Voracious Romance Reader • Honest Reviewer
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 →
It's always a little terrifying to read the sophomore effort from an author whose debut you loved, hoping that it will live up to the weight of expectation. And, honestly, this didn't at first. The beginning is MUCH weaker than the second half, and it takes awhile to find its footing - but it definitely... Continue Reading →
Lighthearted fun, this was just as bingeable as the first book in the series, with plenty of sparring that felt like sparks of attraction. It's low angst and easygoing, featuring a theme park princess and her best friend's brother - the one who infuriates her by existing. These two had great chemistry, and it was... Continue Reading →
This is the kind of debut that gets me excited about what's next from an author, because there was so much good stuff going on with the story. It's ideal for fans of Elena Armas and Chloe Liese, sort of the perfect combo of both of their vibes - featuring a deliciously smitten hero, bickering... Continue Reading →
This series just keeps getting better and better, swoonier and swoonier. Maybe steamier and steamier too. Zero complaints about any of that - I loved this! It’s easiest to appreciate this series to its fullest when you read it in order, so I was already so excited to dig into Caleb and Layla’s story before... Continue Reading →
This didn't quite live up to the hype for me, but I can see why fans of friends to lovers romances would eat it up. One of my favorite tropes is marriage of convenience, so I was cautiously optimistic that this would be the rare friends to lovers scenario that would resonate with me. And... Continue Reading →
It's easy to see why this friends to lovers romance is so popular - it is completely swoony and CHARMING, with a great found family feel and an intriguing cast of characters. I also adored the hero, who is so obviously head over heels for his girl from the moment he meets her. There are... Continue Reading →
Intelligent, lighthearted, and full of romance, this was exactly what I was hoping for... though I wouldn't have minded some steam, lol! It's my first from the author, so I wasn't sure if the vibe would be more women's fiction or romance, but it ended up being a great combination of the two. The romance... Continue Reading →
With fan-worthy steam, a playful feel, and tons of sexual tension, this grumpy/sunshine romance absolutely flies by. It's an office romance with a side of fake relationship, pairing up two total opposites who have never really gotten to know each other. Once this boss and his assistant interact outside of the office, their entire dynamic... Continue Reading →
I never get tired of fake relationship romance novels, don't ask me why! There's something about this trope that works for me, and it's just so versatile. The forced proximity, the crossing of boundaries, the faked intimacy - that's all part of the fun. Faking a relationship is often the catalyst that sparks crazy chemistry,... Continue Reading →
For a debut? Pretty great. The cover caught my eye, but it was the significant buzz surrounding this Hollywood romance that had me excited to read it. Luckily, I had already heard that this has a heavier, messier storyline than the cover and blurb imply, so I was not caught off-guard by just how dark... 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. Terms and Conditions is another book that lived up to the TikTok hype, and I'm eager to check out more from Lauren Asher. It's a marriage of convenience/office romance that ended up... 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 Funny Feelings, a humorous and heartfelt friends to lovers romance by new-to-me author Tarah DeWitt. I knew very little about the plot when I decided to sample Funny Feelings,... Continue Reading →
Light and easy, this fake relationship romance is low angst fun. It plays up the tropes for a lighthearted, laidback read, and I loved the hero. He's a cinnamon roll sweetheart who knows his pro football career will end at some point, so he's opened a bakery with his two best friends. This certainly felt... Continue Reading →
Easy, sexy, and a little different than the norm, I got everything I wanted from this low angst romance. What starts as a fake relationship soon turns into something else entirely, and I loved that this didn't take the usual path. This hero is a sexy bartender who looks like trouble, so it was great... Continue Reading →
I finally took the plunge, and this absolutely lives up to the hype - I ADORED it! This one's for those readers who have the patience to follow little breadcrumbs scattered throughout the story, tiny moments of romance that slowly (SLOWLY) build into something truly beautiful. I loved that build in intimacy, the steps that... Continue Reading →
I love it when I try a new-to-me author and I know immediately that I'm in for an excellent read. My love for this heartfelt, swoony read began right away, and it just got stronger and stronger as the book progressed. I loved the pining, the completely unique feel, and I loved the cinnamon roll... Continue Reading →
Super cute! After reading a particularly angsty book, I was in the mood for something lighter, easier, and refreshing - and this was just what the doctor ordered. It's a low angst, sexy rom com that takes the fake relationship trope and spins it into something else. I loved how perfectly this couple complements each... Continue Reading →
There's a new fake relationship romance on the way from Angela Casella, and it sounds pretty great! I'm currently reading the newest from Angela Denise, the pen name for Casella and Denise Grover-Swank, and so far it's hitting all the right notes for me, so I'm excited to check out Casella's solo work for the... 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 →
Too much playboy talk and not enough actual communication drag this otherwise light and easy fake relationship romance down. Also… I have no idea what the title has to do with the story, lol. I was expecting a roommate element at some point. I’m typically a big fan of Monroe’s low angst, trope-tastic rom coms,... Continue Reading →
Why did I wait so long to read this? It was SO good, and such a feel good read! I've been a big fan of Pippa Grant's work for years, but I've also been reading every series completely out of order, so this just got lost on my TBR for a long time. It's the... Continue Reading →
In case you missed it! There's been some... ah, lively discussion... of this cover (and others) on social media, but I'm focused on how excited I am to read the book! This is Liese's first with a major publisher, and I can't wait to see what the vibe is like. I've been a big fan... Continue Reading →
You know what? I almost forgot that this was a fake relationship romance, because this couple is basically already in love when the book begins. It's a light and sexy small town romance with chemistry that's apparent from the first scene, great family dynamics, and plenty of banter to keep things interesting. I loved the... Continue Reading →
Light and playful, this started strong before fizzling along the way. There just wasn't enough time spent with our couple together, with too much telling and not enough showing. I loved the easy, lighthearted vibe and I'm always up for a marriage of convenience where opposites attract, but there also needs to be time spent... Continue Reading →
Well. Ahem. So this was nothing like I expected, but more than I could've hoped for - I LOVED it! If you loved the torturous slow burns of The Spanish Love Deception and Marriage for One, or the nerd-centric love story of The Love Hypothesis, then you're gonna love the vibe of this one-of-a-kind romance.... Continue Reading →
At the heart of this is a laugh out loud, sexy romantic comedy, but I wasn’t invested enough in the relationship to feel the love. Essentially, our couple finds themselves in a series of outlandish situations, but the story is more about those situations and the characters responding to them rather than growing together as... Continue Reading →
Have you ever read a book, and it just... completely starts off on the wrong foot? That initial stumble flavors your entire reading experience, and then suddenly all of these other little things start to bug you. That's how this went for me. There's a lot of good stuff going on in the story -... Continue Reading →
So bingeable - another easy, sexy read from Hayle that hits the right notes. Fake relationships/marriages of convenience between boss and assistant are classics for a reason, and I kinda liked that neither of these characters had been secretly pining for the other. While I adore that in a romance, this felt unique in that... Continue Reading →
I've always been a big fan of fake relationship romance novels, so it's no surprise that I'm drawn to books that take the trope even further by bringing marriage into the mix. The stakes are higher when the couple is married, so they often find themselves working through issues that would've ended a simpler relationship.... Continue Reading →
You know what? I liked it! It took a little longer than usual for this one to grow on me (and there were definitely things that bugged me along the way), but this felt really fresh and unique. We follow this non-couple as sparks fly between them - while there is plenty of chemistry, and... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
A brand new rom com is on the way from Pippa Grant, and it's the perfect jumping in point for new readers. I'm currently reading my ARC copy, and I can tell you that this references past characters and books from the author, while still being a standalone and the start of something new. It's... 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Out of the 200 romance novels I've read this year, this might be my favorite one. Period. This is what I call a ROMANCE; an intimate read with a torturous slow burn that absolutely captivated me and a hero that every woman needs in her life. It’s incredibly romantic, with page after page of quote-worthy... Continue Reading →
I loved this SO VERY MUCH. It's one of those books that left me smiling like a fool, with a full heart and a strong desire to start reading it all over again. The evolution of these characters from start to finish is intense, and I absolutely loved how everything came full circle by the... Continue Reading →
I love the Bergmans! This was the sweet treat that I've been waiting for, one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year. It didn't turn out to be QUITE what I was hoping for, but I still enjoyed it immensely. This series of slow burn, neurodiverse romances is heartfelt and emotional without feeling... Continue Reading →
A former football star who is kind and caring? Sign me up! I loved the hero in this laidback sports romance. He is sweet, sexy, and easily the best part of this book. I'm having a tough time with my rating for this one, because it had all of the ingredients of a great book...... Continue Reading →
There's something about Martin's writing style that just WORKS for me, and this was another great example. I loved the light, quirky feel and the grumpy/sunshine dynamic. I've also never read a book quite like this one - it's an interesting mix of tropes, with a dash of enemies to lovers, second chance, fake relationship,... Continue Reading →
Jeeves Reads Romance 