Oh man, I just loved this. I stayed up waaaaaay too late last night reading, because I just had to finish it. Guillory writes romance novels that are like tasty, beautiful three layer cakes. You've got the decoration on the outside (it's like catnip every time she describes an outfit one of the main characters is wearing) and then on the inside, all the really good stuff (consent! issues of privilege! equity and parity! feminism!). I can't get enough of the way she's writing romance right now.

I think Guillory's gonna be one of my go-to beach reads this summer. I think I want to buy a couple more of this title for the library, just so I can hand-sell it to patrons. (Who am I kidding? No matter how many I buy, they'll be checked out all summer!)

Thanks so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Loved this book. As an avid fan of Jasmine, it was an absolute joy to read about another character who we first learned about in The Wedding Date. Once again, we got a fun, swoonworthy romance that was contemporary by dealing race and social issues. It was fantastic and is a great summer read.

Charming little romance along the lines of Guillory's other recent novels. This time it's Alexa's older sister, Olivia, who gets the novel treatment. Not quite as heartfelt as the others in this series, but no less enjoyable for me. I just don't think my connection with Olivia is as strong as the other characters in this series, but I still flew through this book to get to the happy ending.

Jasmine Guillory never ever disappoints, are you kidding me? While I do think that she's got a bit of a playbook forming (a few of the inner conflicts here are similar to some of her other characters, but I think she pulled them off better this time. Olivia's emotional arc is a little more satisfying than Nikole's, in my opinion) it's a wonderful playbook to read. Olivia and Max have a lot of chemistry, even though they really are polar opposites. I loved to read a heroine that says multiple times throughout the book, "give me a few days to think about it." She doesn't let Max's puppy dog energy steamroll her or make decisions for her, they find compromises. Of course like any good Guillory novel, they are workaholics and eat a ton of food, but at this point, this is what you are signing up for! I would love to see Guillory take on a character that wasn't so ambitious or felt a little directionless, I feel like that would be an interesting turn for her. But for now, I'm happy to see some badass women of color making their dreams come true and falling in love in the meantime. Her books are always a fun, empowering, sexy escape.

Party of Two
by: Jasmine Guillory @jasminepics
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you to @NetGalley and @berkleyromance for an ARC of #PartyOfTwo! *Party of Two comes out on 06/23/2020, and I may have already preordered my copy to go with all my other @jasminepics books!*
YES! YES! YES! Last week, I dropped off all of my Jasmine Guillory books with a friend (from a safe social distance), and I told her I loved them and was so excited for Party of Two coming out in June! I jumped on the chance to request this from @netgalley, and I was thrilled when I got the notice that I could get it! I downloaded it to my Kindle and finished it in a day!
This book focuses on Alexa’s sister, Olivia - I love how the familiar characters pop up, and I can’t wait to see who’s book is next...Jamilah or Wes or both?
After Olivia meets Max at a hotel bar, she sees him - or Senator Max Powell - on TV when she gets to her room. When they meet again, Max finds out she works at her own law firm and sends a chocolate cake instead of flowers (how smart!). They flirt, fall in fall, fight, but will they figure it out?
I loved the political spin on Max and Olivia’s romance. Her past and his present both contributed to their public problems, but privately, their relationship is pretty steamy! (🔥🔥🔥)
I really wish I could come up with a political pun to sum up how I feel about this, but I’ve got nothing except a quarantine joke... it wouldn’t be “right” if you “left” your house, so stay home and read Party of Two.
#callireads2020 #bookstagram #jasmineguillory #romcomreads @berkleyromance

I started and finished this book in the same day. I loved the main character so much. A strong and independent woman always makes for the best main character. I fell in love with their love and I didn’t want the book to end.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing for the advanced copy.

Jasmine Guillory does it yet again with Party of Two, the latest installment in The Wedding Date series.

Party of Two re-introduces us to Olivia, Alexa’s sister who we met briefly in the first book, as she navigates a new love affair with a well-known politician. There are some light crossover characters and storyline with The Wedding Date, so while this book can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel, you may want to read The Wedding Date for some background info (the other 3 books in the series can be read out of order from these). ⁣
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🔥🔥🔥 Also, following suit with the previous books, this fun, super quick read offers some blush-worthy steam but not quite Fifty Shades level. Enter at your own risk. 🙃⁣

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the advance egalley of this book.

Everything Jasmine Guillory writes is excellent. It’s hard to get anything else done when I have a new book of hers, because I want to read it in one sitting if possible. Party of Two is a great new addition to her expanding cast of characters.

You guys! THIS ONE IS (so far) MY FAVORITE IN THE SERIES. I LOVED IT SO MUCH. As soon as this one comes out you should <i>definitely</i> read it. The protagonists are interesting and believably flawed, and end up together in such a nice way. Sometimes, when you read romance, the grovel isn't good enough, but this one was! SQUEE!!! The larger end problem fell completely within the characters explained flaws - it didn't come out of nowhere, and it wasn't so horrible you can't believe that it would happen, but it was also something that the characters can overcome. PLUS, the ending was super cute. So A+++++ from me!!!

This was a perfectly adequate contemporary romance. I was disappointed by Guillory's last two, but this one was much better. Max and Olivia are charming characters, their relationship is fun and sexy, and the obstacles in place are true to the character beats, but not so awful that you can't believe in the HEA.

This book is sweet, smart, entertaining, scandalous! ( the heroine is kickass lawyer and her name is Olivia, too but she doesn’t have any gladiator minions worshipping her and she’s not dating -thankfully- with first man Fitzgerald but privileged, wealthy senator and their chemistry is sizzling, hot as hell!) I may say this is one of the best books of the series and more realistic approach to the struggles having in a relationship when you’re dating with hotshot, rising star of political arena.

Both characters are well-developed and the opposite attracts situation well reflected: Max, charming, brilliant, intelligent and also romantic senator is like a dream come true. But he is impulsive, spontaneous, hot-blooded. When he wants something, he wants to get it whatever it takes. (It reminded me of a Leo or Aries man, ascendant could be Cancer because there is domestic side and lots of love of food!)

And when it comes to astro analysis of Olivia: she reminds me of Aquarius (Intelligent, visionary, independent, carrier oriented and her reputation is so important for her.) Her reluctance of taking risk and being poised, strategizing and planning everything help her to distance herself from the merciless blows of outer world but it also prevents her live her life fully.

But the best thing about the book: (at the same time it was the worst thing because even though I don’t have sweet tooth, I craved, screamed for cake! Now I understood and adored Marie Antionette so well. This book’s motto must be: “LET THEM EAT CAKE”) there are too many pies and cakes spattered around each pages and I literally bit my Ipad so many times and my teeth bled! At 3 a.m. I woke my husband( okay, I lied we’re in quarantine and we are up all night, watching Netflix like other regular people!) and forced him to bake some cake but unfortunately we stocked so many unnecessary things (like veggies, fruits) and necessary things (booze, new tequila shot glasses) but we forgot buying flour! (Actually throughout 14 years of marriage we never bought flour and we confuse it with chalk dust)

So my friends I advised you before reading this book: stock cakes and pies at your home to enjoy this book or you can turn into me a crazy redhead scream for additional sugar fix!
Overall: Characters are lovely and we welcomed two characters for first book of the series (Alexa and Drew) Olivia is sister of Alexa. Even though at the last part of the story: I found Olivia way too much stubborn and insecure, I still got their differences and her past frustrations. At some parts her lack of romantic look and so much realistic approach to their relationship bothered me as Max acted like enchanted puppy dog who worshipped the way she walked.

Pacing, angst, drama: It was well balanced and necessarily well told.

Ending: Conclusion is a little formal for old school romantic like me. I am always great fan of big romantic over exaggerated gestures. Epilogue was much better but predictable.

My stars: 3.5 (I cut some points that I mentioned at the top paragraphs) rounded up to 4 stars. It was still entertaining, lovable, moving, thought provoking, motivational book with great and important political, social messages. So far, my favorite of the series!

So much thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this sweet (cake craver) ARC with me in exchange my honest review.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC of this title.

I love Jasmine Guillory, and I think this book, the story of Olivia Monroe (Alexa from <i>The Wedding Date</i>'s sister) and her romance with the Junior Senator from California, Max, fits right in with her other sweet, swoony books. All the Jasmine hallmarks are here - FOOD, a super-competent heroine, satisfying character growth, and California. If you've liked her other books, I think you'll like this one too.

Truly the eARC gods have smiled upon me the past few weeks (or the publishing house staffs), and I've gotten just the escapist books I need. Remember when people could GO to RESTAURANTS or ON VACATION??? Read this-it'll make you feel a little more normal.

Oliva has finally taken the leap to quit her job in NYC and open her own firm with her best friend in LA. While staying in a hotel waiting for her rental to be available, she meets Max, who she believes to be an actor, and they have a wonderful back and forth all evening. Come to find out, Max is the Senator. After that evening and leaving without exchanging information, Max is determined to find Olivia again. They start to date, but when the public gets involved, things get rocky.

There is a certain predictability to Jasmine Guillorys work, but it’s a predictability that I find I enjoy. Especially these days, I knew when picking this book up that it would be a great love story that had a little bit of drama. I do wonder who will be next though. It often takes me some time to figure out how the main character is connected again! I loved that both Max and Olivia were very stuck in their own ways and that they had to work together to learn to adapt to the way the other one thinks and acts. In conclusion, if you enjoyed the rest of the Wedding Date series, this one will not let you down!

Thank you Berkley Pub and Netgalley for my gifted copy of this book!

Jasmine Guillory is a gift to romance and women's literature. Her books are equally steamy as they are significant. She's not afraid to tackle the many issues related to race, and she blends these storylines flawlessly as a love story unfolds.
Party of Two is no exception, and it might be my favorite of them all.
The book follows Olivia Monroe (sister of Alexa and new LA resident), the meet cute at a hotel bar with a handsome stranger who she discovers is the charismatic young senator of California, and how a relationship emerges from secretive dates to one making headlines and being followed by photographers.
In true Guillory form, the book has the depth that I've come to expect from her, and some perfectly written love scenes and moments that just make me hungry. I couldn't help but whip up a boxed cake after reading this book, and you'll probably do the same.
And you'll probably hug the book when you finish. It's that sweet.