It’s been awhile since I’ve posted one of these, so I thought I’d talk about some of the books that DIDN’T work for me, for one reason or another. That’s almost as good as reviewing them, lol, and I think it’s important to talk about. There’s no shame in setting aside books that aren’t working for you personally.
Do you ever DNF (do not finish) books? I do! Though I love a bad book almost as much as a good one (sometimes you’ve just gotta roll your eyes and see how it all turns out), there are times when I will abandon a book along the way. Sometimes it’s really just a “it’s not you, it’s me” thing, sometimes it’s clear right away that a book is just BAD, and other times a tired trope will get on my nerves. There are so many different reasons to DNF a book, and not all of them indicate that it’s subpar.
And, yes, sometimes I do go back to books I tossed aside and realize that I must’ve been PMSing that day because they work much better the second time around!
These days, I post mini reviews for books I got pretty far into before abandoning them, so these are all books that lost my interest early on or that I read other reviews for and decided to skip. I do a LOT of sampling before choosing which books to dive into, with varying degrees of completion.
DNF for now: I’m not ready to call it quits (yet), but I’ve been listening to the audiobook on and off since release day, and I still don’t have the desire to finish. It’s certainly not bad, but it’s also not compelling me to continue reading – I’m about 5 hours into the 15-hour audiobook. The duet narration is fantastic through.
The Way I Hate Him by Meghan Quinn
From USA Today and Amazon Charts bestselling author Meghan Quinn, comes a new standalone age-gap rom-com featuring a new cast of characters that will immediately have you hooked. This steamy, laugh out loud, enemies-to-lovers small town romance delivers the perfect happily ever after every romance lover craves.
Why am I holding a box of stolen memorabilia in my arms? It’s called . . . revenge.
After failing my last semester of grad school, I decided to come back to my hometown and wallow in my boyfriend’s sympathetic arms. Instead, he proceeded to dump me . . . for being boring!
Now, I’m not typically a spiteful person, but there’s only so much I can take. Hence why I’m holding the box of his most cherished possessions…stolen possessions no less!
The plan? To give the box back to its rightful owner and rat my ex out. How’s that for being boring?
But plans never go the way you want them, because instead of dropping off the box with a note, I’m pinned with the crime by the true owner of the box himself.
Hayes Farrow is grumpy, arrogant, and stupidly hot in a way that makes it hard to even look him in the eye. Not to mention he’s my brother’s nemesis so I fully intended to stay far far away from the gorgeous jerk.
But to add insult to the injury that has become my life as of late, Hayes gives me two options: turn me into the police and press full charges . . . or work it off. How could I possibly work for someone I can’t stand? Easy, I don’t look good in orange.
But working for Hayes isn’t as horrible as I thought it would be. The way I hate him begins to turn into something else – something I never thought I’d feel. But the way my brother reacts when he finds out I’m working for his enemy? He’d prefer me in prison orange.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Dm3hD0
DNF: I borrowed it from the library and it just didn’t hold my interest at all. Returned it well before the due date and forgot it existed.
The Déjà Glitch by Holly James
To break out of a 24-hour time loop, all Jack needs is for Gemma to fall in love with him in a single day. All Gemma needs is to remember him first . . .
Gemma Peters is doing fine. She’s making a name for herself in the L.A. music biz as a radio producer. She’s got a ride-or-die best friend in Lila, and she gets to come home to Rex, her loving Labrador, every night. But ever since her rock star ex-boyfriend used her to get a record deal from her rock legend dad, she’s made a “no musicians” rule when it comes to dating that’s becoming more like a “no dating” rule, period.
So, when Gemma crashes (literally) into Jack one Thursday morning, at first she feels like fate might finally be doing her a favor. After all this guy is cute and, wait, is she imagining it, or is he staring a little too deeply into her eyes? And how does he know her name? Even harder to explain is the funny feeling of déjà vu she gets every time she looks at him. It’s not at all like Gemma to kiss a man and forget him completely, so then how can she explain the dreamlike memory of his lips on hers?
The truth is this is no ordinary Thursday. Not for them. In fact, they’ve lived this day over and over for months. And while Gemma has been totally oblivious to the time loop, Jack has been agonizingly aware of every single iteration. Luckily, Jack has a theory to bring his own personal Groundhog Day to an end. And it’s simple. Before the day is over, he just has to get Gemma to fall in love with him.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/44CF5Im
DNF: I had an ARC, and even that couldn’t convince me to keep reading. I didn’t love the judgmental vibes or the writing style, so it was easy to set aside.
Dealbreakers by Lauren Forsythe
One woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure.
A woman with high standards. A rival coworker. And the promotion that stands between them . . .
Coder Marina Spicer has no time to waste when it comes to love, hence her long list of dealbreakers. Frustrated by the online dating world, she created Dealbreakers, an anonymous app where women review how men stack up to their internet profiles. Her high standards have served her well at work, so why not in love?
Enter Lucas Kennedy. A charming Irish content writer, he’s the only one standing between Marina and her long-deserved promotion. Much to Marina’s chagrin, the two are paired on a project to test out date ideas, ultimately determining which of them will run the department. Taking a peek at Dealbreakers hoping to learn some dirt about her rival, she finds he’s the worst-rated man on the entire app.
As Lucas and Marina argue their way through mixing cocktails, salsa dancing, and throwing axes, Marina finds herself having more fun than she’s had in years. So when temptation becomes too strong to resist, Marina allows herself to break some of her own rules. After all, if the Dealbreakers say he’s Mr. Wrong, he can’t possibly be Mr. Right . . . can he?
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Oo39YT
DNF: Very interesting concept, actually! The time travel was unique, but these characters are so young that the story itself felt a little juvenile. It’s a totally different age group than the last book I checked out by the author, so I struggled a bit. Not bad though!
Our Final Love Song by N.S. Perkins
ANOTHER SCORCHING SUMMER ROMANCE BY THE AUTHOR OF THE INFINITY BETWEEN US!
Jamie and Emma’s relationship is on the brink of death. After five years of dating, the high school sweethearts have run their course. At least that’s what Emma thinks. While they are both highly-trained pianists on the verge of their big break, Jamie’s the only one who can’t seem to prioritize them, and she’s had enough. On their way to the musicians’ retreat they spend every summer at, she finally tells him the truth: they’re over.
Their failing relationship seems to be their biggest problem. That is, until they arrive at camp and realize something is very wrong: they’ve gone back a year in time. More than that, the two of them are the only ones who seem to notice it. This in itself isn’t good, but what’s worse is, in present time, the summer will be finalized by a major showcase that will determine the fate of their careers.
They need to find a way to go back, and fast. So if they have to work together to find the solution to their crazy time-travel issue? Then so be it. And if Jamie can find a way to make Emma fall in love with him again in the process? Well, even better.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/45gFnFD
Lost interest: I read (and seriously enjoyed) the rest of the series, but I always knew that this particular book was going to be a tough one for me to love. Sort of a love triangle between longtime friends, with tons of angst. Ultimately, I decided it’s just not for me, and I spoiled the ending by reading reviews so I wouldn’t be tempted!
Their Freefall at Last by Julie Olivia
The hardest part is waiting for the fall.
I am currently in love with, have always been in love with, and will continue to be in love with, my best friend, Bennett Walker Shaw.
In five minutes, my best friend’s bride will greet him in a gorgeous white gown with forever on her lips. Except that bride won’t be me.
Moments like these force you to look at your life a little closer.
At twelve-years-old, he and I promised to always be there for each other. But in our childlike optimism we didn’t understand the frail, tattered string of time. How people change. How families fall apart.
How sometimes we fall apart too.
I could try to pinpoint where our mess started, but I’m not sure where I’d land in our patchwork timeline.
Maybe it’s best to go back to the beginning. Back to when the meaning of love was simply defined by a small town theme park and that beautiful, messy-haired boy.
Their Freefall At Last is a slow burn romance spanning two decades, featuring two childhood best friends and their many years of pining. Enjoy the comforts of a small town theme park, filled with lots of love and steamy tension.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3WoqAov
DNF: I had an ARC, and the Goodreads rating (currently hovering at 3.12) was the lowest I’d ever seen for a pre-release book. I can see why the reviews weren’t stellar, it was a quick DNF for me.
Text Appeal by Amber Roberts
STEM gets steamy when a coder takes up sexting to pay the bills in this daring debut novel, perfect for fans of Olivia Dade and Kate Stayman-London.
As the only woman programmer at her firm, Lark is thrilled to land an account for a huge client. But her dream job quickly becomes a nightmare when she accidentally projects a scandalous (and completely unsolicited) picture from her phone onto the screen during a presentation. Before she can recover, her coworkers jump in to steal the account, leaving Lark jobless and broke.
When a friend suggests text message–based sex work as a stopgap between jobs, Lark is dubious. She’s all about sex positivity, but carrying out sexual fantasies—even digitally and anonymously—with complete strangers is daunting. How will she explain how she’s earning a living—especially to Toby, her good friend and longtime hopeless crush?
Still, she needs the money, and after a few (embarrassing and hilarious) false starts, she actually starts to like sexting—especially with one particularly charming and nerdy client who keeps popping up in her DMs. But as Lark and Toby grow closer, she finds herself with a decision to make: tell Toby she’s a sex worker—and try to forget the anonymous client who has her struggling to separate work from real feelings—or keep the secrets that are piling up in her inbox.
Sure to appeal to readers of Helen Hoang and Jen DeLuca, Amber Roberts’s Text Appeal celebrates women in STEM, friends becoming lovers, and finding lasting love in the digital age.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Q2LrfP
DNF: I actually think this is going to be a big win for fans of Hannah Grace, but I’m moving past most new adult romance these days. Adore the cover, great concept, solid writing, predictable plot. It reminded me a lot of Icebreaker, which I “temporarily” DNFed like 6 months ago, lol.
Collide by Bal Khabra
An ultimatum from her professor thrusts Summer Preston into an unexpected collision with hockey captain Aiden Crawford. She’s caught in a delicate balance between fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a sport psychologist and veering far away from this god-awful sport.
For Aiden Crawford, being the captain of the college hockey team has its perks, except when a reckless mistake by his team threatens to jeopardize their entire season. Consequently, his coach nominates him as the subject of a research paper. It’s the last thing he wants to do, especially since the girl leading the project looks like she could wield his skates as a weapon.
Summer can’t stand his blasé approach to life, and Aiden doesn’t understand her uptight, scheduled one. They are off to a rocky start, and provoking each other is what they do best, but defeat isn’t something either of them is willing to accept.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RC52Ey
DNF: I loved Lorini’s fabulously messy debut, so I was really looking forward to this one, but it was just TOO messy for me! Turns out, the heroine has been in a serious relationship forever, and her boyfriend agrees to get married… after they temporarily open the relationship. So she’s got a boyfriend for a significant amount of the story, and one she’s kinda hoping to marry soon. Interesting concept, but not for me!
The Wedding Menu by Letizia Lorini
How many weddings does it take to fall in love?
One year ago, Amelie had it all.
Almost engaged to her high school sweetheart, close to her childhood best friend, and cooking at her dad’s restaurant: her life was exactly what she’d ordered.
Until Ian, an opinionated wedding-hater, popped up out of nowhere and proved she might like something off menu.
***
One year later, Amelie has lost it all.
She’s unemployed, single, and taking a break from her friendship. As for Ian? He’s gone too.
When she visits Ian’s hometown to teach at a week-long cooking conference, she hopes for a fateful meet-cute. But their reunion is far from joyful when Amelie discovers Ian is the son of her father’s business rival.
Even bigger fiasco? He only wants friendship.
Amelie has one week to change his mind, and if the truth of why her whole life fell apart remains hidden, their love story might even end with a wedding.
The Wedding Menu is a steamy, dual-timeline, laugh out loud romcom about weddings, secrets, and French delicacies. It features two friends who should be rivals but keep choosing each other against all odds.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/45IdMwl
DNF: The third person POV couldn’t hold my interest for long.
Role Playing by Cathy Yardley
From Cathy Yardley, author of Love, Comment, Subscribe, comes an emotional rom-com about two middle-aged gamers who grow their online connection into an IRL love story.
Maggie is an unapologetically grumpy forty-eight-year-old hermit. But when her college-aged son makes her a deal—he’ll be more social if she does the same—she can’t refuse. She joins a new online gaming guild led by a friendly healer named Otter. So that nobody gets the wrong idea, she calls herself Bogwitch.
Otter is Aiden, a fifty-year-old optimist using the guild as an emotional outlet from his family drama caring for his aging mother while his brother plays house with Aiden’s ex-fiancée.
Bogwitch and Otter become fast virtual friends, but there’s a catch. Bogwitch thinks Otter is a college student. Otter assumes Bogwitch is an octogenarian.
When they finally meet face to face—after a rocky, shocking start—the unlikely pair of sunshine and stormy personalities grow tentatively closer. But Maggie’s previous relationships have left her bitter, and Aiden’s got a complicated past of his own.
Everything’s easier online. Can they make it work in real life?
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pioWIF
DNF: I loved the book prior to this in the series, but this was very lust-focused and too spicy, if that’s a thing. Didn’t love the dynamic or age/experience gap, so I set it aside.
Accidentally Ours by Erin Hawkins
Sophie
With college graduation behind me and a highly coveted internship with the most prestigious event planner in the country awaiting me in New York City, I’m ready to say farewell to Vegas and reward all my years of disciplined hard work with one passionate night in a sexy stranger’s bed.
The hookup was anonymous, only first names exchanged, so imagine my surprise when I find out he’s not only a new client’s brother, but my brother’s new boss.
And the chemistry is still crackling between us.
But my priorities are focusing on my career and exploring my new city, not dating.
Besides, Hunter Cartwright isn’t the guy for me. He’s thirteen years older, my brother’s boss, and a notorious bachelor.
But I can’t deny my attraction to him and all too quickly I’m giving in to his proposal. An agreement for a no-strings attached relationship where Hunter shows me the city’s sights, including a full tour of his bedroom. It’s a simple arrangement…until my pregnancy test comes back positive.
Hunter
I’m married to my career as CEO of Premier Real Estate. Never able to give a woman the time or attention she wants, I’ve kept my romantic life casual.
From the moment I saw Sophie on the dance floor in Las Vegas, I knew I had to have her. I thought it would only be one night, but now that she’s living in the same city, I can’t stop thinking about her.
She’s young, and focused on starting her career, but that’s perfect because I don’t have the time or inclination for a relationship. When she takes me up on my offer to show her the city while we explore the chemistry between us, I’m relieved. We’ll enjoy each other until the flame between us dies out. Then, I’ll do what I always do…walk away.
But the more time we spend together, it’s becoming impossible to imagine that moment.
And when we discover our no strings arrangement will have us entangled for the rest of our lives, I’m determined to prove to Sophie that I can be a forever kind of guy.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PUXnzy
DNF: It was pretty cute, I’ve got to admit that! I’ve been meaning to try this author, and this was a solid one to check out. I thought it progressed a little quickly and was just a little more sedate than I was hoping, but fans of closed door, brother’s best friend romances might want to give it a try.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Juliana Smith
Nathan Huxley lives by two rules:
1. Say yes to as many things as possible.
2. Don’t ever even think about going near his best friend’s sister.
Unfortunately, being a chronic people pleaser yet wanting to make sure he keeps a solid relationship with his best friend becomes difficult when said best friend asks for a huge favor: rent the spare room in his apartment to Luke’s little sister, Calla.
Calla Wells is ready to take on adulthood. All she needs is an actual job in her field…and a place to live. When her brother, Luke, offers her a marketing position at his bar and a room at his best friend’s apartment, how could she say no? It would only be a few months, so what’s the worst that could happen?
Except, the more time Nathan and Calla spend together, the more they realize how much they have in common. Through small touches, folding parties, bingeing TV, and cooking together, they manage to find themselves undeniably close to a forbidden relationship.
Desperate for help, Nathan and Calla seek guidance from their anonymous online penpals, only to find out the world is much smaller than they think.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OSxsqF
DNF for now: I don’t know why I was so excited for this one when friends to lovers rarely works for me and the red flags are right there in the blurb, but I’ve heard a lot of good things – and the hype is deserved! Despite the fact that this is in third person, the writing style is unique and so engaging. I liked the vibes. The heroine is a lot for me though, and I’m never okay with a friends to lovers where the guy is a manhoe throughout, so the gender swap didn’t change that for me. I’m struggling with that component, but there’s a lot of very good stuff within these pages. So we’ll see if I go back to it at some point, it’s either going to be fantastic or super toxic for me!
You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
Can they stop hating each other long enough to fall in love?
A commitment-phobe and a hopeless romantic clash over and over again—until heartbreak and unexpected chemistry bring them together in this clever enemies-to-friends-to-lovers debut romance.
“Fresh, witty, and utterly romantic.”—Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis
When Ari and Josh first meet, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They hate each other. Instantly.
A free-spirited, struggling comedian who likes to keep things casual, Ari sublets, takes gigs, and she neversleeps over after hooking up. Born-and-bred Manhattanite Josh has ambitious plans: Take the culinary world by storm, find The One, and make her breakfast in his spotless kitchen. They have absolutely nothing in common . . . except that they happen to be sleeping with the same woman.
Ari and Josh never expect their paths to cross again. But years later, as they’re both reeling from ego-bruising breakups, a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship. Turns out, spending time with your former nemesis is fun when you’re too sad to hate each other—and too sad for hate sex.
As friends-without-benefits, they find comfort in late-night Netflix binges, swiping through each other’s online dating profiles, and bickering across boroughs. It’s better than romance. Until one night, the unspoken boundaries of their platonic relationship begin to blur. . . .
With sharp observations and sizzling chemistry, You, Again explores the dynamics of co-ed friendship in this sparkling romantic comedy of modern love in all its forms.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qMcrGc
DNF: I didn’t like the writing style at all.
Wanderlust by Elle Everhart
People We Meet on Vacation meets The Unhoneymooners in this sparkling debut romantic comedy about two near strangers—and complete opposites—who win a radio contest for a trip around the world.
Love’s about to take flight.
Feeling stuck at work and tired of London’s dreary weather, magazine writer Dylan Coughlan impulsively rings a radio station one day only to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip around the world. The catch? Her travel partner must be a contact randomly selected on her phone. And of course this stressful game of contact roulette lands on a number listed only as Jack the Posho, an uptight, unbearably posh guy she met on a night out and accidentally ghosted.
The two couldn’t be more different, and as the trip kicks off, Jack seems like he’d sooner fling himself into the sun than have a conversation with Dylan. But more is hinging on this trip than the chance to see the world. For the past two years, Dylan’s been relegated to writing quizzes (and only quizzes) at her lifestyle magazine after an article about her past abortion went viral—and not in the good way. If she’s able to make a series about their trip successful, her overbearing boss will give her a chance at a permanent column. Dylan’s willing to do anything to make the series a hit, even if it means embellishing her and Jack’s relationship to satisfy readers. But as the column’s popularity grows, so does the bond between Dylan and Jack, and Dylan is forced to consider if the one thing she thought she always wanted is worth the price she’ll have to pay to get there.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Nlg1hU
DNF: The audiobook was pretty bad, and the story – very focused on the religion and chasteness of the heroine – lost me quickly.
Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertok
Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Sophie Kinsella, Heidi Shertok’s delightful debut about love and family will tug on your heartstrings.
Twenty-nine-year-old Penina longs for true love and marriage, but being infertile in the Orthodox Jewish community means she’s rarely matched with the cream of the crop—or even skim milk two weeks past its expiration date. Matchmakers either set her up with men twice her age or those with serious mommy issues. At this point, she might as well wear a sign around her neck that says “professional virgin.”
As if things weren’t bad enough, her sister Libby then shares a terrible secret: her husband’s failed businesses have already put strain on their marriage, and now they might also lose their family home. Penina is desperate to help, so when a secretly gay Orthodox Jew offers a payout in exchange for a fake marriage, it feels like kismet. Who needs true love anyway?
Enter Sam Kleinfeld. Rude, secular, undeniably sexy, and also…Penina’s new boss. The last thing he wants is a relationship, especially not with a beautiful, smart-mouthed employee. But soon an attraction builds that they both can’t ignore. Will Penina follow her heart and find true love, or will she stick to the traditions she knows best?
Amazon: https://amzn.to/46896kB
DNF: I think I’m just over Kennedy’s new adult romances, they feel tired and stuck in 2015. The genre has grown since then.
The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy
Elle Kennedy’s next spicy and emotional romance in the blockbuster Avalon Bay series.
College student Cassie Soul hasn’t spent an entire summer in Avalon Bay in years, not since her parents divorced and her mother spitefully whisked her away to Boston. Now that her grandmother is selling the boardwalk hotel that’s been in their family for five decades, Cassie returns to the quaint beach town to spend time with family, ring in her twenty-first birthday…and maybe find herself a summer fling.
On her first night in town, she finds the perfect candidate: Tate Bartlett, Avalon Bay’s fun-loving golden boy.
Tate, sailing instructor and lovable player, is no stranger to flings. In fact, he’s always down for a good time. But the moment he meets Cassie, he knows she’s not the girl you play games with. Cassie is gorgeous, hilarious, and, frankly, the coolest person he’s ever met. The last thing he wants to do is risk breaking her heart, and so he reluctantly puts her in the friend-zone…only to realize he made a huge mistake. Soon, his attraction to Cassie becomes impossible to ignore. He wants that fling now. Big-time.
And maybe even something more.
As Cassie and Tate walk the line between friends and lovers, they’re about to discover that their situation is the least complicated part of this equation. Because Avalon Bay is full of secrets—and their relationship might not survive when those secrets come to light.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3XaOhAY
DNF: I can’t seem to convince myself to keep reading, and I get about 15 pages further each time I try. I had an ARC, so this has been going on for awhile now… probably time to admit it’s not keeping my interest. The third person POV isn’t helping, but the story isn’t hooking me in.
Codename Charming by Lucy Parker
Following Battle Royal, beloved author Lucy Parker pens another delicious romantic comedy about a fake relationship between a grumpy royal bodyguard and the charming, sunny assistant who melts his cold, hard exterior.
Petunia De Vere enjoys being the personal assistant to lovable, bumbling Johnny Marchmont. But the job has its share of challenges, including the royal’s giant, intimidating bodyguard, Matthias. Pet and Matthias are polar opposites—she’s spontaneous and enthusiastic, he’s rigid and stoic—but she can sense there’s something softer underneath that tough exterior…
For Matthias Vaughn, protecting others is the name of the game. But keeping his royal charge out of trouble is more difficult than he imagined because everywhere Johnny goes, calamity ensues, and his petite, bubbly assistant is often caught in the fray. Matthias hates the idea of Pet getting hurt and he’s determined to keep everyone safe, even if it means clashing with his adorable new coworker.
When a clumsy moment leads to a questionable tabloid photo, the press begins to speculate that Pet is romantically involved with Johnny. To put an end to the rumors, the royal PR team asks Pet and Matthias to stage a fake relationship and the two reluctantly agree. But as they spend more time together outside of work, they begin to wonder what real emotions this pretend connection might uncover. Especially when a passionate kiss leaves both of their heads spinning…
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OpoAtu
DNF: Just too cute and cozy for me, I think. That’s probably catnip to another reader though!
But He’s My Grumpy Neighbor by Annah Conwell
It’s not stalking if he’s your hot neighbor… right?
At least, that’s what I tell myself when Adrian Carter moves in next door.
His scowl should make me want to run in the other direction, but when I catch him smothering a smile around me, it makes me want to get to know him more.
And when Adrian starts to open up, I find myself falling in love with the cinnamon roll center hidden beneath his gruff exterior.
But between my emotional baggage and his aversion to relationships, it’s looking like we’ll never be more than neighborly.
But He’s My Grumpy Neighbor is a cozy grumpy/sunshine romcom for lovers of small-town romantic comedies. It has all the sizzling chemistry you love, without any explicit scenes. Check out the first book of the But He’s A Carter Brother Series, a series based around four strong, protective brothers finding love.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Q8QF9Q
DNF/Lost interest: I love the concept and I’m a fan of Elizabeth’s writing, but there’s a big focus on self-esteem and how the heroine let a man walk all over her, which brought back Tis the Season for Revenge vibes. I loved that book, but I don’t usually connect with heroines who have been so meek, and I found some of the things she overlooked to be very unbelievable, at least from my perspective. So I couldn’t relate to the character at all.
The Fall of Bradley Reed by Morgan Elizabeth
What if you actually had a hot FBI agent watching your search history while you plot revenge on an ex… and what if it became his mission to keep you out of trouble?
When Olivia Anderson gets left at the altar, she decides to do what all modern women do—hit up Google. When a couple of searches land her in a support group for jilted brides, she immediately takes the reins and decides they all deserve revenge on their exes.
Andre Valenti is tired of watching spoiled rich Olivia Anderson’s every move, but his career depends on putting her ex behind bars. He’s managed to stay off her radar until one day he realizes her search history is peppered with revenge that will land her in prison and ruin her status as a reliable witness.
As Andre gets more involved in Olivia’s schemes, will he be able to keep it professional? Or will the subject of his work assignment become….something more.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KT70Mv
Lost interest: I always check reviews before starting Swan’s books because she can take things too far sometimes, and the reviews for this one are very meh. They also lead me to believe I would not enjoy it, so it’s off the TBR for now.
My Temptation by TL Swan
Enter a world of luxury, lust and love with this scorching first title in T L Swan’s provocative and witty Kingston Lane series.
The first time I laid eyes on Henley James, I was mesmerized.
The chemistry between us was like nothing I’d ever felt.
Impeccable suit, dimpled smile. He was charming and gorgeous, sophisticated and suave. He gave me his business card and asked me to call.
His dating game was strong; I was gone from his first smile. I’d love to tell you our date was a raging success, but it wasn’t. Far from it.
I decided right there on that day that Henley James and I would forever be mortal enemies; I would never think of him again.
Three years later, I bought my dream home. I’m so excited to meet my neighbors—that is, until I do.
Oh no! What are the chances?
It’s him. Still single, still the hottest man alive, and still obnoxiously sarcastic. He saunters around wearing next to nothing and refuses to close the blinds at night.
I will not let myself think of him at all costs. It could be my sanity.
My temptation is a nightmare.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/44Bq4qq
Want to know more about the books that actually worked for me?
Best Romance Books I’ve Read in Kindle Unlimited (2023 So Far #3)
Every 5-Star Romance Novel I’ve Read in 2023 (So Far)
15 Best of the Year (So Far): 2023 Complete List
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Weirdly enough, I put a couple of these on the TBR. 😂
I feel like Lucy Parker’s last 2 books have been meh. I got through Codename Charming mainly because it was an okay audiobook and it was pretty easy to just keep listening.
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lol, that doesn’t surprise me at all! I know the things that drive me crazy at this point, and those definitely aren’t universal. I can also totally see Codename Charming working better as an audiobook, especially if you’re doing something else while you’re listening. Glad I could help! 😂
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