Amazon Best Romance of the Month Publishers Marketplace BuzzBooks: ROMANCE 2020-2021 pickFresh Fiction Fresh Pick “Fun, flirty, and fresh!” —Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author A witty, sexy, and charming story from the New York Times bestselling author of the St. Helena Vineyard series that fans of Emily Henry, Jen DeLuca, and Kate Clayborn will adore. Growing up the lone Asian in … Henry, Jen DeLuca, and Kate Clayborn will adore.
Growing up the lone Asian in a community of WASPs, Annie has always felt out of place. Her solution? Start a family of her own. Not easy when every man she’s dated, including her ex-fiancé, finds “his person” right after breaking up with Annie. Even worse than canceling the wedding eight weeks beforehand? Learning the “other woman” plans to walk down the aisle wearing her wedding gown. New plan—find a fresh, man-free start. Too bad her exit strategy unexpectedly lands her working at a hospital in Rome, Rhode Island, rather than Rome, Italy, and sharing a cabin with a big, brooding, and annoyingly hot male roommate.
Home on medical leave after covering a literally explosive story in China, investigative photojournalist Emmitt embarks on his most important assignment—cementing his place in his daughter’s life. Three men and a baby might work in the movies, but with a stepdad and devoted uncle competing for Paisley’s attention, Emmitt has lost his place at the family table. Then there’s the adorably sexy squatter in his cabin, who poses another problem, one he’d very much like to solve up close and personal. But he can’t win—Annie has sworn off men, Paisley’s gone boy crazy, and Emmitt’s estranged father reappears with a secret that changes everything.
Annie and Emmitt are about to discover love comes in many forms, and sometimes the best families are the ones we make.
“Phenomenal…I highly recommend picking up a copy if this novel, it will have you crying, laughing and yelling but most of all you will end with a warm happy feeling that comes from reading a first class novel.”
—Harlequin Junkie, Recommended Read
“I cannot fully express how in awe I am with Marina Adair’s ability to create such complex and multi-faceted characters. “
—The Lit Buzz
“Marina Adair is a breath of fresh air…Don’t miss a word from this magnificent author!”—Darynda Jones, New York Times bestselling author
“Fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery will enjoy the modern family dynamic and small-town atmosphere.”
—Booklist
“An adorable, fun new contemporary romance series. Delightful.”
—Library Journal
“A hilarious romantic comedy”
—Bookpage
“A delight…entertaining, endearing, and realistic.”
—Frolic
“A true gem.”
—Fresh Fiction
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Can two broken souls help each other find happiness and love? Annie needs to find her place in live. She was born in Vietnam but raised in the USA for a lovingly couple. But she feels she doesn’t belong to either culture. Emmitt’s heart broke when her mother died and he isn’t fit for commitment. The only woman in his life is his daughter, which he share with her stepfather an de her uncle. Annie and Emmitt need to help each other realise love is trust. And they need to trust their feelings. A funny and strong love and live story
I had gotten to read an excerpt of Romeantically Challenged and really enjoyed the first few chapters, so I couldn’t wait to read the rest. Annie was feisty, funny and I couldn’t wait to read more about her journey.
Annie had been engaged, but her fiance left her for another woman. On top of everything else, he’s using their wedding venue to plan his wedding to his new fiance. Annie is determined to get away from that life and moves to Rome. Not Rome, Italy but rather Rome, Rhode Island.
This is where she meets Emmitt. Emmitt and Annie hilariously meet when Annie finds out that the house she’s renting belongs to Emmitt and he’s back in town. Emmitt has been overseas as a photojournalist, but a recent injury has forced him to come back home.
I thought Marina Adair’s writing style was really great, but I wasn’t feeling the emotional connection between Annie and Emmitt. It almost felt like there were too many story lines happening with Emmitt reconnecting with his teenage daughter, his injury and then Annie reconnecting with her Vietnamese heritage. Emmit and Annie’s love story felt almost more of an afterthought and it didn’t feel as well developed as I would have liked.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
I have been patiently waiting for Marina Adair’s next book, and was excited when RomEantcally Challenged was announced. I knew I would likely enjoy the book, but Annie and Emmitt’s story exceeded every one of my expectations.
Like Annie, I was adopted as a baby in Asia, and raised by white parents. I am Korean not Vietnamese like her, but so much of her experience, feelings, and struggles resonated with me deeply. She is trying to get over a bad break up and has moved to Rome, RI for a temp Physicians Assistant job.
Emmett is home and taking time off from his job as a photojournalist, though not willingly. He is surprised to find Annie renting his house and the two of them become reluctant roommates. He also struggles with finding his place in his teenage daughter Paisley’s life as he spends time with her now that he’s home.
I loved Emmitt and Annie together. They provided support and clarity for the difficulties they were experiencing. That connection between them made the romance even better.
The secondary characters of Levi and Gray were interesting and added a lot to the story. I am looking forward to getting their books in the series.
Marina’s writing and storytelling here are just fantastic. This book is heartfelt, heartwarming heartbreaking, and unique. I cannot recommend this book enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for an honest review.
What a great uplifting story!
It’s also laugh-out-loud funny and heartwarmingly tender. While I feel anxious about Annie’s adoption journey, I am also touched at how well her adoptive parents creatively handled and shared her adoption story with her.
Annie’s perception and feelings about being different and not fitting anywhere are true and enlightening. She has the best of both worlds but yet she doesn’t. She just has to find her path.
I thoroughly enjoyed Annie’s interaction with her best friends, they are hilarious and they keep it real for her.
Annie is such a sweet and loving woman, I wish I had a best friend like her. She even stays friends with all of her exes which is a bit strange, but definitely shows her caring personality.
Clark is a dork and a selfish jerk who never deserved a woman like Annie. It shows how selfless she is that she remains friends with him despite the rotten way he treated her.
I love how Annie handles Emmitt, especially when he first starts noticing her. They have a fun interaction and their smart remarks towards each other are hilarious. Emmitt is totally misunderstood, to a point. He’s still a guy with the “guy” mentality, but he grows on you. In a way, he is naive but in a sexy body.
I love the uplifting, family dynamics surrounding Paisley. She is so loved and yet doesn’t realize how much with having three dads to always protect and look out for her.
This is a feel-good, tender, hilarious, must-read story! You will feel the love and you will remember it. This is a story you need to have in your life!
this was such a fun and easy to follow romance that takes place in rome!, this definitely got my attention when the synopsis said the book was a mix of three men and a baby and 27 dresses which i am a big fan of both which peaked my interest in it and was a fast paced enjoyable novel even though the beginning started out slow and boring it got more interesting to read as you kept going.
“If I do, we’ll have a roommate agreement drawn up and it will state ‘No Kissing’ right at the top.”
“We’ll need to be clear,” he said. “No kissing you? Or you can’t kiss me? I’m unsure how I feel about that. It’s not really fair if you kiss me but I can’t kiss you.”
Annie has jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. She’s temporarily living in Rome, RI and renting a house. Apparently, the owner has returned without notice and thinks he is going to be staying in his house. She wanted to get away from things that had been going wrong in her life. Meeting a tall, dark, handsome and complicated man was not in her plans.
Emmitt has returned unannounced and unexpected. When his finds that his friend has rented out his house, it’s definitely a surprise. Turns out, a pleasant surprise. Emmitt wants to reconnect with his daughter while he’s in town recuperating from an accident. He has a lot on his plate, but he doesn’t mind adding getting to know Annie. Attachment is not his thing. But everything seems to be changing.
I enjoyed this story. Annie and Emmitt make a great pair!
Such a great book! A little bit of a tear-jerker, lots of humor and some wonderful insights into what internationally adopted children deal with emotionally. A lot of “feels” in this book-makes you remember we all have issues and need to be kind & thoughtful. Don’t miss this one!
I loved this book! Anh Mhi “Annie” Walsh was born in Vietnam and adopted by her white American parents. She never quite felt that she fit in with the predominantly white community she grew up in, nor did she feel at ease with a group of Vietnamese woman from work. She is an in-between. She is at a turning point in her life, when she inadvertently becomes roommates with Photojournalist Emmitt Bradley. Both Annie and Emmitt are lost soles who are dealing with a lot of changes. This story has great characters, a few laughs and some tears. I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
Annie is a physicians assistant that gets dumped by her fiancé by text, him stating that he’s realized that he’s not the marrying type. Then, mere months later she sees on a social media post that he’s getting married to ‘the one’. After this she needs to escape, so she takes a temp PA position, in Rome, Rome, Rhode Island that is. She’s vowed to give up men, and focus on herself, but then is surprised when the owner of the house she’s rents comes home early. And there is a spark between a them. Both are set against getting involved, but can’t fight their attention.
I absolutely loved this story. It was sweet, and funny. It was a wonderfully written story about love and family and fitting in. The characters felt real, and you get invested in their lives. I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a sweet love story with a little more to it.
I love reading Marina Adair’s books. They are full of humor and serious feelings and just fun and easy to read. This story sort of reminded me of that movie Three Men And A Baby but better. Marina is one of my favorite authors and she never let me down with this awesome book! Thanks for another great book Marina!
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I took a couple of days to think about this book before writing my review. I really miss the characters and can remember the plot (7+ books later) – that means it really made a lasting impression. I enjoyed the story of Annie (Anh) and Emmitt.
It’s got a lot to do with an adopted girl finding where she belongs and finding true love.
Yay! Finally an Asian heroine that I can totally relate with. RomeAntically Challenged was a wonderful story about self discovery on both the hero and heroine’s part, and how that self discovery led to romance and finding the person and family you’re meant to be with. An emotionally charged story that I can totally relate to because I am Vietnamese-American and just like Anh Nhi (Annie) I too often felt like she did throughout the story. Aside from the adoption part everything she was feeling, I have felt too. And Emmitt. Wow. His family issues and him trying to find a place in his daughter’s life. Heart totally melted. I loved every minute of this story and the journey that Anh and Emmitt took to reach their HEA, which they both deserved so much.
*I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book*
What a wonderful story! Anh Nhi (usually called Annie) is trying to move forward after a broken engagement and an ex-fiancé who can’t let go. Emmitt is recovering from serious injuries and trying to navigate his relationship with his teenage daughter and all the drama that age tends to bring. Together they have chemistry and fireworks, and neither is sure what to do with that! This is an entertaining story of friendships, family, moving forward, and developing love. There is plenty of emotion, laughter, and tears. I loved this visit to Rome, Rhode Island, and recommend this delightful book!