Jenna Lundberg's Reviews

The Roman Prince of Chaos by Mara J. Ova was such a fun mix of Italian soccer, Roman history, Baroque architecture, and opposites-attract romance!

Klara is a serious academic who is much more comfortable discussing Baroque architecture and Roman history than dealing with attention, while Alessandro is a famous soccer star who is used to being the person everyone notices when he walks into a room. He's charming, confident, famous, and very accustomed to people falling all over themselves for him. Too bad Klara didn't get the memo. 😂

Their first interaction immediately sets the tone for their relationship when Klara publicly corrects Alessandro about Baroque architecture and the whole thing turns into an Instagram meme. Naturally, Alessandro decides the best solution is to ask Klara to teach him history. What could possibly go wrong?

I really enjoyed the chemistry between these two. The attraction is there almost immediately, but so is the friction, and Klara's complete lack of interest in Alessandro's celebrity status makes their banter so much more entertaining. He's used to chasing what he wants and getting attention without having to work very hard for it. Klara isn't impressed, and I loved watching him realize that winning her over was going to require something completely different.

The slow burn was one of my favorite parts. Alessandro actually has to put in the effort, learn patience, and prove that he wants Klara for more than the thrill of the chase. That growth worked especially well because Klara never loses herself in the romance. She has her own ambitions, her own work, and her own complicated relationship with being seen. I really appreciated how much the story respected her autonomy and allowed her to make decisions about visibility, ambition, and desire on her own terms.

There is also so much more going on beneath the surface of Klara's academic work. Her thesis explores how the bodies of female saints are made publicly visible through suffering, and her observation that visibility is never neutral because the viewer decides what it means becomes this really interesting thread throughout the story. I loved the way the book continued finding parallels between her academic world and Alessandro's football world.

One of my favorite examples was during a tactical meeting when the coach explains that in the ideal version of an attack, the striker never touches the ball. It's football strategy, but it also connects beautifully to the larger ideas Klara is studying. Those little moments made the book feel much more thoughtful than I expected going in.

And I have to mention Klara accepting a compliment without immediately correcting or qualifying it. 😂 The book basically tells us that this is her version of openly weeping, and honestly, I loved that detail. It says so much about her character without needing to spell everything out.

I also really enjoyed the alternating first-person perspectives. Klara and Alessandro have such distinct voices that their chapters never blurred together, and getting inside both of their heads made their growing fascination with each other even more enjoyable. You can see Alessandro slowly learning that this isn't another match he can simply charge into and win, while Klara has to figure out what it means to let herself be seen without surrendering control of how she's seen.

And Rome! ❤️🏛️ The setting added so much personality to the story. Between the Baroque churches, architecture, football culture, and the loud, ordinary streets of Rome, the city felt like more than just a backdrop. I especially loved that Klara's restoration work gave their first meeting and eventual relationship something different from the usual sports-romance setup.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable romance with a unique combination of history, academia, professional soccer, and plenty of chemistry. Klara and Alessandro couldn't be more different, which made their banter and slow-burn attraction so much fun to watch. I loved that Alessandro had to learn that chasing everything he wanted wasn't the same thing as earning someone's trust, and I appreciated that Klara never had to become less independent or ambitious to make room for their relationship.

If you enjoy opposites-attract romances with strong banter, a genuinely earned slow burn, a determined hero who has to learn patience, and a setting that feels like part of the story, The Roman Prince of Chaos is definitely worth picking up. ⚽❤️🏛️

Okay, because having your celebrity crush go from someone you watch on a screen to the actual man stuck in a gondola with you during a mountain storm is already a pretty great romance setup. 😂 Carve Me Golden takes that fantasy and turns it into something a little more complicated when Zlata realizes that Fabio isn't just the famous skier she's spent years watching. He's a real person, and somehow he's also one of the first people to really see HER.

Zlata has spent years watching Fabio race while trying to figure out where she fits in her own life. After spending too long with the wrong man, romance isn't exactly at the top of her list, and I liked that her story isn't simply about getting the celebrity guy she's been crushing on. There is much more going on with her than that. She's trying to figure out what she actually wants and how to stop molding herself into the version of herself that other people expect.

Then she gets stranded in a gondola with Fabio.

Because apparently the universe decided her celebrity crush needed to become a very real problem. 😂

What I really liked about the setup was the contrast between the fantasy Zlata has created around Fabio and the actual man she gets to know. It's easy to admire someone from a distance when you only see the polished version of them on television. Being stuck together gives Zlata the chance to discover the person behind the famous skier, and it also gives Fabio the chance to see who she is beyond being a fan.

And that distinction mattered.

Fabio doesn't treat Zlata like someone who needs to be rescued simply because she's attracted to him or because he is the more famous athlete. He takes her seriously. He sees her ambitions and respects her as an athlete in her own right, and I really liked that their connection is built around that mutual respect.

There is something especially satisfying about a romance where the heroine doesn't have to become smaller just because the hero happens to be famous.

Zlata has her own goals, her own abilities, and her own life to figure out, and Fabio recognizes that. Instead of becoming the solution to all of her problems, he becomes someone who encourages her to take herself seriously and choose the life she actually wants.

Of course, the attraction is there too. 😏 Being trapped together during a storm certainly isn't going to make that easier to ignore, especially when the man you've been fantasizing about suddenly becomes someone you can actually talk to, tease, and get to know.

I enjoyed watching that shift from celebrity crush to something much more personal. The fantasy is easy because it doesn't require vulnerability. You can admire someone from a screen without ever having to risk getting hurt. But actually being seen by someone you are attracted to is a completely different thing, especially for Zlata after spending so much time in a relationship that wasn't right for her.

That gave the romance more emotional weight than simply "girl gets the famous skier."

There is also something fun about the setting. A mountain romance with skiing, storms, gondolas, and forced proximity already has that built-in feeling of being removed from the rest of the world. Add in a celebrity crush and some chemistry, and you have a pretty entertaining combination.

The spice was another nice addition. 🌶️🌶️ The attraction between them definitely heats up, but for me the more interesting part was watching Zlata figure out what she actually wanted and allowing herself to be seen as the woman she was becoming rather than the person she had been trying to be for someone else.

I also appreciated that the story doesn't make Fabio's celebrity status the only interesting thing about him. Getting to know the man behind the public image is what makes the romance work, and his respect for Zlata's own athletic ambitions gives their relationship a much stronger foundation.

Overall, Carve Me Golden was a fun celebrity-crush romance with forced proximity, wintery mountain vibes, athletic ambition, chemistry, and a heroine who is learning that choosing herself might be the most important thing she can do.

Sometimes the fantasy is fun from a distance.

But being truly seen by someone? That can be a lot more terrifying, and a lot more meaningful. ❤️

Last Change was a solid romance with emotional depth, strong character development, and a relationship that steadily grew throughout the story 💕📖 Vince and Elara had a believable connection from the beginning, and I appreciated that the romance focused on emotional trust and personal growth just as much as attraction.

Vince was a compelling character because beneath his confidence and guarded personality, there’s a lot of emotional vulnerability that slowly unfolds as the story progresses. I enjoyed watching him lower his walls and become more emotionally open with Elara. Elara brought balance to the relationship with her strength, resilience, and grounded personality, and I liked how she challenged Vince while also dealing with her own personal struggles ✨

Overall, this was a heartfelt and emotionally grounded romance that kept me invested in both the characters and their journey together ⭐️ Vince and Elara’s story had a steady emotional build that made the relationship feel genuine and satisfying by the end.

Unassisted was a solid sports romance with emotional depth, steady chemistry, and characters that were easy to connect with 🏒💕 Declan and Elena’s relationship developed naturally throughout the story, which made the romance feel genuine and believable.

Declan’s protective and vulnerable side balanced well with Elena’s independence and emotional strength. I also liked that both characters had personal struggles outside of the romance, which gave the story more depth overall ✨

The sports setting added tension and energy to the plot without taking away from the emotional connection between the characters. Overall, this was a really enjoyable 4-star read with a good balance of romance, character growth, and sports drama ⭐️📖

Between the Glass was a really enjoyable romance with emotional depth, strong character growth, and a relationship that developed naturally throughout the story 💕📖 Ben and Renee had a believable connection from the beginning, and I liked that the romance focused on trust, vulnerability, and emotional healing rather than rushing things.

Ben was a compelling character because beneath his guarded exterior, there’s a lot of emotional vulnerability that slowly comes through as the story progresses. Renee balanced him well with her warmth, independence, and emotional resilience, and I enjoyed watching them both challenge and support each other throughout the book ✨

Overall, Between the Glass was a solid 4-star read for me ⭐️ The emotional pacing, character-driven story, and steady chemistry between Ben and Renee made this an easy and engaging romance to stay invested in from beginning to end.

Short Side was a really enjoyable sports romance with a good balance of chemistry, emotional moments, and character growth. Carter and Wren’s relationship developed naturally throughout the story, and I liked that the romance focused just as much on emotional connection as attraction.

Carter was easy to root for because underneath his confidence and athlete persona, there’s a more vulnerable and thoughtful side to him that slowly comes through as the story progresses. I enjoyed watching him navigate both personal pressure and his growing feelings for Wren. His relationship with her helped bring out a softer side to his character that made the romance feel more genuine.

Wren brought a grounded and relatable energy to the story. She’s independent, emotionally cautious, and not immediately swept away by Carter’s world, which made their connection feel more realistic. I liked that she challenged him while also dealing with her own personal struggles and insecurities throughout the book.

One of my favorite things about the story was the steady development between Carter and Wren. The chemistry was there from the beginning, but the relationship took time to build trust and emotional understanding, which made the more emotional moments feel earned. The sports setting also added a fun layer to the story without completely overshadowing the romance itself.

Overall, Short Side was a solid 4-star read for me. It had a good mix of romance, emotional depth, and sports drama, while still being an easy and entertaining story to get invested in from beginning to end.

Under the Weatherman by Mary Ann Marlowe was a solid contemporary romance with a good mix of emotional moments, personal growth, and relationship development. The story takes its time building the connection between Evan and Elizabeth, which made their relationship feel natural and believable.

Evan was a likable character with more depth beneath his public image, and I appreciated seeing his more vulnerable side throughout the story. Elizabeth was relatable and grounded, especially as she worked through both personal and professional challenges. Their dynamic felt supportive and realistic, which gave the romance a steady emotional foundation.

I also liked that the story balanced lighter moments with more emotional themes without becoming overly dramatic. Overall, this was an enjoyable read with strong character development and a relationship that felt genuine from beginning to end.

I really enjoyed Last Save and the emotional, character-driven romance at the center of the story 💕📖 Milo and Risa had a natural connection from the beginning, and I liked that the story focused on emotional growth and trust alongside the romance itself.

Milo was a strong character because beneath his confidence and athlete mindset, there’s a more vulnerable and protective side that slowly develops throughout the story. I enjoyed watching him become more emotionally open with Risa as their relationship deepened. Risa balanced him well with her independence, emotional strength, and grounded personality, which made their relationship feel believable and emotionally steady ✨

Overall, Last Save was a solid 4-star read ⭐️ The emotional pacing, character development, and steady relationship growth made this an engaging romance that was easy to connect with from beginning to end.