by Alyssa Goodnight
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Magical Realism
Source: Author
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Rating:
Heat Level:
He's just what she needs...Single mom Jade Moran isn't ready for any big changes in either her horrible '70s kitchen or her romantic life. Her ex did a number on her, and she isn't interested in getting hurt again. But when she meets a super-hot contractor, she wonders if avocado appliances are on the way out and romance is on the way in. Max Gianopoulis doesn't have a clue why he's so enchanted by Jade. She's almost as big a mess as her kitchen, and he's a guy who likes to keep things simple. He let himself get involved with a previous client, and he's not interested in repeating the experience. But Jade has turned up the flirty heat - and he can't keep his hands off her. With everything moving too fast and coming too easy, Jade's insecurities kick into high gear. She's not sure she can trust another man again - and she definitely doesn't believe in magic.
Just Say Yes by Alyssa Goodnight is a contemporary romance with a touch of magical realism. It will appeal to foodies and offers up something different from Browncoat to pop culture references and it is sure to make you smile. Unique characters, growth, friendship, humor and a sweet, slow-building romance made Just Say Yes a winner.
We meet Jade Moran and her thirteen-year-old daughter Evie as they are parking and preparing to enter an eatery/store with a turnip on the logo. Evie is using a “yes” for this excursion and Jade smells a rat. Here we meet Opal the vivacious proprietor and right away, this woman charms me. I loved the little eatery with its mason filed jars, odd menu and southern charm. All of the food is meant to invoke feelings, resolve problems, give confidence etc. Opal introduces them to Max who Jade describes as “the best parts of Neal Caffrey and Harvey Specter combined.” The reference made me giggle:snort and had me settling down, because once again I knew Goodnight was going to entertain me.
At the beginning of each chapter, we get a little tip from the kitchen witch regarding the powers of food and Goodnight has me craving everything from chocolate bark to fig spread. I loved the foodie theme threaded throughout the tale giving us a touch of magical realism.
“Some days, romance needs a little push, a little vote of confidence. For those days, there is chocolate-cherry-blueberry bark. The blueberries will calm your nerves; the cherries will amp up your seductive wiles, and the chocolate means you’ve scored already. —Witch in the Kitchen, Bark Is Better with Bite”
Max is a contractor, Jade needs a new kitchen, and Evie thinks that after thirteen years her Mom needs to date again. The tale that unfolds is charming, chock full of humor and left me smiling.
Five things I learned from reading Just Say Yes
- I want to be friends with Goodnight. She is clearly a Geek. She references shows I adore and her characters discuss Superheroes. If she likes coffee and chocolate, we could totally be BFFs.
- Her characters are fleshed out, realistic, and unique. If you are looking for cliché characters, you will be disappointed. I loved the secondary characters we meet thanks to Opal’s dinners. I would love to see more books develop around this new group of friends. (I also want to recreate these dinners for friends)
- At its heart, the tale is a romance, but Goodnight delivers so much more. I became caught up in their families, their friends and of course Opal herself. I want to spend an afternoon on her porch sipping tea and swapping tales. The angst/tension was low-key with just enough to keep us flipping the pages. The story is memorable from moments of learning to the romance itself. Nothing is rushed and the romance does not rely on tropes. Think contemporary romance wrapped in a “Sarah Addison Allen” type world.
- I love the concept of food evoking feelings, boosting your confidence and fueling passion. I have always loved foodie books and enjoyed the unique way in which Goodnight weaved this into the story. I need to get my hands on a Witch in the Kitchen cookbook
- This is the second book I have read by Goodnight and her stories are memorable. I can still recall characters from Austensibly Ordinary that I read in 2013. I have no doubt that two years from now I will still be able to recall in detail Just Say Yes.
Just say yes to Just Say Yes. A warm, funny, and unique romance you will want to share with friends. This would be wonderful for a reading group. I want to start a group just to talk about it.
Teddyree
ooh I want … my type of read, love anything ‘foodie’ related and magical realism. Reminds me a little of The Glass Kitchen by Linda Francis Lee, I adored it. Thanks for wonderful review!!
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you try this and her other books, such a delight to read 🙂
Lark
This sounds completely delightful. Sold. Literally – I just bought it on Amazon.
kimbacaffeinate
Awesome, I hope you love it and try her other books as well.
MarthaE
This sounds good. Always nice to learn of new-to-me authors.
Thanks for sharing.
kimbacaffeinate
So glad I could pique your interest 🙂
Whitney
Just Say Yes sounds super cute with some fun characters. Although, I think the Jane Austen geek in me will win out and will have to read Austensibly Ordinary first. Thanks for sharing!
kimbacaffeinate
You cannot go wrong with any of her books Whitney 🙂
Wattle
This sounds like a fun read, it’s going on my TBR for the geek references alone!
kimbacaffeinate
Hope you love it, and yes I loved the geek references. 🙂
Sue G.
This sounds really cute. Thanks!
kimbacaffeinate
It was Sue, and was fun to read 🙂
Lorna
Okay so I just went and bought it. I don’t know when I will get to read it but you sold me on it! Thanks for a great review 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Sweet, I hope you enjoy this as much as I did Lorna 🙂
Jess
This sounds like a fun, fabulous read. I hadn’t heard of it before. Thanks for the introduction!
Sharon - Obsession with Books
This author is new to me but she sounds great and I love realistic characters.
A lovely review Kimba! Sharon – Obsession with Books
kimbacaffeinate
She is a fun author with memorable and different stories 🙂
Lisa
Hehe I like the sound of the tips at the beginning of each chapter. 🙂 So glad you enjoyed this one!
kimbacaffeinate
They were so neat, with a touch of humor 🙂
Bookworm Brandee
I’ve not heard of Goodnight before, Kimberly, but you’ve just put her on my tbr. Not only does Just Say Yes sound like a delightful read with elements I adore (strong heroine, well-developed characters) but it also has elements I’m thinking I could learn to love (foodie elements). 🙂 I’m also going to have to check out Austensibly Ordinary, since I am a huge Austen fan. 😉
kimbacaffeinate
Sweet, I hope you enjoy this author as much as I do 🙂
Rosa
I must confess I hadn’t heard about Alyssa Goodnight before. I’m so excited to find out that she wrote a Jane Austen’s Diary series. I’m a huge fan of Jane Austen! and this book also seems promising.
kimbacaffeinate
I think you will love this author Rosa!
Megan
This book sounds interesting. I haven’t read much magical realism but it sounds like it makes the story fun.
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you try it Megan, this blends the two genres and is the perfect introduction.
Jennifer Bielman
Huh, magical realism. That’s a new one to me. I love the foodie part. Wait, someone’s name is Goodnight? Awesome!
kimbacaffeinate
I love the genre and this blends it into a contemporary romance
The Bibliophile Babe
Sounds like a perfect weekend read!
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, perfect for enjoying in the sun 🙂
Cyn
This sounds like a cute read and I like the bit of magical realism! Also, yes to the foodie and pop culture references! I’m a little sad that it’s only 2 1/2 on the heat scale, but it does still sound adorable, haha. Great review, Kim!
kimbacaffeinate
It has plenty of passion, kisses and sexy moments, just not a lot of deets..I think you will enjoy it.
Heidi
I was on a foodie book kick earlier in the summer. I am such a sucker for food and magical realism. I totally need this one. Thanks for the recommendation.
kimbacaffeinate
You would really enjoy this author Heidi 🙂
Katherine
I just read my first Sarah Addison Allen and absolutely loved it so I’m loving the idea of magical realism right now. Plus anything that involves a kitchen always makes me happy. I’ll definitely be adding this to my TBR!
kimbacaffeinate
Love her. Garden Spells is my favorite. I hope you try this as well.
Mary Kirkland
I like foodie type books. I laughed at the description of the avocado appliances that need to be taken out of the kitchen. Sounds like the kitchen needed a make over really bad.
kimbacaffeinate
Hehe…you should read the description of their house. .it is unique
Debbie Haupt
Kim isn’t it so much fun to really connect with an author like that. Great review!!
kimbacaffeinate
It is…her writing makes me smile
Angela Adams
“But when she meets a super-hot contractor” — makes me want to remodel my kitchen. Thanks for the post.
kimbacaffeinate
I hear ya 🙂
Sophia Rose
I’ve read her Austentatious and loved it. I was constantly hungry because it was a little bit foodie, too. This one sounds even better.
Love your five reasons!
kimbacaffeinate
Yay, glad you have enjoyed this author and I hope you grab this one Sophia 🙂
Grace MyBookSnack
This sounds so yummy! I love a great foodie read. It’s always nice to come across an author that can describe food and emotions well. Lovely review!
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you decide to pick it up Grace 🙂
Ramona
You know, I find your reviews very comforting… It’s GREAT that I’m not the only one who has fantasies about becoming BFFs with fictional characters. But Goodnight does sound like my type of girl too 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Well in this case it is the author I want to be BFF’s with, but there have been many characters who I wanted to hang with!
kindlemom1
I have yet to try anything with a touch of magical realism but this is the second review for such a book I have seen this week and now I want to try one of them because they sound like so much fun. Glad this worked so well for you Kim!
kimbacaffeinate
I loved this, and hope you decide to try it Ali 🙂
Laurel-Rain Snow
What fun! I HAD that kitchen once…but it was back in the 70s. I wonder why we thought avocado appliances were cool? LOL
I am now very curious about these characters, too. Thanks for sharing.
kimbacaffeinate
I remember them and that awful yellow as well.
sherry fundin
Hmmm. Magic realism. I like that phrase.
kimbacaffeinate
Have you tried any books in this genre? Sarah Addison Allen is a good one to start with. Garden Spell is my favorite and of course Just Say Yes is wonderful too.
Braine Talk Supe
You had me at magic realism & Sarah AA. I’m on that kick right now and I’m going down my TRB hunting for another one. Definitely adding this to the list.
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you enjoy this Braine. I loved how she combined a realistic romance and a bit of magic.
Nick
I love that this is so much more than a romance. And a touch of magical realism? I’m intrigued!
kimbacaffeinate
I think you would enjoy this Nick, secondary characters were hilarious.
Quinn's Book Nook
This looks super cute. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much. I have to look into this. Lately all I’ve been reading is contemporary romance.
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you decide to try it Quinn. 🙂
Jenny
Um. Chocolate cherry blueberry bark? I think I just started drooling! Clearly I’m not going to make it through this book without chocolate on hand:) Thanks for the recommendation Kim!
kimbacaffeinate
Seriously..I have been craving that myself!
Tyler H Jolley
That’s so fun that she adds the powers of food at the beginning of each chapter. What a great idea!
kimbacaffeinate
It has humor too Tyler making the little blurbs interesting 🙂
holdenj
Really enjoyed her Austen books!
kimbacaffeinate
I did too and hope you try this one 🙂
Lexxie
I’m always happy when I see the genre ‘magic realism’ at the top of a review, Kimba, and when the rest of the review tells me about the fleshed out characters and well-made story, I’m sold!
kimbacaffeinate
I really enjoy this author Lexxie and hope you try her 🙂
Red Iza
Those characters look so good that I now have to read this..; Thanks for sharing !
kimbacaffeinate
Sweet, I hope you do and would love to hear what you think.
Lover Of Romance
I do love realistic character, makes them more fun to read. This story sound very interesting.
kimbacaffeinate
It was and I slipped right in
blodeuedd
Sounds great, and now I wanna be friends with her too
kimbacaffeinate
We can all go out for drinks 🙂