I genuinely adored this from start to finish - it was excellent. With combustible chemistry and some surprisingly SPICY scenes, the intense connection between this couple was apparent right away. I loved the bubbly, vivacious personality of the heroine paired with the steady, quiet dependability of the hero. I also loved how she ruffled his... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Planes, Trains, and All the Feels by Livy Hart
I absolutely adored it! This had me SMILING from start to finish, with a premise that felt like it was tailor-made for me, and a relationship so compelling that I was hooked from the first interaction. I loved the meet cute, and I loved every chaotic minute that followed - every moment that drew these... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: One and Only by Karla Sorensen
Marriage of convenience with a slow, delicious burn? Yes, please! I always look forward to Sorensen's new releases, but the tropes in this one felt like they were made for me. Patient, steady hero - who is also a single dad - paired with a firecracker of a heroine who will surely liven up his... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams 🎧
So adorable, seriously! Bad boy/good girl is a classic combination for a reason, and I loved watching these two opposites fall hard for each other. It's a little bit fake relationship, a little bit love lessons, and a whole lot of swoony fun. Neither of these characters have been able to shed their reputation, and... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Your Last First Kiss by Avery Maxwell
This caught me on the right day, in the right mood, and I was woefully unprepared for how FANTASTIC it was going to be. I've been meaning to check out this new-to-me author, and this seemed like the perfect place to jump in. It's a spinoff from a series, the start of something new, and... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Our Scorching Summer by Kels & Denise Stone
Bingeable in the best of ways, I absolutely DEVOURED this fling to more, black cat/golden retriever romance. The constant forced proximity and crackling chemistry made it such an engaging read, and I loved the contrasts between the scorching sexual tension and the undercurrent of emotion that runs throughout the whole story. These two are both... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Accidental Attachment by Max Monroe 🎧
A slow-burning treat, this exceedingly low angst romance is easily one of my new favorites from this writing duo. The hero is one of the biggest cinnamon roll sweethearts I've ever had the pleasure to read about, and the forced proximity was a major win. Not that either of these characters really had to be... Continue Reading →
Best of April 2023
I had a particularly great reading month filled with stellar rom coms, and I can't seem to narrow down my favorites - so I'm not going to! Each book on this list delivered a 100% unique, 5-star reading experience, and they each have very different vibes and personalities. The most emotionally devastating of the bunch... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Unexpectedly Mine by Erin Hawkins
With an adorably sexy hero and tropes that felt like they were tailor-made for me, it took no time at all for me to devour this Vegas wedding romance. I was immediately drawn in by the unique setup, and the chemistry kept me turning the pages. These two strangers have one intense moment together that... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Happy Place by Emily Henry 🎧
With angst so heavy that it's physically painful, this second chance romance is not an easy read - but it's certainly an impactful one. I loved it. It's very rare that I'm so engrossed in a book that I ache right along with the characters; that I cry when a broken hero utters a single... Continue Reading →
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt 🎧
One of my favorite books of 2022 is now available on audio, and the audio is great! Funny Feelings was my first experience with Tarah DeWitt's work, and I have since devoured two other 5-star reads from her. This one holds a special place in my heart though, and it's one of the best friends... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Worst Wedding Date by Pippa Grant 🎧
Classic Pippa is back, and I am all for it! Quirky, funny, playful, and swoony, this best friend's brother, good girl/bad boy romance felt like the rom coms that made Grant a one-click author for me. I loved that it felt like the start of something new too, so there weren't a million characters to... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Rook to King by Carina Taylor
This was so much FUN! Taylor calls it an "adventure romcom," and I wasn't exactly sure what that would entail, but it quickly became apparent that it was right up my alley. She's a new-to-me author who I've been meaning to try, and the striking cover paired with the intriguing blurb had me feeling like... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Plus One by Mazey Eddings 🎧
With a strong focus on mental health and a romance that feels rich in its history, this quiet, contemplative love story surprised me - and I'm okay with that. I enjoyed Eddings' debut, A Brush With Love, and remember thinking that there was a ton of potential in her writing. While I'm not the biggest... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
With a stunning cover like that, how could I resist checking this out? I openly admit that it was the cover that drew me in, and I was intrigued once I read the blurb. But it only took a few pages before I was hooked - the premise is unique, the characters are compelling, and... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Desserts for Stressed People by Letizia Lorini
Pretty stellar for a debut, that's for sure. With Tis the Season for Revenge, The Hating Game, and You've Got Mail vibes, this lighthearted romance is such an interesting mix of tropes. Our sweetheart of a heroine gets herself in quite the sticky situation, and she's most certainly not always in the right. I'm don't... Continue Reading →
SNEAK PEEK AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Happy Place by Emily Henry 🎧
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ With angst so heavy that it's physically painful, this second chance romance is not an easy read - but it's certainly an impactful one. I loved it. It's very rare that I'm so engrossed in a book that I ache right along with the characters; that I cry when a broken hero utters a... Continue Reading →
Best of March 2023
As much as I struggled in March, I did end up reading some EXCELLENT books! There may have been more misses than usual, but the hits were really good. I loved the playboy and playgirl roommates romance, The No-Judgment Zone, which was another phenomenal read from new author Ellie K. Wilde. The sexual tension and... Continue Reading →
SNEAK PEEK AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Forget Me Not by Julie Soto 🎧
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What a great debut! I was really hoping this was going to live up to the promise of that GORGEOUS cover and the stellar recommendation from Ali Hazelwood, and it definitely came pretty close. Told in a mix of flashbacks and present day, we see the strained relationship of these former lovers as they... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Prodigal by Kristy Marie
Wildly entertaining, this strangers to frenemies to lovers romance held my attention with ease. It kept me on my toes, and the chemistry just built and built with every scene, until it pulled me in like a magnet. I generally consider "boring" books to be the worst ones, because I'm reading to be entertained. And... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: You Can Have Manhattan by P. Dangelico
I've been loving marriage of convenience romances lately and they seem to be more popular than ever, so it's got me thinking about one of the more memorable ones I've read - You Can Have Manhattan! I fell in love with P. Dangelico's writing back in 2019, and this book remains one of my favorites... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney
This was an unexpected delight! I really wasn't sure what I was getting into with this debut, but I was willing to give it a try - and I'm so glad that I did. Quiet and heartfelt, this strangers to friends to lovers age gap romance is a stellar slow burn. I loved how Cal... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: (Not) the One by Donna Alam
One of my favorite books of 2019 just released in audio, and it's got me thinking about how much I enjoyed the book! (Not) the One was my introduction to Donna Alam's work, and I remember loving the (very) unique meet cute and the chemistry that sparks right away. I also liked the unpredictability of... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Playing Game by Ainsley Booth
All sugar and SPICE (and everything nice), this low angst/high heat romance is a feel good treat. Our hero was gone for his girl from the moment they met, and he has no intention of letting her get away this time around. It's rare to find a hero who is so ALL IN from the... Continue Reading →
SNEAK PEEK REVIEW: Planes, Trains, and All the Feels by Livy Hart
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I absolutely adored it! This had me SMILING from start to finish, with a premise that felt like it was tailor-made for me, and a relationship so compelling that I was hooked from the first interaction. I loved the meet cute, and I loved every chaotic minute that followed - every moment that drew... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The No-Judgment Zone by Ellie K. Wilde
Now that's what I call a HOT slow burn! This was delicious, every minute of it. After loving Wilde's debut, I was so excited to check out the followup, featuring a couple we were teased about in the series starter. While I've read (and loved) plenty of playboy-tamed romances in the past, I've never read... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: Marriage for One by Ella Maise
It's been almost four years(!!) since this book released, and I still get butterflies whenever I see the cover. It's the book that made me fall hard for marriage of convenience romances, and that's something that has not changed in the years since. It was also one of the beefiest books I had read at... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: Boss in the Bedsheets by Kate Canterbary
I've been loving grumpy boss rom coms recently and Kate Canterbary is more popular than ever, so it seemed like the perfect time to re-share my review of Boss in the Bedsheets - which was my first experience with her work, and one of my Top 20 of 2020 selections. It's rare that a book... Continue Reading →
Best of February 2023
As much as I struggled this month, the good books ended up being REALLY good. I'd be shocked if at least one didn't end up on my Best of the Year list, and multiple wouldn't be out of the question. So it was an excellent month in that regard, even if the 5-star reads were... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Things We Hide From the Light by Lucy Score
It was great to be back in Knockemout - this sequel did NOT disappoint! I think I liked it better than the first one, and that was very tough competition. There was just something immensely compelling about this wounded and vulnerable hero; he's a genuinely good guy who is in a dark place, and it's... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: Always Only You by Chloe Liese
Technically speaking, I never officially reviewed this book on my blog - and it's time to remedy that! I read my first Chloe Liese book near the end of 2020 (book three in this series), and I loved it so much that I went backwards and read this one, which was also fantastic. Probably my... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Right Move by Liz Tomforde
It's always an amazing feeling when one of my highly anticipated reads meets my very high expectations, but to have it far surpass them? SPECTACULAR. After reading and loving Mile High, I was really nervous going into this, sort of a strange mix of excitement and dread that it wouldn't be able to live up... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: The Wrong Heart by Jennifer Hartmann
I think I might still have the best kind of book hangover from this emotionally devastating (yet uplifting?) romance, and it's been like a year and a half since I read it. It was that powerful for me, and one of the most memorable romances I've read - ever. Since it was on sale this... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Strictly Pleasure by Carrie Elks
Easy, light, and sexy - I devoured this with no trouble! While I enjoyed the first book in this series of interconnected standalones, I liked this one a whole lot more. I was intrigued by the relationship dynamics from the first few pages, and it continued to keep me on my toes the whole way... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Things I Overshared by Kelsey Humphreys
I love it when a great book takes me by surprise, and I unexpectedly find myself immersed in a love story that has my FULL attention. With a new-to-me author and a nearly 400-page book, I went in with low expectations - and this wasted no time in exceeding them. It's such an engaging, smile-inducing... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Final Offer by Lauren Asher
From the moment we met this couple on the page together, I knew this love story was going to be something special. The TENSION snaps and crackles immediately, and it's obvious that there is both a lot of love and HURT between them. This (anti)hero is perhaps the most "broken" man I've ever rooted for... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: Boss Man Bridegroom by Meghan Quinn
I've got Meghan Quinn on my mind, so I thought I'd re-share my review for one of her older rom coms - the grumpy/sunshine, boss/assistant, wedding-related romance, Boss Man Bridegroom. I haven't been able to convince myself to dive into Quinn's newest, A Long Time Coming, yet(!), because friends to lovers drives me crazy 75%... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Do I Know You? by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka 🎧
Sometimes you start reading a book and get a great feeling about it almost immediately - there's something that pulls you in and lets you know that it's going to be a good one. That's how I felt about this. It was clear from the first few pages that the dynamic was WORKING for me,... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
What a gorgeous love story! This is EASILY my favorite of Clayborn's romances (so far), and the bar was already pretty high. I loved the instant zap of connection I felt towards these characters, from those awkward first encounters to the subtle shifts in their relationship. I loved this grumpy hero - a man who... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Sixty/Forty Rule by Ellie K. Wilde
The banter and sexual tension in this he falls first/one-sided enemies to lovers romance made it such an engaging read; I loved watching these two bicker, and the attraction that sparked between them was palpable. It's also got a playful feel that makes the pages fly by, paired with an undercurrent of emotion that digs... Continue Reading →
SNEAK PEEK REVIEW: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The third time's the charm! While I have absolutely LOVED both of Hazelwood's previous novels, this one hooked me in INSTANTLY with the banter, electric chemistry, and the tense, forbidden aspect. It feels like her other work, but the vibe is also all its own - it progresses a little differently, the storyline is... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Exes and O’s by Amy Lea 🎧
I'm torn between 4 and 5 stars, but the ending had me absolutely SWOONING, so I'm choosing to round up. There's a lot to love about this room-ance - a strangers to roommates to friends to lovers slow burn with fun, slightly off-kilter vibes and a hero whose feelings I wanted to figure out. The... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: The Complete List
In case you missed it! I shared reviews for my 20 favorite books of 2022 over the holidays, and now I've got everything I loved about 2022 romance novels, all in one place! Looking back, I really did have a fantastic reading year – there were so many great books that ALMOST made my top... Continue Reading →
SNEAK PEEK REVIEW: Final Offer by Lauren Asher
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ From the moment we met this couple on the page together, I knew this love story was going to be something special. The TENSION snaps and crackles immediately, and it's obvious that there is both a lot of love and HURT between them. This (anti)hero is perhaps the most "broken" man I've ever rooted... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Tis the Season for Revenge by Morgan Elizabeth
It's rare that a book has as much PERSONALITY as this one, something that truly makes it sparkle and shine. That's definitely the best part about this absolutely bonkers rom com - the journey is a little offbeat, a whole lot spicy, and a ton of fun. There's a reason why everyone has been loving... Continue Reading →
BEST OF 2022: Top Picks by Trope
Who doesn’t love a good trope? Everybody’s got a favorite, from tense enemies to lovers reads to playful fake relationship romances. I’ve always got certain expectations when I start reading a story that plays up a trope, and the books on this list all exceeded those expectations. I’ve selected the two books that I think... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Love on the Brain certainly makes this list! The Love Hypothesis was one of my favorite books of 2021, so Hazelwood had a lot to live up to with her sophomore effort - and this did not disappoint!... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman 🎧
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and the wonderfully unique Funny You Should Ask makes the list. As a self-proclaimed second chance romance hater, I think it's hysterical that a few wildly different second chance romances made my Top 20 list. When they work, they... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Next of Kin was such an unexpected delight! On a night when nothing on my TBR was calling my name, I stumbled upon this newly-released debut. I'd never heard of the book, but the cover was adorable and... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Terms and Conditions is another book that lived up to the TikTok hype. It's a marriage of convenience/office romance that ended up being right up my alley, and I loved how the hero was in so over his... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Honestly, I’m Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It is one of those books that came out of nowhere for me. Typically, I'm either anticipating a release myself or I get a recommendation and put it on my TBR for "sometime." With... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Talk Flirty to Me by Livy Hart
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and this debut easily makes the list! I'm such a second chance romance hater that it took about a dozen other readers recommending this to me before I finally dove in. And I'm so glad that I did! It's... Continue Reading →
SNEAK PEEK REVIEW: Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What a gorgeous love story! This is EASILY my favorite of Clayborn's romances (so far), and the bar was already pretty high. I loved the instant zap of connection I felt towards these characters, from those awkward first encounters to the subtle shifts in their relationship. I loved this grumpy hero - a man... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend by Penny Reid
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that list wouldn't be complete without Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend. It's one of the more unique and memorable books I've read this year, with a hero that I absolutely adored. It's also beefy and a little... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and the swoony Mixed Signals easily makes the list. I ended up bingeing the whole Lovelight series in less than a week, and that's because they are effortlessly charming. Better together, these books seem to improve with each installment,... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Untying the Knot by Meghan Quinn 🎧
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and no book put me through my paces emotionally like Untying the Knot. Meghan Quinn is no stranger to my Best of the Year lists, because she swings for the fences with every release, and creates magic every so... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Meet Me Halfway by Lilian T. James
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that list includes Meet Me Halfway, the slow-burning, single mom romance that put Lilian T. James' writing on my radar. I'd heard some good things about this book prior to reading, but it blew me away once I... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Mile High by Liz Tomforde
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that includes the banter-filled playboy tamed romance, Mile High. This is one of those books that I heard about months ago and let sit on my kindle for just the right day. It's nearly 500 pages long and... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Elizabeth O’Roark
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea definitely makes the list. The Devil series has been fantastic as a whole, but I sincerely enjoyed this angsty, forbidden romance - it might be my favorite of the Devils. It's... Continue Reading →
SNEAK PEEK REVIEW: Things We Hide From the Light by Lucy Score
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It was great to be back in Knockemout - this sequel did NOT disappoint! I think I liked it better than the first one, and that was very tough competition. There was just something immensely compelling about this wounded and vulnerable hero; he's a genuinely good guy who is in a dark place, and... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and one of my top picks is the playboy tamed romance, Hook, Line, and Sinker. I'll admit to being very hesitant to dive into this romance initially. Friends to lovers romances where the hero is a manhoe are not... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan 🎧
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Thank You For Listening is one of the subtler picks. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of the audiobook, and it blew me away - I think that I may have been one of the... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Consider Me by Becka Mack 🎧
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year. I don't assign these specific rankings, but... Consider Me is definitely up there! I loved this playboy tamed romance so much that I happily ate up a 20+ hour audiobook by a new-to-me author and wanted more at the... Continue Reading →