couple, back together. As Russell and Ari begin their journey of reconciliation, they find themselves growing closer together, looking forward to a possible future but all is not well in Ari’s life, and demons from the past are about to take hold, when our couple’s plans are discovered, and Ari takes a long hard look at what happened and why. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Ari and Russell, and the fall-out as Ari is unable to let go of the past, believing she is not worthy of her own happily ever after.

Like her mother, Ari Abrams struggles with depression but a good therapist and the right medication have helped our heroine get on with her life but secrets revealed find Ari second guessing her relationship with Russell, and in this, words and actions are misunderstood, and Ari finds herself walking away from the man that she loves. Russell Barringer is a single father, whose first priority is his twelve year old daughter Elodie. Falling for Ari was never in the plans for a man who never expected to fall for anyone else but work place romances make for awkward relationships especially when secrets reveal something or someone else has been working behind the scenes.

The relationship between Ari and Russell is a co-workers to friends to lovers relationship that is pulled together by our couple’s need to reunite their embattled bosses. With each endeavor to reconcile the people in charge, our couple find themselves pushed towards their own inevitable and unavoidable paths. Ari struggles with trying to keep her depression at bay, and Russell’s home life was never meant to be workplace gossip. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are energetic and fun. We are introduced to Seattle’s weather woman Torrance Hale, and her ex-husband and KSEA’s news director Seth Hale; Russell’s daughter Elodie, and his ex Liv; as well as Ari’s twin brother Alex, his husband Javier, and Ari’s mother Amelia Abrams.

WEATHER GIRL is a story of family and relationships, friendships and love. An emotional story of struggle and commitment, acceptance and understanding. The premise is playful and impassioned, and a little slow going in the beginning; the characters are flirty, fun, animated and real; the romance is spirited and captivating.

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Barb’s Review:
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a stand-alone lighthearted romance. We meet our heroine, Ari Abrams, who is a meteorologist for a Seattle TV news station. Ari has always wanted to be a weather girl, starting when she was young and watched her favorite weather woman, Torrance Hale; now, Torrance is her boss, and Ari loves her job.  Ari secretly hides the fact that she suffers from occasional depression, especially due to her mother’s illness, and breakup with her boyfriend; she does go to a therapist, and takes antidepressants. 

Torrance and her ex, Sean (news director) constantly fight openly, in front of their employees, who try to pretend not to listen.  When Ari talks with Russ (sports reporter), they discuss ways to try to bring Torrance and Seth back together, raising the moral at the studio.; together they devise a plan to with gifts, double dates, trips and invitations. While Ari and Russ spend a lot of time together to push their plan, they slowly find themselves becoming attracted to each other. Russ was perfect for Ari, as he was very patient and understanding, as he learned more about Ari, and she began to trust him.  With Ari’s family issues, and mental health, Russ was always there for her; he too had his own issues, bringing up a 12-year-old daughter (Elodie, she was adorable) by himself.

What follows is a fun story, with two couples that we rooted for.  I loved how Ari and Russ were able to pull Torrance and Seth together, and I enjoyed them too.  It was a blast seeing all four become closer, and the banter between them was great.   As we get closer to the end, a few things backfire, with us holding our breath if they can resolve those issues.  The story also touches on various issues, such as depression, mental health, divorce, family. 

Weather Girl was a fun lighthearted romantic story that was very well written by Rachel Lynn Solomon.  I really did enjoy the couples, and how they each helped each other; Ari and Russ turned out to be a perfect pair, rising past their issues to trust love.  I wholly suggest you read Weather Girl.

 

Copies supplied by Netgalley

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The Ex-Talk by Rachel Lynn Soloman-Excerpt & Dual Review

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The Ex-Talk by Rachel Lynn Soloman-Excerpt & Dual Review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 26, 2021

Public radio co-hosts navigate mixed signals in Rachel Lynn Solomon’s sparkling romantic comedy debut.

Shay Goldstein has been a producer at her Seattle public radio station for nearly a decade, and she can’t imagine working anywhere else. But lately it’s been a constant clash between her and her newest colleague, Dominic Yun, who’s fresh off a journalism master’s program and convinced he knows everything about public radio.

When the struggling station needs a new concept, Shay proposes a show that her boss green-lights with excitement. On The Ex Talk, two exes will deliver relationship advice live, on air. Their boss decides Shay and Dominic are the perfect co-hosts, given how much they already despise each other. Neither loves the idea of lying to listeners, but it’s this or unemployment. Their audience gets invested fast, and it’s not long before The Ex Talk becomes a must-listen in Seattle and climbs podcast charts.

As the show gets bigger, so does their deception, especially when Shay and Dominic start to fall for each other. In an industry that values truth, getting caught could mean the end of more than just their careers.

•••••••

Sandys Review:THE EX TALK by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a multi-troped, contemporary, adult, romance story line focusing on twenty-nine year old, public radio producer Shay Goldstein, and twenty-four year old, journalist turned radio host Dominic Yun.

Told from first person perspective (Shay) THE EX TALK follows the building romance and relationship between twenty-nine year old, public radio producer Shay Goldstein, and twenty-four year old, journalist turned radio host Dominic Yun. Shay Goldstein was the fastest rising producer at Seattle’s Pacific Public Radio, and her weekly radio series ‘Puget Sounds’ was going great until it wasn’t. Her barely veiled hatred of newcomer and journalist Dominic Yun would become fodder for management, and in this, our couple would be forced to work together by the station manager or lose their jobs. Liking the ‘sparring’ and ‘vibe’ between our leading couple, it is suggested a series of podcasts focusing on relationships but more specifically on an ex-relationship, that never was. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Shay and Dominic, and the fall-out when the secrets and lies become public knowledge.

Shay Goldstein and Dominic Yun couldn’t have been more different, and working together to create a fake, former relationship draws the couple together but a mandatory weekend together finds our couple falling for one another, a fall that will hit rock-bottom when the truth is revealed. Developing a relationship that never was reveals one another’s relationship history, family, and future hopes and dreams.

The relationship between Shay and Dominic is a friends to enemies, forced fake relationship where the sexual tension is masked by the back and forth, yin and yang of jealousy and hate. Dominic, with a Master’s in Journalism, had just come off of a long term relationship, and our heroine was no longer looking for someone to love. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Shay’s mother Leanna, and her fiancé Phil; Dominic’s parents Morris and Margot; misogynistic station manager Kent O’Grady; show host Paloma Powers; Shay’s best friend Ameena and her boyfriend TJ; junior producer Ruthie Liao.

THE EX TALK is an age-gap, multi-cultural, enemies to lovers, fake relationship story line. Rachel Lynn Solomon’s ability to slowly build the background and history of our leading couple is the ideal set up for a wonderful story that is sure to resonate to many readers. The character driver premise is engaging and imaginative ; the characters are quirky and sassy; the romance is tender and seductive.

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Barb’s Review:
The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a delightful & fun romantic stand alone novel.  This is my first-time reading Solomon, and it will not be my last; as I loved The Ex Talk, which turned out to be a fun enjoyable read.

Shay Goldstein, our heroine, has worked as a producer on her Seattle Pacific Public radio station for 10 years.  Lately, Shay has been feeling a bit lonely, as her mom is remarrying, and her best friend is possibly moving to Virginia; but most of all, she finds herself annoyed and jealous of a newly hired colleague.

Dominic Yun, our hero, has only been with Pacific Public for three months, and keeps promoting his master’s degree, and how good he is.  It doesn’t hurt that he is cute, smart and arrogant. When he manages to interrupt her show with a scoop about the local mayor, Shay is not too happy, but management loves him.

At a team meeting, the boss tells his staff that the numbers are going down and they need some new ideas for the station.  Shay throws out a new concept; have a couple that are ex’s and talk about their issues, as well as help others calling in.  The boss loves the idea, and later to their surprise, he wants Dominic and Shay to pretend to be ex’s and do the show; since their constant demeaning of each other was perfect (fake enemies to lovers). Neither one of them is interested, until the boss tells them that there will be layoffs all around the station and if they won’t do this, they could be one of the layoffs.

What follows has both of them working together, especially in preparation as to questions about their fake relationship, and to be able to give advice live.  Shay at first wasn’t sure about her own voice, which she didn’t like, as she was always behind the scene as the producer, but when they go live that never became an issue.  In fact, the show went through the roof, with the show becoming an instant success. Everyone loved them together, with their constant bickering, fun and even sexy comments, as well as giving advice on various subjects.  In a short time, Dominic and Shay become closer, helping and learning more about their lives, which begins the start of a slow build romance.  I also loved Shay’s weird dog, Steve, who Dominic seemed to be able to handle him well.  There were some great secondary characters that were also great; Shay;s mom, her best friend, her assistant, Ruthie, and others from the studio. 

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon was a fun, feel good story, that was also sexy, flirty and totally enjoyable.  When things fall apart at the end, we prayed that somehow Shay and Dominic would stay together.  Will they? You need to read the book to find out.  As I noted before, this was a fun, delightful story that is not to be missed.

 Copies provided by Publisher

The exclusive excerpt has been provided by Berkley/Penguin Random House Publishers

“We still haven’t figured out why we broke up,” he says, leaning against the counter opposite the fridge.
“Maybe we should keep it simple. Working together and dating got to be too much for us?”
“That’s not very exciting,” he says. It’s fitting that we can’t agree. “Maybe you were intimidated by my raw sexual energy.”
I nearly choke on a sip of water—that’s how unexpected this is, coming from him.
But hey, I can play this game, too, especially with alcohol loosening my lips. “Or you were never able to get me to orgasm.”
“I’ve never had that problem before,” he says without missing a beat.
With just the two of us in this darkened space, I’m aware of how small the break room actually is. He shouldn’t have followed me in here. I could have climbed onto the counter and grabbed a glass myself because short people are nothing if not skilled counter climbers.
But then he wouldn’t be standing there in one of his Top Ten Most Infuriating Leans, eyeing me from beneath a truly impeccable pair of lashes.
The alcohol fully takes over. “So . . . we had a good sex life, then?”
One corner of his mouth kicks upward. “Maybe we weren’t having sex.”
Something horrific happens then: I let out this completely nonhuman sound, a mix between a snort and a laugh and a gulp. I shrink back until my shoulder blades hit the wall.
“What, you thought sleeping with me was a given?” he says. “Is my fictional self really that quick to put out?”
“Oh my god, no no no,” I say. “I was just—if we were dating for three months, then we probably—I mean, maybe we didn’t, but—”
He’s full-on smiling now, as though amused by my incoherent babbling. I bring the water glass to my face so I can hide behind it. My sweater is draped across my desk, and I’m too warm in a thin black T-shirt. He’s a six-three heat lamp.
“Shay,” he says in a low voice. Teasing. He inches closer, reaching forward to take the water glass away from my face and holding it level with my shoulder. “Honestly, I’m flattered.”
Then he taps the cold rim of the glass against my cheek gently, gently. A friendly little pat that sends my heart into overdrive. When he moves it away, I reach toward my face, holding a few fingers against the cold spot there.
His gaze is so intense that I have to close my eyes for a moment. My instinct is to back away, to put more space between us, but when I try, I’m reminded that I’m against the wall. I don’t know where to look. Normally, I’m level with his pectorals, but he’s hunched, the curve of his shoulders soft in this semi-light. Close enough to reach out and touch—if I wanted to. I watch the rise and fall of his chest. That’s safe. Safer than eye contact, at least.
I’ve never had that problem before.
“I’m glad, because I’m really wishing the floor would open up and suck me into the Hellmouth right now.”
“Buffy fan?”
“Oh yeah. I grew up with it. You?”
He at least has the decency to look sheepish. “Watched it on Netflix.”
Of course he did. He’s twenty-four, young enough to never have seen it live and sliced up by commercials. “By ‘grew up with it,’ I meant, you know, I was still very young during the early seasons, and I didn’t understand most of what was going on . . .” I break off with a groan, though I’m relieved the conversation has turned away from sex. “God, don’t make me feel like a grandma.”
A laugh from deep in his throat turns my legs to jelly. That rumble—I feel it in the last possible place I want to feel it.
It is deeply concerning.
That’s what catches me off guard, more than anything else tonight. I don’t want to think about doing anything with Dominic besides cohosting a show about our fake relationship. I don’t want to think about the way that rough laugh would sound pressed against my ear while other parts of him pressed against other parts of me.
And I really don’t want to imagine him holding that cold glass to my bare skin again.
I swallow hard, forcing away these delusions. Sober Shay would not be fantasizing about Dominic Yun when he’s right in front of her. My imagination is too creative, and my yearlong drought can’t be helping.
Dominic passes the glass back to me and straightens to his full height. Oh. It’s only then that I realize how easy it would have been for him to trap my hands over my head and push me against the wall, tell me with his mouth on my neck how journalism will save the world.
Of course, he doesn’t do any of this, opting instead to take a step back. Then two. At three steps, the temperature in the room dips. At four, I can breathe again.
“For what it’s worth,” he says when he’s halfway to the door, “I think it would have been good, too.”

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