Love Stories Are. . . is the second book in Katharine Sweet’s Goodroe Brothers’ duet that takes on the lives of Mat and Vinnie. This time, the story focuses on Vinnie as he writes what he knows. Writing is something he wants to do, as he is tired of the stories being written around him. People would expect him to write a true crime thriller told from the criminal’s eyes, but he chooses to write a fictionalization of how Mat and Kass got together. Vinnie is an unknown author, and unsure if he will even get published. Meanwhile, Anna Kane plans to have a year with a relationship and balance and not just hooking up. At work, she finds Vinnie’s manuscript in a trash can--a rejected submission that is supposed to be mailed back. Upon taking time to read the story, something inside her says that it is worth publishing. Vinnie and Anna’s professional partnership will turn into a ruse as they pretend to be a couple--a quid pro quo setup that will be beneficial for both parties.

Vinnie and Anna may well be the type of couple that you would least expect to have chemistry but Katharine Sweet’s story flies on the strength of their unusual chemistry as well as the impressionable characters surrounding them and the delivery of crisp dialogue. As for the storyline, I take my hat off to Sweet’s originality. Love Stories Are. . . is charming, entertaining, heartwarming, and even thought-provoking in the themes that it tackles. Sure, there have been films and books about two people pretending to be a couple but Sweet adds the right amount of humanity and vulnerability in her characters to make this plot charming and believable. The story shines in a contemporary romance that can be read by lovers of the genre, regardless of their age.

Love Stories Are... The Goodroe Brothers Book 2 by Katharine M. Sweet is a modern romance that connects a wealthy, level-headed woman with the most unusual and unlikely of men. Successful editor Anna Kane accidentally stumbles upon a manuscript that has amazing potential. The manuscript’s author Vinnie breezes into her life and they work on his manuscript, which involved the retelling of some personal family experiences. Anna is drawn into his complicated and criminal family dynamic and Vinnie fights his feelings for her as his attraction grows. Both Anna and Vinnie learn things about each other that could threaten their love, and in the end, must decide how much is too much and whether or not the past can be overcome.

I love how the tables are turned in so many ways in Love Stories Are... by Katharine M. Sweet compared to traditional “man rescues woman” romance stories. For starters, Vinnie is a virgin, he is not dominant or forceful, and he battles insecurities while thinking he is less than the rich and successful Anna Kane. It is a brilliant retelling of tired, traditional romance stories. The two characters are relatable and their budding romance fills the book with great tension and the type of impatience the reader wants to feel for the two characters to end up together. The backstories of each character are revealed bit by bit and by the end of the book, the reader will feel as if they are part of their lives, deeply attached to the decisions Vinnie and his family make and how Anna will respond to the repeated uncertainties. This story is a welcome change from the stereotypes found in many romance books.

Love Stories Are… is the second novel in The Goodroe Brothers series by Katharine Sweet. Vinnie was used to being the afterthought in his family. While his professional life was fine, in contrast, his personal life was not. He wrote his brother’s love story on impulse and sent it to a publishing company. Working as an editor was great, but Anna’s personal life was in shambles. Apart from Jackal her cat, her social life was dull, but getting her hands on Vinnie’s book was the change they both needed. Vinnie wants to keep the book hidden from his family and Anna wants to publish it. One thing led to another and before they knew it, they were pretending to be a couple so that Anna and Vinnie get what they want without raising suspicions. But could they do it without letting emotions get in the way?

The perfect fake-dating story to keep you entertained for hours, Vinnie and Anna had my attention from the first chapter. Aptly named, Love Stories Are… was entertaining and exciting. After reading Mat and Kassarah’s story, I had high expectations of Anna and Vinnie. They were a combination of intelligence and impulsiveness. I loved Vinnie and his awkwardness. He was intelligent and had a plethora of information that bubbled out of his mouth at random, which was endearing. Anna, on the other hand, was calm and collected. She knew what she wanted and did not hesitate to chase after it. Their character development was fantastic and the pace was perfect. Nothing was rushed or felt pushed and Katharine Sweet made sure that their relationship was the least of their worries as they worked on other aspects of their personal lives. Loved it!

Love Stories Are… by Katharine Sweet is the second book in The Goodroe Brothers Book series, and it follows the story of Vinnie and Anna. Vinnie comes from a dark criminal background and Anna from an elegant and lavish life. The two should not have common ground, but somehow they do. Anna is drawn to Vinnie's book and believes he can become a successful author if she helps him. The two decide to have a fake relationship to hide the fact that Vinnie is writing a book about his brother's love story. Vinnie helps Anna by being her plus one for events, and the two start developing feelings for each other. After meeting Vinnie's big family, Anna realizes her need to have a family of her own and decides to find her biological parents. On the other hand, Vinnie's mother returns from the dead and brings with her a whole bag of secrets connected to Anna's parentage. Will these secrets be strong enough to end Vinnie and Anna's growing romance?

I enjoyed reading this story because Anna and Vinnie are amazing characters. Their relationship was a slow burn that grew gradually, and I appreciated them getting to know each other before sparks started flying. Anna is an independent, hardworking woman who is not afraid to go after what she wants, and Vinnie, despite his rough background, is a soft-hearted person who cares deeply for the people he loves. Vinnie brings to Anna a family and a friend, making her less of a loner, and Anna's belief in Vinnie makes him more confident and less insecure. Their love for each other helps them overcome all the obstacles that come their way, and they build each other up. Another character I loved was Lizzie. Every scene with her made me smile. She is cute and made this a more light-hearted book. I hope to read more from Katharine Sweet and The Goodroe Brothers series because I believe the side characters have more stories to offer. Get a copy of Love Stories Are… and fall in love with Vinnie and Anna's love story.