Voracious Romance Reader • Honest Reviewer
Something about Sussman's writing is so very addictive to me, so I was drawn in by the chemistry and complex storyline... even if there were a lot of things that felt toxic and messy to me. I didn't particularly like either character and I had trouble rooting for their relationship, but I was intrigued by... Continue Reading →
It's always the quiet ones! A little shy and a lot grumbly, this hero steals the show in a big way. He's this reserved, gentle giant who rarely speaks to anyone (other than our heroine), and he's convinced that he doesn't have what it takes to keep a woman happy in the long run. Watching... Continue Reading →
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 →
It was cute! Maybe not my favorite from the author, but definitely an easy, low angst read. Foodie romances are always fun, and I loved how these rivals realized that their feuding had mellowed since culinary school. When bickering turns into bantering, things are going well, and the history between this couple just made their... Continue Reading →
What kind of blurb gives away things that happen 90% of the way into a book? This author literally spoils her own book by detailing every major plot point in the blurb, and I am genuinely confused by that. So it’s not that I didn’t like this strangers to instant enemies rom com, but the... Continue Reading →
Banter-filled and playful, this was super cute. After seriously enjoying Holiday Romance over the winter, I was excited to check out Walsh's next book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I figured it'd be similar in vibes to the rom com that stole everyone's hearts during the holiday season. And while the two... Continue Reading →
With a fresh spin on a familiar trope, this sexy debut holds a lot of promise. I loved the first half in particular, which saw these strangers becoming instant enemies. Our hero gets the heroine fired, then she is forced to take a job as his maid/cook... and they both pretend not to recognize each... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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 →
I was SO close to rounding this up to 5 stars; it’s the kind of book that has a rocky start before slowly simmering into something very satisfying. I loved that it had so much personality - these feuding food critics had great chemistry, and all of the food descriptions had my mouth watering. Don’t... Continue Reading →
When college rivals reconnect years later and find themselves accidentally married... well, it certainly keeps things interesting. I loved the premise of this sweet, slow burn romance, which played up a lot of my favorite tropes. Playful enemies to lovers, Vegas wedding turned marriage of convenience, fake relationship - all great things. I also really... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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 →
For a debut? Pretty solid, and I can definitely see this writing duo growing into authors on my one-click list. While I thought that the heroine overreacted to every little thing and the writing felt drawn out at times, I sincerely enjoyed the core of this office rivals romance and the playful feel. It gave... Continue Reading →
Everybody's been loving this one, but... I was disappointed. This series has become very popular, so I took my time waiting for the right tropes before checking out this new-to-me author. It should've been a perfect fit - there's tons of banter, sizzling chemistry, plenty of bickering, a firecracker of a heroine, and a hero... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 the finale to J.T. Geissinger's deliciously addictive mafia romance series. I have loved EVERY book in this series - and the spinoff series too - so it was no surprise that Brutal... Continue Reading →
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Flawless is certainly among them. When it comes to these lists, I try my best to honor 20 different authors, but I honestly could not choose between the first two books in Elsie Silver's Chestnut Springs series. I... Continue Reading →
I loved this SO MUCH. I've been hearing nothing but good things about this book for months, but - as a second chance romance hater - I just couldn't bring myself to dive in. Finally, I decided to give it a try... and I couldn't stop once I started reading. The crackling tension, playful banter,... Continue Reading →
The tension snaps and crackles, sparking off the page in such a delicious way - I could FEEL the unresolved issues between these two, and I couldn't wait for them to figure things out. As a certified second chance romance hater (but big fan of DeWitt's work), I was both excited and nervous to dig... Continue Reading →
Hogle recently released her third novel (her third 5-star read for me!), and it's got me thinking about the book that started my love for her work - You Deserve Each Other. It has such a unique concept, and the execution is so, so good. Sort of like enemies to lovers dialed up a notch,... Continue Reading →
"I’ve had to work so goddamn hard for those smiles, and now I’m fucking greedy for them. And nothing has changed, not really. I just want you worse. And it hurts." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The tension snaps and crackles, sparking off the page in such a delicious way - I could FEEL the unresolved issues between these... Continue Reading →
Whether you call it enemies to lovers or office romance with a little extra sexual tension, workplace rivals romance is a beloved trope for a reason. I love the friction that comes from two people who are fighting - or fighting their feelings - and the forced proximity is always a win. The heroes can... Continue Reading →
This will be a weird review, because I enjoyed it so much that a 5-star rating was the obvious choice, but I can also identify several things that bugged me - and I understand why it's been such a polarizing read. The important thing: this was an EXCELLENT debut, and I'm excited to read more... Continue Reading →
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 →
A blend of women's fiction and romance, this heroine-centric story features its own unique combination of ingredients. I wasn't sure what to expect from this new-to-me author, but I quickly discovered that her writing style and voice worked well for me. I loved the offbeat quality of the story, as well as the fresh and... Continue Reading →
Entertaining (but also a little ridiculous), this office rivals romance felt like it was strongly influenced by two of my favorite books - The Hating Game and The Spanish Love Deception. Which is good, because I loved those books... but there were also perhaps too many familiar components. That being said, this spins the office... Continue Reading →
No sophomore slump here! Love on the Brain is as deliciously swoony and addictive as The Love Hypothesis, with characters who are equally compelling. I devoured it in one sitting and LOVED it the whole way through. It's quirky and science-filled, with a relationship that's layered and nuanced. I loved trying to figure out our... Continue Reading →
Not my favorite of the series, but it did have a lot of good stuff going for it. There's a small town feel that ties the series together, with a fun cast of characters. I also love a swoony single dad with a precocious daughter, and pairing him with the woman who makes him feel... Continue Reading →
Conceptually, this is a win... but the execution isn't quite there. That interesting, fun cover caught my eye, and the upbeat blurb had me excited to read a rom com with a little bit of bite. And it started off well; our hero makes a terrible first impression, and it was clear that bickering with... Continue Reading →
Flawless is right - I absolutely LOVED this from start to finish. I'll admit that I'm a cover hoe and that's the primary reason I checked out this new-to-me author's work, so I had no idea what was in store for me when I started reading. But this gripped me from the first few pages,... Continue Reading →
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. That list wouldn't be complete without Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend, one of the more unique and memorable books I've read this year. It's beefy and a little brilliant, with a... Continue Reading →
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. 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... Continue Reading →
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. While all three books in the Devil series have been great, my favorite just might be The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. It's an angsty, forbidden romance with sexual tension that... Continue Reading →
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. While Love on the Brain doesn't release until August, I've already posted my sneak peek review, and it certainly makes this list! The Love Hypothesis was one of my favorite books of... Continue Reading →
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. That list includes the office rivals romance, Rival Radio. I adored the sexual tension that snapped and crackled between these characters, and Nolan really played up the opposites attract dynamic. It's sexy... Continue Reading →
With sexual tension that crackles and banter that shines, this office rivals romance is another great addition to what has been a stellar series of near-standalones. I loved the electric connection between these two office enemies; they've got the kind of chemistry that sparks off the page, and the volatile nature of their relationship made... Continue Reading →
I'd heard good things about this, but it far exceeded my expectations - I absolutely loved it! It felt so original, focusing on the strength and determination of the single mom heroine and the issues with making assumptions. There's a great neighbors to lovers romance, and seeing the subtle shifts in the dynamic was immensely... Continue Reading →
A solid series starter, this steamy office rivals romance flies by. I learned a little more about stockbroking than I wanted, lol, but it's got a light and sexy vibe that works for the story. What starts as strangers to instant enemies quickly transitions into instalove kind of vibes, and that worked because of the... Continue Reading →
It was like (not love) for me, but there's a lot of good stuff going on in this fling to more romance. After one steamy night together, this couple soon realizes they're in over their heads when they become boss/assistant. I loved the sexual tension, and there are some really sweet moments between this single... Continue Reading →
All kinds of adorable and just the low angst read I was in the mood for, this made for a great introduction to Olivia's work. The grumpalicious hero paired with a sunshiney heroine made for a fun dynamic, and the story deftly tackles heavier subjects while maintaining a light and easy feel. It's got small... Continue Reading →
No sophomore slump here! Love on the Brain is as deliciously swoony and addictive as The Love Hypothesis, with characters who are equally compelling. I devoured it in one sitting and LOVED it the whole way through. It's quirky and science-filled, with a relationship that's layered and nuanced. I loved trying to figure out our... Continue Reading →
Unfortunately, this was not a successful reading experience for me, which is really disappointing because I’ve enjoyed Ready’s work in the past. There are a million romance novels inspired by Pride and Prejudice, and I've read some pretty great ones. Getting the hero's personality just right is one of the major requirements, and this hero... Continue Reading →
If you liked The Ex Talk but wanted more swoons AND more sex, well, then you're gonna love this sexual tension-filled treat! There's something about Nolan's writing that is always so super swoony, with low angst vibes and romance that you can root for. I was expecting this to have stronger enemies to lovers vibes,... Continue Reading →
I've got a lot of (mostly positive) thoughts about this one, so many thoughts that it detracted from my reading experience. However, this is still head and shoulders above most of the books I've read this year. Liese has such a distinctive voice, creating these authentic characters who have real struggles and conflicts. That's what... Continue Reading →
The third person perspective doesn't do the story any favors here, because I actually really loved the foundation of the book, but I always felt like I was watching it happen from a distance. There are some GREAT elements to the story, including tons of history between these childhood rivals turned present day frenemies, a... Continue Reading →
Broken heroes break my heart every single time - it's just so easy to fall for them. That's definitely the case in this small town, enemies to lovers romance. This is my first time reading something by Prince, and it certainly won't be the last. I dove right into the middle of this series of... Continue Reading →
Maybe I’m getting too old for teenage drama, or maybe the bully to instalove transition gave me whiplash, but this just didn’t do anything for me. It’s the first time I’ve disliked a book by Nathan - the other five I've read from her have been great. We'll call this one a fluke! Our introduction... Continue Reading →
Well. Shame on me for having this in my library for literal years without reading it - it was PHENOMENAL! My eyes were absolutely glued to every single page once I got a feel for the story. I don't know exactly what I was expecting the plot to be about, but this surprised me in... Continue Reading →
I've been LOVING this series of almost-standalones so far, so you can bet that I'm very excited about this one! It's an office romance that promises the sexual tension and build in intimacy that we've seen in the other two books in the series, and I'm certainly intrigued by the dynamic. We'll see how it... Continue Reading →
The second time's the charm - for this couple, AND for me with this book. I'm new to the series, so I was expecting a sweet cinnamon roll hero (as the series title describes) and a rom com (as the cover implies), so I was... taken aback... by the level of hostility between these two.... Continue Reading →
So I took the night to collect my thoughts, and I still don't know how to rate this - there's a lot going on in the story, and a lot going on in my head. Let's start with this: I'm a first-timer! I've been meaning to check out Douglas' work for years now, and this... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
A stranded, forced proximity romance by Melanie Harlow? Sign me up! I'm loving the blurb for her upcoming sexy chef, accidental pregnancy romance. While the first book in this spinoff series, Ignite, was a rare miss for me, I generally love Harlow's steamy, tense romances. This one promises to be another engaging one, and I... Continue Reading →
Jeeves Reads Romance 