Voracious Romance Reader • Honest Reviewer
From the Embers is enjoying a sudden surge in popularity, and I'm very happy about that... because it was one of my Top 20 of 2021 picks! In case you missed my review at the time, I'm sharing it again now. I still think back on the book very fondly, and hope many new readers... Continue Reading →
I've already read and loved A Not So Meet Cute, and now a brand new edition of the book was just released with over 30 illustrated scenes! It's a scorching hot rom com with plenty of sexual tension, so I'm very curious to see how detailed those illustrations get, lol! I remember several of the... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and my final selection is the brother's best friend romance, Josh and Gemma Make a Baby! And you know what? It hasn't even released on Kindle yet! I listened to the audio version (out now), and this light and... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and one of my absolute favorites is The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood! This debut is mega popular for a reason - it's intelligent, playful, and filled with slow burn goodness. I loved this mysterious, grump of a hero,... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and the emotional What If You & Me by Roni Loren makes the list! It's the story of two broken people who find each other at the right time in their lives. They're both struggling to move forward and... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that includes the swoony single dad romance, Forbidden! When I read Forbidden back in May, I was already pretty confident that it'd be making this list. I loved the dynamic between these two, and the book manages to... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Heartbreak for Hire is one of the more underrated books on the list. Sonia Hartl is a new-to-me author (this is her adult debut), and I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this going in. As... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and the sexual tension in Falling in Reverse earns its spot on the list! Julia Wolf is always excellent at writing tension, angst, and longing. Her books come in a variety of moods and settings, but you can always... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and the quirky, tension-filled The Love Interest is definitely a part of that list! I can rely on Kayley Loring for light and sexy romances with compelling characters and love stories that are one-of-a-kind. The Love Interest is a... Continue Reading →
This took awhile to hook me in, but it gets better and better as the story progresses. These two are absolute FIRE together, so the first half is scorching with some serious sexual tension and some great fan-worthy scenes. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of sex with "no feelings," and this stayed in that... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that list would not be complete without the heartbreaking powerhouse, Darling Venom. It's been two years since Parker S. Huntington released a new book, and Venom flew to the top of my favorites list - just like Devious... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that includes the swooniest of love stories, Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle! It's been several months since I read this adorable enemies to lovers romance, so I relived the story all over again as I pulled some quotes... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that includes Kristen Callihan's slow burn treat, Make It Sweet! I've been a big fan of Callihan's work for years, but Make It Sweet is now one of my new favorites from the author. It's got such a... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and no book gutted me quite like The Wrong Heart. If I had to choose my top 5 books of the year, this would easily make the list. It's a dark - often bleak - book, and the transformation... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that includes Call Me Crazy by Melanie Harlow! While every book in the Bellamy Creek series was excellent, this marriage of convenience romance is easily my favorite. These childhood frenemies turned spouses have no idea what they're getting... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and the final book in one of the best sports romance series I've read definitely earns a spot on the list! I've read and loved every book in the Play Hard series by K. Bromberg, and each one has... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that certainly includes the Schitt's Creek-inspired It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey! While I'm a fan of Schitt's Creek, I was skeptical going into this because a superficial, image-obsessed heroine is not usually my preference. But this... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and J.T. Geissinger is an author whose work easily made my list. Every book in her steamy and intense mafia romance series, Queens & Monsters, has been excellent, but Savage Hearts might just be my favorite. Read on for my book review, details on the series, a spotlight on the author, and plenty of quotes to give you a feel for the vibe!
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Meghan Quinn is a repeat offender. As in, her books often fly to the top of my list - and The Perfect Catch is one of my all-time favorites from her. Read on for my book review and plenty of quotes to give you a feel for the vibe!
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and From the Embers by Aly Martinez is one of the more unique books on the list! It's heavy and emotional, but the uplifting tone towards the end made the journey so worth it. Read on for my book review and plenty of quotes to give you a feel for the vibe!
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that includes The Hating Game meets Marriage for One, enemies to lovers romance, The Spanish Love Deception, by Elena Armas. Read on for my book review and plenty of quotes to give you a feel for the vibe!
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that includes Jodi Ellen Malpas' dark and steamy mafia romance, The Brit. Read on for my book review, details on the series, and plenty of quotes to give you a feel for the vibe!
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that starts with the fantastic Ever After Always by Chloe Liese. Read on for my book review, details on the series, and plenty of quotes to give you a feel for the vibe!
Anytime I’m up til three in the morning bingeing - straight up DEVOURING - a romance, you know it’s a great one. And I did exactly that with this. Ready is a new-to-me author, but something about the blurb had me really excited for this, so I turned on the audiobook as soon as it... Continue Reading →
Well this was a little tease of a novella! I listened to the audio version, and it was a quick, playful introduction to the full-length story that will follow in The Reunion - meaning you do NOT get a happy ever after or any sort of resolution to the story, but this makes it clear... Continue Reading →
Slow burn lovers, this one's for you! And the best news? This is a complete standalone, so if you're new to Penny, it's the perfect place to jump in. This HEA requires some patience and the journey to get there might make you want to shake some sense into the heroine, but I loved the... Continue Reading →
Easily my new favorite from Rae, this was chemistry-filled and STEAMY, with great banter and a lighthearted, playful feel. She's taken the heat up a notch with this one, leading with the lust before slowly simmering into love. After reading Washed Up, I was excited to read Dane's story, because I could just tell that... Continue Reading →
"It hit like a bullet to the gut, but I smiled through the pain." Phenomenal. There were goosebumps on my arms, tears in my eyes, and a knot in my throat when I turned the final page - and my eyes had been glued to EVERY SINGLE page before that. And there are a lot... Continue Reading →
Another light and sexy romance from this author - and a very solid series starter. I love a good "fake" marriage romance, and this was a fun one. These two have great chemistry, and I loved all of the bickering/bantering between them, though the transition from boss/employee-coerced wife to saccharine sweet love was way too... Continue Reading →
I was really looking forward to this, but it's a no from me. I'm not going to be able to explain my rating without at least a few spoilers, so that's your warning. Just know that it started off well and then unraveled quickly. The story follows Stella, a woman who has a series of... Continue Reading →
Everything that I could want from a low angst listen - the audio version is fantastic. Storyline-wise, this probably would've been a 4-star read for me, but the audio was so good that it pushed my rating higher. It's under 6 hours and easy to devour in one sitting, with a feel good story that... Continue Reading →
I absolutely loved this swoony hero, but the whole book is about the age gap, and that's just tedious after awhile. This series starter kicks things off with a forbidden romance that's VERY slow burning, angsty, and almost laidback. It's Kandi taken down a notch - yes, there's angst and drama, but I didn't feel... Continue Reading →
Fantastic writing from Wolf, as always, but the hero wasn't a great fit for me and I had some definite issues with this. After an EXCELLENT first book in the series, I was so excited to dive into Callum's story. He's a silent, broody, rock star whose mysterious nature had me so intrigued. And he... Continue Reading →
November was such a good month for new releases! There were so many fun holiday novellas, as well as plenty of other great new romances. I read a little bit of everything, and had no trouble putting together my Best of the Month list - my top picks were obvious and plentiful. I was quicker... Continue Reading →
It was truly a great reading month for me, and many of November's releases made an impact. I read my fair share of holiday novellas in honor of the season, but it was the deeper, more nuanced books that left a lasting impression. You'll likely see several of these books on my Best of the... Continue Reading →
He gives me a disbelieving side-glance. “I told Siri to play a music station, Gabriella, not get on her knees.” You've Got Mail is one of my favorite rom coms and I adore Liese's writing, so I feel like... maybe this book was meant for me? I don't know, but it was certainly holiday goodness... Continue Reading →
This quick and cute holiday romance sits somewhere between three and four stars for me - I liked it, but it's already fading from my memory. The light and easy feel made the story fly by, and I'm definitely interested in checking out the other two books in the series - they might make more... Continue Reading →
Small town, slow burn goodness with a hero whose self-doubt made my chest ache; this is quite the series starter. I went into this with an interesting perspective - I've read a few of Reid's books, but it's been 3 years since the last time and I certainly don't know all of the inner workings... Continue Reading →
A second chance romance that I actually liked? It must be the holiday cheer in the air! I'm always a little wary of second chance romances, but a book buddy recommended this Christmas read, and I decided to give it a shot. I'm glad that I did! It's longer than a novella, shorter than a... Continue Reading →
What a sweet and sexy Christmas treat! Longer than a novella but not quite a novel, this low angst holiday romance had me smiling by the end. It has a little bit of a slow start, but once our Scrooge of a hero shows his sweeter side, it was a whole lot of fun. It's... Continue Reading →
I wanted to love this, I really did. And the writing IS great… but I just didn’t like the hero. I didn’t find his particular brand of grump appealing, and the neighbors with benefits storyline didn’t do much to endear him to me. The writing is excellent as always; the physical chemistry is most definitely... Continue Reading →
There’s a reason why I’ve been one-clicking J.T.’s books without hesitation for years, and she just keeps getting better and better. I never know where the story will lead, but I’m always eager to hang on for the ride. This series has been blazing hot and immensely compelling, so this had a lot to live... Continue Reading →
It started off so well, but there is just way, WAY too much going on in this novella - there are simply not enough pages to do any of the storylines justice. There’s a strangers to lovers romance, a suspenseful element, descriptions of both lead characters’ jobs, AND a random subplot dealing with an elderly... Continue Reading →
It... wasn't great. Not terrible, but not all that good either. I've been enjoying this series because each novella is a fun little under-100-page Christmas treat, but this year's installments definitely miss the mark in the romance department. This hero goes from a total jerk to a total sweetheart in the blink of an eye,... Continue Reading →
It was always going to take a great book to make me love this playboy prince after his off-putting introduction in the series starter, and this just wasn't that. While I did like Breck more than anticipated, our couple doesn't actually spend a lot of time on the page together, so it felt like the... Continue Reading →
"She’s toxic. But to me, she’s a balm. And I’m fatal. But to her, I’m life." Whoa boy, this was a lot to handle - and I absolutely LOVED it! I completely ignored real life for two straight days and just dove into this immersive, intense, hot, violent, and exhilarating read. I don't know how... Continue Reading →
Just like a sexy Hallmark movie! This was a light, upbeat holiday read with a touch of steam and a laidback romance. It's an interesting length - more than a novella, but it didn't quite feel like a complete novel either. That's the only place where it loses points for me - I keep expectations... Continue Reading →
Easily this writing duo's best release of 2021, this green card marriage romance is both hilarious and hot. It's got some sizzling chemistry, and this couple is GREAT together. The further I got into the book, the more I loved it - this leads with the lust before slowly transitioning into the love, and the... Continue Reading →
Just like Spoiler Alert, this slow burn romance has such a unique feel. It tackles subjects that aren’t commonly found in romance, with a vibe that is distinct and original. Personally, it took me a little while to get into the writing style; there’s just something about it that’s difficult for me to engage with,... Continue Reading →
This was so unexpected and different, it's got me wanting to read more from the series immediately. I love forced proximity and a grumpy hero, so I thought I knew what I was getting into with this one. I didn't. It's a lot more complex than anticipated, and the unpredictability had me hooked. As a... Continue Reading →
This had everything I could want in a short and sexy holiday novella - chemistry, playfulness, and some lighthearted Christmas fun. While the first in this trio of seasonal novellas left me wanting more, I enjoyed this one from start to finish. The romance is much more prominent, the characters are more compelling, and the... Continue Reading →
Go read the other A Very Bossy Christmas instead (find it here), this one is a hot mess. The hero is a steamrolling jerk whose thoughts and personality change from one moment to the next. I'll give you an example: "It’s probably good her personality instantly kills my raging hard on whenever she walks into... Continue Reading →
I can already picture this as a movie, and it would be GREAT. It's got serious Bridget Jones vibes, pairing classic rom com moments with a healthy dose of reality. Our heroine is the star of the show, and she's convinced that she knows exactly what type of guy she wants. But as the book... Continue Reading →
I’ll offer up the unpopular opinion on this one, because - while I liked it - I can easily identify some things that really bugged me. There's a lot to love about this, from the vulnerable hero to the banter to the sense of community. While this will technically read as a standalone, anyone who... Continue Reading →
Welcome back to Reindeer Falls! I loved the first three novellas in this fun and sexy holiday romance series - they're all quick, easy reads with sugar and spice and everything nice. Elves with Benefits is the first of this year's group, and it sets everything up perfectly. We've got a group of three friends,... Continue Reading →
Surprisingly, I was cool with this age gap romance. I'll be honest and say that I was a little skeptical when I realized it was a daughter's best friend romance, but these two were sweet (and sexy) together. Our heroine is nearly thirty, our hero is pushing fifty, and they've had years to get to... Continue Reading →
Don't let that cute cover fool you - this is SMOKIN' HOT, with sexual tension dripping from every page. I was HOOKED from the start, and I devoured it at an alarming rate, even for one of Quinn's rom coms. And this IS a rom com, albeit a very tense and steamy one. I loved... Continue Reading →
Someone grab a fire extinguisher - these two are HOT together. While I didn't swoon over the emotional connection in this rock star romance, I definitely felt the physical connection. It's tense and steamy with some great moments, and Rowe's excellent writing shines throughout. This rock star doesn't know what hit him when the girl... Continue Reading →
Such a feel good read! After the heavy storyline of How to Fail at Flirting, I really wasn't sure what to expect going into The Fastest Way to Fall - but it was sweet, swoony, slow burn goodness. The hero is ADORABLE, and I absolutely loved the strong, resilient heroine. They have a relationship that... Continue Reading →
What a promising start to this brand new series of light, sexy hockey romances! I loved the texting, the unique meet cute, and the likable characters. These two have chemistry from the moment they meet, and the mistaken identities, online (second) meet cute, and sexy times only enhanced that. It's a low angst treat that's... Continue Reading →
This was so not what I was hoping for. I've been reading this series since the start and Riggs is a character that's intrigued me, but the romance was lackluster at best. I need to give a few spoilers to explain what didn't work for me, so that's your warning. The biggest issue? Riggs sleeps... Continue Reading →
Let’s just say that this book needed a little more time in the oven, but I liked it a lot. I always binge Dangelico's books in one sitting, and I had no trouble devouring this one. It held my attention the whole time, with a laidback vibe, likable characters, and a light, easy feel. I... Continue Reading →
Alright, well, I probably would've rated this higher if there had been ANY sort of buildup before our couple got together, lol! There was not. It was all smoldering eyes and "wanna get out of here?" and then a few pages after meeting... that was it. Together. I'm not joking, it was really that quick.... Continue Reading →
Jeeves Reads Romance 