Blog Tour Book Review: Red Velvet by Carla Luna

Ready for a cosy autumnal romance in 2021? I might have just the thing…

Red Velvet by Carla Luna

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Moon Manor Press

Date Published: 10 September 2021

Print length: 288 pages

Blurb

Six nights in the Northwoods, two best friends, and one big secret. What could possibly go wrong?

In her ultra-competitive family, April Beckett is used to taking last place. She’s put up with years of jabs about her modest job and her pathetic love life. Especially after she tried to impress her older sisters with a fake boyfriend in college and failed miserably. But now she has a smoking-hot date for her brother’s wedding, guaranteed to wow them.

Until he bails. Cue total desperation.

Without April’s friendship, Brody Blackwood wouldn’t have survived his last breakup. So, if she needs a plus-one for a family wedding, he’s all in. Even if it means pretending to be her boyfriend. And committing to a week of activities at a wooded resort in Wisconsin. But how hard could a fall getaway with your best friend be?

Too bad there’s a grueling 10k race and a cutthroat trivia night to endure. Not to mention a massive secret to protect. But will the biggest secret of all be that this fake relationship feels more real than April or Brody ever imagined?

My Thoughts

Having read Blue Hawaiian a few months back, it was only right for me to join the blog tour for the second book in the series Red Velvet.

This might’ve been one of the books I read whilst I was sweating on a sun bed last month but, on the face of it, it is a cosy autumn romance through and through.

Red Velvet follows April Beckett. Under her family’s light she might not be that spectacular, but as a protagonist she is funny, honest and relatable (particularly considering I also like to bake and have limited self control!). I thought I’d find her annoying at first but, as the book continued on, I found myself rooting for her and truly wanting the best for her.

Brody is also very likeable, the lovable nerd and the kind of character that makes me annoyed I’ve never had a male friend (especially not one who fancies me, but a girl can dream 😂). Both Brody and April have their problems but, like the first book in the series, there’s no denying that their chemistry is there.

I loved the tropes in Red Velvet. We had friends to (fake) lovers, horrible siblings and the inevitable ex-boyfriend turning up when everything is actually going alright.

Much like in her first novel, Luna is excellent at building the world around her characters. I’ve never been to the area that it depicts (if it’s even real?) but the descriptions are so detailed and vivid, you feel like – as a reader – you are right there with the characters.

After a series of mixed reads last month, Red Velvet was just what I needed. It is nothing readers won’t have come across before but, if you’re looking for an easy read this autumn, Red Velvet is just the thing.

A Few “Thank Yous”

I wouldn’t have been able to read this book – or participate in this Blog Tour- without Rachel (of Rachel’s Random Resources ) so I just wanted to say thank you to her for organising the tour and for letting me have a spot on it, too.

I also want to thank the publishers Moon Manor Press and the writer Carla Luna for my e-copy of this book. I enjoyed it and I hope others will as well.

About the Author

Carla Luna writes contemporary romance with a dollop of humor and a pinch of spice. A former archaeologist, she still dreams of traveling to far-off places and channels that wanderlust into the settings of her stories. When she’s not writing, she works in a spice emporium where she gets paid to discuss food and share her favorite recipes. Her passions include Broadway musicals, baking, whimsical office supplies, and pop culture podcasts. Though she has roots in Los Angeles and Victoria, B.C., she currently resides in Wisconsin with her family and her spoiled Siberian cat.

Social Media Links

Website: www.carlalunabooks.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/casacullen

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaLunaAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlalunacullen/

You can buy Red Velvet here.