I really enjoyed The Bromance Book Club, the first book in this series that introduced a group of guys who read romance novels in order to solve their romantic problems. The second book in the series is an homage to romantic suspense – check out my review: Undercover Bromance! And find out how to WIN AN ARC!
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Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams. To be published on March 10, 2020 by Berkley Romance. Thanks to the publisher for providing me a copy for review.
Synopsis: Liv has a dream job as a sous chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef. Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub entrepreneur offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. He’ll need to call in reinforcements: the Bromance Book Club. The book club assists Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart… even though she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned.
Review: Undercover Bromance
I am really enjoying this series of companion books featuring a group of guys who read romance novels as a way to help each other solve problems in their love lives. The bromance between these guys is by far the best parts of these books!
Braden (one of the love interests) is a member of the club while Liv (other love interest) is the sister of Thea from The Bromance Book Club. I don’t think I’m the only person who was a little apprehensive about Liv as a protagonist as she was a little … abrasive in that book.
But Undercover Bromance helped me understand Liv a lot better, and her assertive, in-your-face personality was a good fit for the plot, which involved her exposing her former boss, a serial sexual harasser who has made it his mission to ruin Liv and her career. There was also another character who was hiding something … but I’ll leave that to you to find out!
While I also thought the issue part of the story (violence against women/sexual harassment) was really well-portrayed and very nicely integrated (and topical!), the “suspense” part of the plot was pretty much of the Scooby Doo variety. The book itself is not really romantic suspense, but more of an homage to it.
On the plus side (to me!) these books are true rom coms. The amazing humor in this series is usually provided by the guys, but in Undercover Bromance, Liv was keeping pace. Liv and Mack had good romantic chemistry and some hilarious banter. There was a running joke involving the sex lives of chickens. Yep. (Also: I am coming out from undercover to confess my obsession with chickens. Below are some chickens I have met and eggs I have collected.)
Overall this one was a win for me: great friendships, great humor, just enough romance. And chickens.
Want more rom coms? Check out all my rom com reviews here!
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Have you read this series? Want to? Talk to me in comments!
I agree – total rom-coms, and Adams was able to keep it that way even when incorporating real issues. So, kudos to her. The farm was such a source of mirth for me. I mean, the chicken vagina conversation was hilarious.
This book was SO funny. I loved the chicken elements!
Interesting that you mention Liv’s abrasiveness because that’s exactly why I decided against requesting/reading this one. She was one of the big factors that lessened my enjoyment of the first book and I decided I didn’t care what her back story was, I didn’t want to read anymore about her. (Harsh much? LOL) But I totally agree that Adams does rom-coms well and the guys are the shining stars. 🙂
I get it. I still didn’t LOVE Liv in this book, but I liked her more. As I think I said in the review, her personality worked better in this book for sure.
Cloaca.
I was really excited about the Mack/Liv pairing for some reason. I thought they would be the perfect match and I was not disappointed.
Karen @ For What It’s worth
I agree that they were good together! And this book was really funny despite the serious issues involved.
Okay this sounds quite awesome, and I did love that concept for the first book too. Sounds like it just gets better and better. Plus chickens lol.
It’s a very funny series!
I still need to read the first book in this series! I’ve only heard good things about it. 🙂
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
I am glad that this was a good sequel and that the bromance is so strong! I love bromance in books. And I also really like that you warned me about the suspense and not to take it too seriously once I get to it!
Yeah suspense low but bromance was awesome!
I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s on my TBR.