Voracious Romance Reader • Honest Reviewer
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 →
Pride, prejudice, and flip-flops... well, that says it all! The newest beachy rom com from Sarah Ready is a new spin on a classic story, and it's sure to have plenty of lighthearted humor, memorable moments, and a unique feel. I'm still becoming acquainted with Ready's work - Josh and Gemma Make a Baby was... Continue Reading →
They say opposites attract, but can they make it work? That's the question here! As always with Jimenez's love stories, there's a richness and layered feel that builds and develops throughout, slowly cranking up the angst until our couple's worlds seem so far apart. This is probably her least "fun" book so far; typically her... Continue Reading →
Such a sweet, feel good romance! Even my husband - a man who loves horror movies and sci fi - loved this light and playful rom com. I trapped him in a car for a road trip, and we listened to the audio edition together. This is definitely meant to be enjoyed in audio, with... 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 →
She’s the grump. He’s the sunshine. Well... at least he is once he starts chasing his girl, lol. I loved the absolutely hysterical, banter-filled dynamic between this couple and the nonstop comedy that follows them on their adventures. This hero is a reformed playboy who openly admits that he used to be a tool -... 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 →
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 →
The banter-filled, playful vibe had me hooked from the start, but my enjoyment took a nosedive somewhere along the way. It's a bright, cheerful, opposites attract romance that showcases how life doesn't always go according to plan. I loved that our sunshine heroine shows the grumpy hero that he's been missing out on the best... 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 →
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 →
With such an outlandish meet cute, I kinda expected this to be funnier, quirkier, more carefree - but this hero's lack of trust and penchant for jealousy put a damper on it for me. I'm a fan of Gephart's work, and I always look forward to whatever crazy idea she's come up with for her... Continue Reading →
"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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
One of my favorite tropes is the opposites attract romance, which can be used in so many ways to make a book shine. And the best combination of all might be the grumpy/sunshine romance, featuring a moody, broody hero and an upbeat heroine who makes his world a little brighter. The trope often shines in... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
I focus on new releases in romance the rest of the week, so Throwback Thursdays revisit book recommendations from years past. This week's topic is my list of 15 Awesome Opposites Attract Romances! The list is from early 2020, and the trope is one of my favorites. I'm impressed by how many of these authors... Continue Reading →
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 →
Two big cover reveals today, and I am SO excited for both of them! Put Me in Detention by Meghan Quinn & The Plan by Karla Sorensen are the newest installments in two excellent series of interconnected standalones. I've got details on both series and the new books below! I kinda hate the new covers... 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
As with all of Hart's rom coms, this was a low angst, fun read with plenty of banter. It was definitely lacking in the romance department for me, but makes a solid series starter for what could be an interesting series of standalones. This is technically written in British English, but I honestly didn't notice... 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 →
This was slow burn goodness, with a focus on the emotional connection and plenty of sexual tension. I loved the light, easy banter and the opposites attract vibe, though this new-to-me author does an excellent job of showing the parallels between these two seemingly different people. Our broken, playboy of a hero is selfish and... Continue Reading →
What a WILD ride! Geissinger's books are always addictive, and her mafia romances have been particularly compelling - with this being no exception. These two were FIRE together, and I was absolutely hooked from start to finish. I'll openly admit that I had a little more trouble than usual getting behind this particular couple, not... Continue Reading →
Have you seen In the Heights? This gave me the same kind of vibes, minus the singing and dancing, but add in some steam - lol! We've got our sweet hometown guy, the girl with big dreams who finds herself back home, a strong sense of community/found family, and a focus on inclusivity. Our heroine... Continue Reading →
Is it HOT in here, or is it just this book? WOW, that was an intense and steamy ride! This rock star/bodyguard romance had me HOOKED from the first page, and easily kept my interest until the very end. I stayed up way, way too late reading - and I have zero regrets. This couple... 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 →
Small town charm with a side of steam - this was cute! I love a good enemies to lovers romance and a fish out of water story is always a fun time, so this was right up my alley. The story remains light, sexy, and playful throughout, which makes it fly by. It's got humor,... Continue Reading →
I keep going back and forth between three and four stars for this one, but there are definitely some things that I was unsatisfied with, so I'm leaning towards three. This had an uphill battle from the start, because I really, really hate the main trope - one night stand results in a baby, and... Continue Reading →
Have you seen that old Josh Duhamel movie, Life as We Know It? Then you've got an idea of the concept behind this emotional romance - two people who "hate" each other are bonded by their friends, and become co-parents when those friends pass away unexpectedly. I will openly admit that there are MANY similarities... Continue Reading →
A smitten bad boy? Yes, please! I absolutely LOVED this hero, a guy who listens to the devil on his shoulder too often. He's moody, broody, tattooed, and talented - and he's a total softie on the inside. This one's a little bit enemies to lovers, a little bit friends to lovers, and a whole... 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 →
This hero? One of the BEST I've read about in a long while. I absolutely ADORED this gruff, closed off, alpha fisherman with a heart of gold - he made this opposites attract romance engrossing from the very start, and the steamy scenes were downright combustible because of his intensity. Talk about a slow burn... Continue Reading →
Everybody loves a sexy, grumpy nerd - right? I certainly do! That made it easy to fall for this slow-burning, science-filled romance. I'd like to make a joke that this book has as much chemistry as a science textbook, but that seems like a step too far, lol. Our couple does have a definite connection... 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 →
Light and steamy with a side of action, I'd describe the plot of this rom com as "quirky romance writer is thirsty for a bad boy." lol, our heroine doesn't seem to mind all of the red flags popping up around her guy - even when he warns her away (repeatedly). It's low angst and... Continue Reading →
While the writing is a little rough around the edges, the soapy quality of this light(ish) mafia romance held my attention. It’s not a storyline that I have EVER read before, which is always a huge plus for someone who reads as many romance novels as I do. There was something about that blurb (and... Continue Reading →
Do you love a grumpy/sunshine romance, the classic good girl/bad boy trope, the hot jock and the nerd? They're all great opposites attract dynamics that make for fun, engaging contemporary romance reads. I love the tension that inevitably develops when two total opposites meet and start to fall for each other. There's usually plenty of... Continue Reading →
Jeeves Reads Romance 