[ 508 ]

[katara]

Forget Me Not by Julie Soto

Series:
N/A

Genre:
Chick Lit, Contemporary, Romance, Grumpy/Sunshine, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Second Chance Romance, Dual Points of View, Spicy Romance, Romance Comedy (Rom-Com), Adult, Novella, Fiction, Standalone, Spicy Romance, Adult, Steamy Romance

Publication Date:
July 11, 2023

Pages Numbers:
338 pages

Read Date:
July 4th, 2023

Date Finished:
July 5th, 2023

Rating:
2/5

Blurb:

An ambitious wedding planner must work with her grumpy florist ex, whose heart she broke, on the most high-profile wedding of her career, in this spicy and emotional romance from popular fanfic author Julie Soto.

He loves me; he loves me not...

Ama Torres loves being a wedding planner. But with a mother who has been married more times than you can count on your fingers, Ama has decided that marriage is not the route for her. But weddings? Weddings are amazing. As a small business owner, she knows how to match her clients with the perfect vendor to give them the wedding of their dreams. Well, almost perfect…

Elliot hates being a florist, most of the time. When his father left him the flower shop, he considered it a burden, but he’s stuck with it. Just like how he’s stuck with the way he proposed to Ama, his main collaborator and girlfriend (or was she?) two years ago. But flowers have grown on him, just like Ama did. And flowers can’t run off and never speak to him again, like Ama did.

When Ama is hired to plan a celebrity wedding that will bring her business national exposure, there's a catch: Elliot is already contracted to design the flowers. Things are not helped by the two brides, who see the obvious chemistry between Ama and Elliot and are determined to set them up, not knowing their complicated history. Add in a meddling ex-boss, and a reality TV film crew documenting every step of the wedding prep, and Ama and Elliot's hearts are not only in jeopardy again, but this time, their livelihoods are too.

Review:

One of my most anticipated books for this year. The premise sounded interesting - a pair separated and brought back together for one of the most anticipated weddings of the year. Ama has never seen herself marry, but being a wedding coordinator is much better. When a social media influencer comes for her to coordinate her wedding, Ama is not prepared for being reunited with Elliot.

Elliot has never wanted to be a florist. It was the least favorite thing he ever wanted, but when his father passes away, he reluctantly takes up the business. He is not prepared for Ama walking in the door with her two clients.

The social media and her soon-to-be wife take note of the chemistry between the two and feel the two are meant to be, but their history is complicated and Elliot is still reeling from Ama's refusal of his proposal. Mix in a meddling former boss and a romance that may claim both of their hearts.

The one glaring thing that annoyed the hell out of me is that the boss, Whitney (cannot recall her last name right now. So frustrating!), doesn't really appear much in the book. We know that Ama worked for in the past and Ama was pretty much let go because she had become a favorite among the clients - being invited to parties, bachelorettes, etc. Ama fears that she may be stepping on toes especially when it comes to booking with venues that have been working with Whitney's company for years.

What I don't understand is Ama's need to go tell Whitney what she is doing. It really is not Whitney's business and though I get she does not want to step on toes, she also should know that is how business works. You compete. You work hard. You establish relationships and there could be nothing Whitney could really do.

Oh, she might find ways to blacklist you but if you establish yourself well enough then it could be harder on her to do so. But to go to her and tell her is really the stupidest thing to do because she will see this as her opportunity to get the venues that have worked with her to lie and tell her the date her clients have set for. Even worse, she will find a way to weasel her way into becoming part of the scene.

The romance between Elliot and Ama - I just did not feel the chemistry between them. Their interactions seemed forced like the author gave the two a quick backstory of their past and believed it would be substantial enough for the reader, to not only establish a connection but believe that their past history and current relationship had all the chemistry they needed.

Sorry, but I just did not feel it. I wanted so much to feel it so much but I just could not connect nor feel anything with the plot and characters.

Final Thought:

If you like quick summer reads, then this is definitely the book for you.

[ 509 ]

[katara]

Manga/Manhwa/Manhua:
Heeran's National Sonata / Twilight Poem / Heeran Love Song / 희란국 연가

Credit:
Author: Sooji Kim / Midnight Studio

Genre:
Historical Fiction, Historical, Romance, Historical Romance, Supernatural/Paranormal, Historical Drama, Asian Culture, Asian Royalty, Asian Mythology, Mythology, Fantasy, Demons

Warnings:
Slight gore, death

Sypnosis:

Soru is a princess born from illegitimacy, and able to see ghosts although she is completely blind. Jahyeon is a heroic general who possesses the sun’s aura which can chase away spirits. Yato is the deadliest and most beautiful ghost, but his heart can’t feel anything. Soru and Jahyeon become bound to one another in an undesired marriage, but they both need each other –- she needs his aura, he needs her divine blood. As Soru’s unconditional sacrifice and love toward Jahyeon slowly melts his frozen heart, the same happens to Yato’s emotionless heart. All three have something that they need and want from one another. Could they become the salvation they need for one another?


Review:

Please note that the following contains spoilers for the manhwa/manhua. It will be up to you if you continue.

Soru is an illegitimate child. Unwanted, she is placed into a shed where she starts seeing ghosts and demons ever since she was a child. The moment she is locked away she starts hearing and seeing demons and ghosts who want to pretty much eat her body to gain their own and be able to walk among the humans. It is a much larger demon that eats away the other demons and promises to protect Soru if she gives him something of hers - she offers her sight. After that, the servants and others begin to call her the 'Ghost Princess' because she continues to hear and see the demons wanting her soul and body.

Jahyun/Jahyeon is a general fresh from war. While hoping to gain Garan as his wife, he finds himself saddled with Soru, the Ghost Princess. He is not happy with the choice and reluctantly he takes her back home with him. Although married, he never bothers her, selfishly allowing those who could further his political career to help themselves to Soru's blood and flesh, and it is only when she is on the verge of death does he bother to care for her. He even allows her to offer herself as bait to capture the demon Yato.

Yato, the main male lead, is the demon that took Soru's eyesight. Because of her, he wants to become human and pretty much goes on a killing spree for the hearts of humans in order to change his appearance. He is concerned and angered when he finds Soru's body so cut up and near death. He sets off on a path to become the demon/human to save Soru from her fate.

This series has been a favorite of mine since the beginning but the manhwa/manhua has not been updated since April of this year. While there are a lot of people who are rooting for the second lead to become the main lead, I don't believe he is the right one for it. Jahyun/Jahyeon does not fit the main lead in any way. He is an asshole who cares little for the wife he has brought home. His first preference was the other princess named Garan. So, he sees Soru as a burden and a wife he didn't want. So, you end up feeling sorry for the way she is treated by him. Yato is a better male lead. He might kill people for their hearts but he is concerned and angered with the way Soru has been treated.

This novel is only forty-eight chapters with no update since then. I am hoping to see be picked up later this year, but we will see.

Final Thought:

There are rumors about the manga being continued. Some say the first artists were fired and that the series is under new ones. I am also hearing rumors of a possible August release, but we will see.

But if you want to check this out, I encourage you to do so.