"This was supposed to be a release. A bandage for the ache. But now, as she holds my face, with our noses pressed together, I let her watch as she tears down the barrier between us, her body taking my demons and burying them inside." This earns its 5 stars for being so BINGEABLE and... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer
Light and fluffy rom com fun, I was loving this debut until the author decided to have our hero start dating someone else halfway through the book. Nothing extinguishes my enjoyment faster. Despite that, there's a lot to love about the writing style - the meet cute was adorable, the banter was fun, the New... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Shenanigans by Sarina Bowen 🎧
He's a hot billionaire hockey player AND super sweet? Too good to be true! I found myself really loving the hero at the heart of this Vegas wedding romance. While our heroine struggles with self-doubt and a lack of trust, this hero rises to the occasion and shows that he's worth fighting for. I'm still... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Doctor Heartless by J. Saman
Well this certainly takes the steam up a couple of notches! This starts out STEAMY and stays that way throughout, with palpable sexual chemistry sparking between these characters. For me, it was more of a sexual relationship than anything else, which left me feeling a little disconnected from their emotional relationship - but that makes... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Taste by Melanie Harlow 🎧
This is one of those books that I was SO SURE was going to be an easy 5-star rating for the first half... and then the second half unraveled a bit. I absolutely LOVED the forced proximity, playful teasing, frenemies banter, chemistry, and blizzard banging. This hero is all kinds of sweet and caring, and... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Suite Spot by Trish Doller
Float Plan had me crying within 5 minutes, so I was fully expecting the next book in the series to emotionally wreck me - but it was like a big, warm hug. This romance/women's fiction crossover is still a heartfelt read, but it's much lighter and more uplifting. The short length allowed me to binge... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings 🎧
There's a lot to love about this unique, swoony debut, and if it wasn't plagued by some major pacing issues, then it probably would've been an easy 5-star rating for me. First and foremost, I LOVED the hero. He's a cinnamon roll sweetheart who is too adorable and patient for his own good - literally.... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Mr. Bloomsbury by Louise Bay
Definitely more lust-focused than anything else, this office romance wastes no time in getting steamy and staying that way throughout. Whenever I dive into a book by Bay, I kind of already know what I'm going to get - British businessman who heats up the sheets before slowly simmering into love - and that's the... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Scored by Lili Valente
I didn't really like it, but you might. It's essentially what's spelled out in the blurb - best friend's little sister asks the pro hockey player to take her v-card, as a casual situation that starts to feel like more. It's a tried and true trope that sometimes hits and sometimes misses for me, depending... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Last Eligible Billionaire by Pippa Grant
There was something missing for me, but this has all of the ingredients of a GREAT book - Grant's signature quirky humor, an unexpected pairing, a fake relationship scheme that quickly gets out of control, and a coldhearted billionaire who finally meets his match. I wanted to love it so hard, and I did enjoy... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Hook, Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
Yeah, I might've swooned over this book - and this beautifully broken hero - in a big way. I devoured it in one sitting, and I was hooked the whole way through. I really, really LOVED it. We met this couple in It Happened One Summer, the first stellar book in this interconnected series, and... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher
Grumpy boss with feelings that run deeper than he wants to admit? Umm, yes please! I absolutely LOVED my first experience with this new-to-me author's work - the story gave me Spanish Love Deception/Love Hypothesis vibes, and that's honestly one of the highest compliments I can pay a book right now. This slow burning love... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: By Any Other Name by Lauren Kate
The most compelling part of this story is completely omitted from the blurb, and barely touched upon in the actual book - the fact that these two have been friends via email for SEVEN YEARS. They've connected while editing love stories, exchanging jokes, and playing online chess together. They've never met in person, and our... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Billionaire by Marni Mann
If you thought the first book in this series of interconnected standalones was STEAMY, well, this might've been even hotter. It's a scorching hot fling to more romance with a side of forbidden, age gap vibes. I didn't find either character even remotely relatable - they're rich, beautiful people with a very slow-to-burn emotional connection... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Cruel by Deborah Bladon
Low angst and bingeable in the best of ways, this billionaire romance is the kind of quick and sexy read that I love from Bladon. While the blurb had me thinking this was going to be a tense, darker read, it's definitely not that. The vibe is a little mysterious and a whole lot lighthearted,... Continue Reading →
SNEAK PEEK REVIEW: Maggie Moves On by Lucy Score
Releases June 21st There's a lot to love about a cinnamon roll sweetheart who falls hard and fast for his girl - this hero was GREAT! As a longtime fan of Score's work, I was excited to dive into this and see how her style changes for a more "traditional" romance audience. This still has... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Reunion by Meghan Quinn 🎧
I… have no idea why this wasn’t three separate books. It really should’ve been three separate books. There are six different perspectives, three different love stories, and endless drama. Every time I would start getting into one love story, the chapter would end and I’d be dropped into another one. That actually was so frustrating... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Just One Favor by Stephanie Rose
Adorable one minute and then bed-breaking steamy the next, this was a very solid read. Rose is a new-to-me author, but it didn't take long for me to realize that her writing is right up my alley. The hero was cinnamon roll sweet with alpha vibes in the bedroom, the chemistry was immediate, and the... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Scarlett and the Big Bad Billionaire by Tru Taylor
I love it when I try a new-to-me author and the vibe clicks immediately; I can already tell that I’m going to enjoy future books from Taylor. The second chance element of this romance wasn’t a perfect fit for me personally, but I really liked the writing style and I had no trouble flying through... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: One Night on the Island by Josie Silver
There's a quote on the cover of this book that calls it a romantic comedy, but it's neither comedic nor a true romance. I consider this women's fiction for a number of reasons, and the overall tone is heartfelt, emotional, thoughtful. There's no humor. So while it's well done for women's fiction, it's a disappointment... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: A Very Vegas St. Patrick’s Day by Kayley Loring & Connor Crais 🎧
Listen, I'm practically a Loring fangirl at this point, but this was SO clearly rushed that there were a lot of things that just didn't work for me. It needed some more time in the oven, without a doubt. It felt like there were pieces missing, and scenes I wanted to see that were just... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Just My Type by Tara Sivec 🎧
This was straight up DELIGHTFUL; a banter-filled, smile-inducing treat. It's been far too long since I've read anything by Sivec, so I thought I'd jump back into this series of interconnected standalones - and I'm so glad that I did. I love a unique meet cute, and these two had chemistry even when they were... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
The ironic thing is that most of my criticisms are literally spelled out in the book via our editor hero’s notes on the heroine’s romance novel: “Slow beginning. Get to the meat. Give readers a reason to stay. If you bore them, you lose them. Awkward word choice? Drop this paragraph. We don’t need this... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Wilder With You by Serena Bell
I don't know why widowers are so sexy, but they really are. There's something about a man who has loved and lost that gets me every time, and I loved this sweetheart of a mountain man. This fake relationship romance is light and STEAMY, with plenty of heat to keep things interesting. It builds on... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Group Therapy by BB Easton 🎧
Well, that was something alright, lol. Endlessly entertaining, that’s for sure. Not all that romantic, but certainly one of a kind and pretty hysterical. Shocked bursts of laughter shot out of me on several occasions, and I definitely couldn't predict where the story was going. Easton is a new-to-me author, so I had no idea... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: A Ticking Time Boss by Olivia Hayle
This was GREAT, the kind of easy, sexy romance that I love to binge in one sitting. I'm new to the series, and the first thing I did when I finished this was add the other interconnected standalones to my TBR - which tells you how much I enjoyed this. It was lighter and less... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: A Chance For Us by Corinne Michaels 🎧
I've been waiting for Michaels to change up her formula of endless second chance romances (with gorgeous brown-haired clones on the covers), so this was a breath of fresh air. This fake relationship/marriage of convenience romance was just what I was looking for from the author - still an angst fest, but with an element... Continue Reading →
SNEAK PEEK REVIEW: Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
"I tried to keep you out of here.” He knocked his free fist against his chest. “But you won’t go. You’re never going to go. You just won’t.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Releases March 1st Yeah, I might've swooned over this book - and this beautifully broken hero - in a big way. I devoured it in one... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Plan by Karla Sorensen
Whenever one of Sorensen's books hits my Kindle, I dive right in because I know I'm in for a great read. And this was definitely bingeable! I absolutely devoured the first half, loving this jaded hero and the grumpy/sunshine dynamic. Though, really, Erik is a complete teddy bear. There's tons of chemistry, some fantastic banter,... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Astronaut and the Star by Jen Comfort
Well this was a surprise! A debut with an okay cover that I probably would've scrolled past on any other day, I checked this out solely because it was the best First Reads option for me - and it ended up being one of the better books I've read from the program. This is funny... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy 🎧
I love a good girl/bad boy, opposites attract romance, so I was excited to dig into this one, but the blurb left out some very important information. As in, the hero makes a bet that he can get the heroine to cheat on her cheating boyfriend with him. That's a lot of cheating, which is... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Lease on Love by Falon Ballard
It took all of five minutes for me to realize that I was going to love this debut author's work, and love it I did. This was excellent - light, swoony, and slow-burning, with depth that sneaks up on you and a focus on mental health. I adored the roommates to lovers dynamic, and this... Continue Reading →
Best of January 2022
I'm going to be catching up on January releases for the next several months, because there were SO MANY new romance books released this month! Nearly every one of my favorite authors released a new book in January, so there were tons to choose from - and I ended up reading many excellent books. There... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Blind Pass by Teagan Hunter
This was an EASY 5-star rating for me, one of my new favorites from Hunter. It's a little bit Beauty and the Beast, a little bit Vegas wedding, and a whole lotta light and steamy fun. I loved these two together, and our insecure, vulnerable hero was such a lovable grump. The opposites attract dynamic... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Royal Valentine by Jenn McKinlay
I read McKinlay’s Wait For It last year and loved it - her layered, complex writing resonated with me, so I was excited to read more from her. Unfortunately, this was a total miss. First, the ENTIRE plot is described in the blurb; every part of the book is spoiled before you even begin. And... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Resurrection by Jodi Ellen Malpas
The Brit AND The Enigma are 100% required reading prior to this book. And if you want to go into The Resurrection *truly* blind, then this isn’t the review for you. Phew. What a WILD ride! Malpas clearly left plenty of breadcrumbs in the first two books, because this masterfully sews two different love stories... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Maverick Mogul by Lila Monroe
It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve had a new rom com from Monroe… and I gobbled this one up in a couple of hours. Which, honestly, is how I’ve consumed most of her books. They’re like rom com movies come to life - reliably super low angst, playful, bingeable, steamy, and full of... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Elizabeth O’Roark
Easiest 5-star rating I've given in awhile - I absolutely loved it! This was nothing like I was expecting and everything I wanted all at once; an unpredictable, bingeable ride that had me turning the pages all day long. I loved the chemistry between these two, and I love peeling back their layers bit by... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Cream and Punishment by Susannah Nix
The only thing cuter than that punny title is the sweet, cinnamon roll of a hero in this light and sexy second chance romance. I loved him! I'm new to this series, but I had no trouble jumping right in and getting caught up on the family drama, which has me itching to read more... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: How to Love Your Neighbor by Sophie Sullivan 🎧
This was super cute, but not compelling enough to hold my interest the whole way through. If you're looking for a low angst, sweet, closed door romance (a few sexy kisses that we know lead to more), then this might be right up your alley. There's nothing that I didn't like about the story, there... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
This is one of those books that feels entirely too long at the start, just right in the middle, and not long enough by the end. I loved it! While I think the story might be too slow-paced at the beginning and there's a LOT of focus on the small town feel, it's those quieter... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne
I've read and enjoyed nearly every book Lauren Layne has written, but this one might be my least favorite. There were SO MANY things that bugged me about the story, so every time the lighthearted banter started to pull me in, something would rub me the wrong way. We don't get the hero's perspective and... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Put Me in Detention by Meghan Quinn
I'm sad to see this series come to an end, but this steamy romance wrapped everything up with a neat little bow. Did I love this couple? Not particularly, but I didn't dislike them either. This was the first book in the series that dragged for me; there was just so much other stuff going... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Decker: Changing the Play by Kayley Loring & Connor Crais
Sign me up for more from this writing duo - this was a great series starter. I’ve been a longtime fan of Loring’s writing and Crais’ voice, so I couldn’t wait to see what their first book together was like. And it was good! This definitely felt like it had a little more male influence,... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Well this was a sweet treat! It's low angst and laidback, with characters who are easy to like and a storyline that kept me turning the pages. I absolutely loved the cinnamon roll hero, who is unlike any I've read before - he's kind, supportive, and loyal, with a dad bod and the biggest heart.... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Doctor Mistake by J. Saman
Not one of my favorites from the author, but the main reason this isn't getting a higher rating from me is that the blurb gives away the ENTIRE plot. If something happens 75% of the way into a book, it really shouldn't be in the blurb. Here I was expecting a one night stand/accidental pregnancy... Continue Reading →
MOVIE REVIEW: The Hating Game
As someone who absolutely adored The Hating Game novel, I was both exceedingly excited to watch the movie and also dreading the experience. I think you know the feeling - when you're hoping something is going to be great, but fearing that it'll be an utter disappointment. So, I snuggled up on the couch with... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Love at First Spite by Anna E. Collins
This had all the ingredients of a great read, but it never came together in a way that was satisfying, and instead fell flat. I was immediately charmed by the blurb - the storyline is completely unique, a little crazy, and I'm always up for a misunderstood grump of a hero. Throw in an opposites... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Lawyer by Marni Mann 🎧
Absolutely filthy from start to finish, this fling to more romance is HOT, and the audio version just takes things up a notch. I’ve read about 250 romance novels in the last year, and this audiobook still made me look over my shoulder to make sure no one was listening, lol. Because, yeah, it’s sizzling.... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Ripple Effect by J. Bengtsson
So, here's the thing. This wasn't bad, but I was looking forward to a playful, enemies to lovers-style, neighbors romance (as promised by the blurb), and that lasted for all of twentyish pages before it turned into a sugary sweet survival romance. I wanted the neighbors to lovers romance, the passing of notes and the... Continue Reading →