Whether the crush is still alive and well or was left behind years ago, childhood or teenage crushes can add a delicious sort of tension to any romance novel. It's a very versatile trope that can be utilized in a variety of ways, from a brother's best friend scenario to rivals to lovers and more.... Continue Reading →
15 Awesome Indie Romance Books
I love indie romance! Some of the best romance books I've read have been indie romances, and you never know when you're reading the next big thing. These books are often the trendsetters, steering the book market in the direction readers are seeking. They have quicker turnaround times, take more risks, and often have an... Continue Reading →
4-STAR AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Until It Was Love by Pippa Grant
I liked it! I can’t call it 5 stars because it’s been three days and I’ve already forgotten the plot (lol), but I definitely had a solid reading experience and enjoyed it the whole way through. It’s full of Grant’s signature humor and charm, complete with a light, easy relationship that progresses from irritated acquaintances... Continue Reading →
COVER REVEAL: The Bride’s Runaway Billionaire by Pippa Grant
There's a new billionaire rom com on the way from Pippa Grant, and I'm excited! We don't know a whole lot about this one and probably won't until release day, but I've been loving the series and the title has me intrigued, so I'm okay with a little mystery! We'll find out the details soon... Continue Reading →
15 of My Favorite Holiday Romance Books
It's that time of year! October officially kicks off the start of holiday romance season, and I'm just fine with that. I love reading a cute Christmas story, a festive and feel good read, or a hot holiday novella as we head towards the end of the year. There are some spectacular full-length books on... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Gossip and the Grump by Pippa Grant 🎧
Another very solid read from Grant, this small town romance was easy to binge in one sitting. I loved the initial encounter between these strangers, which showed the softer side to both. They let down their guards for one night and revealed pieces of themselves that they probably wouldn't have with anyone else. That makes... Continue Reading →
COVER REVEAL: The Gossip and the Grump by Pippa Grant
Pippa Grant's got a new quirky rom com on the way, and we've got two great new covers! This might be an instance where I like the cute one better, personally, but I'm not mad about either. The blurb sounds right up my alley and it feels like forever since we've had one of her... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Not My Kind of Hero by Pippa Grant 🎧
This slow-burning, small town romance is more serious than Grant's indie books, but it still has plenty of charm. I liked the deeper elements and the focus on mending your broken pieces - these two instant enemies clash until they realize how much they have in common, and watching that come full circle was very... Continue Reading →
15 Romance Books with the Only One Bed Trope
When romance characters find themselves in a situation where there's only one bed and they have to figure out how to handle it, you know you're in for a good time! It's a classic trope for a reason, creating instant tension for couples - no matter what their relationship was like before that dreaded moment.... Continue Reading →
15 Hot Hockey Romance Books
I don’t know what it is about hockey romances, but they keep us coming back for more! Out of all the sports, hockey romances seem to be the crowd-pleasers. You get the sexy hockey hottie who is aggressive on the ice and something else entirely off of it, the team aspect that often ties a... Continue Reading →
15 Sibling’s Best Friend Romance Books
Whether it's a brother's best friend, a best friend's little sister, a best friend's brother, or some other similar scenario, "sibling's best friend" romance books always make for great reads. It's a versatile trope that encompasses a variety of situations, and the combination of history and tension makes each love story a little more interesting.... 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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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 →
COVER REVEAL: The Worst Wedding Date by Pippa Grant
It feels like it's been forever since I've read a new Pippa Grant rom com, so I am excited! This one has tropes that are right up my alley, and I'm loving the focus on it being an "only one bed" rom com. I'm hoping this has the classic Pippa humor that I know and... Continue Reading →
15 Spicy Sports Romance Books
It's become a tradition of sorts for me to put up a new sports romance recommendation list this specific week every year, when everyone's got the big game on their minds. It's certainly not a hardship; sports romances are popular for a reason - it's a versatile sub-genre that incorporates many, many different tropes. From... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: Humbugged by Pippa Grant
It's prime time for holiday romances, so it seemed like the perfect time to re-share my review for Pippa Grant's hysterical AND hot holiday romance, Humbugged. I read this back when it released, and the book is a great combination of holiday vibes, humor, and heat. It's got just enough swoon to feel super romantic,... Continue Reading →
BLOGIVERSARY & Revisiting My Top 19 of 2019
It's the blog's 3 year anniversary, and time really does fly when you're having fun! When I created my website at the end of 2019, I had no idea what was in store for me. I'd been reading and reviewing a LOT for about two years at that point, and it seemed like a natural... Continue Reading →
15 Playboy/Manwhore Tamed Romance Novels
Is there anything more entertaining than reading about a playboy hero who is in WAY over his head? Used to quick and easy hookups, manwhore or former player heroes are out of their comfort zones when they have to work to get the right girl. Whether they fight their feelings or fall hard and fast,... Continue Reading →
15 Sweet Cinnamon Roll Heroes in Romance Novels
Grumpy/sunshine romances and alphahole heroes often steal the spotlight, but cinnamon roll heroes know how to bring the swoon! There's nothing quite like a nice guy, a good guy hero who is warm and loving. Whether he's mellowed out after becoming a single dad or has always been upbeat and kind, cinnamon roll heroes are... Continue Reading →
15 Low Angst Romantic Comedy Novels
Rom coms: readers love them so much that the majority of romance books get (mis)labeled that way! It can often be difficult to tell if the book you're reading is going to be a genuinely low angst, feel good (hopefully funny!) read, which sometimes makes reading rom coms frustrating. Sometimes I just want a book... Continue Reading →
15 Sexy Fake Relationship Romance Books
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The One Who Loves You by Pippa Grant 🎧
Instead of laughing like I usually do while reading a Pippa Grant rom com, I found this to be kinda tedious. It never felt "romantic" to me in any way, and the relationship felt incredibly surface level - especially for a book that's NOT short. This series starter is Grant's first traditionally published work, and... Continue Reading →
COVER REVEAL: Irresistible Trouble by Pippa Grant
We're getting overloaded with Pippa Grant goodness this week! The first book in a brand new series is releasing tomorrow, and the cover was just revealed for a long-awaited book. Anyone who has been reading Grant's rom coms for awhile has seen an appearance by incorrigible playboy Cooper Rock. It's finally his turn to find... Continue Reading →
15 Sexy Single Dad Romance Books
There's just something about a good father that is incredibly sexy, so it's no wonder why the single dad trope is so popular! These romances often feature found families, heart-melting moments, and plenty of swoons. I love it when a single dad finds his perfect complement, and the family scenes can be downright adorable. Though... Continue Reading →
15 (More) Great Grumpy / Sunshine Romance Books
I discovered just how popular the grumpy/sunshine romance trope is when I posted my original recommendation list (found here) - and there's a good reason for that! The opposites attract dynamic provides plenty of opportunities for sexual tension-filled friction, and the build in intimacy just feels even more satisfying once a lovable grump has exposed... Continue Reading →
15 Sexy Single Mom Romance Novels
Single dad romance books get most of the love, but is there anything more heart-melting and adorable than a commitment-phobic hero becoming part of a family? Whether it’s a charming playboy falling for a woman AND her kids, a grumpy hero becoming fiercely protective of the family he’d love to call his own, or an... Continue Reading →
Best of April 2022
There were some AWESOME new romances released in April! While the month was super uneven overall, the books that worked for me really worked, and I'm betting they'll leave a lasting impression. And my favorites were all SO different that it'll probably take a few months before I know which was my absolute top pick.... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: America’s Geekheart by Pippa Grant 🎧
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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 →
COVER REVEAL: The Last Eligible Billionaire by Pippa Grant
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 →
15 Sexy Sports Romance Novels
I don’t know about you, but I love a good sports romance. From football to hockey, baseball and more, sports romances often play up the tropes for light and sexy reads. Fake relationships, flings, second chances, friends to lovers - they're all represented here. Sports romances are often interconnected standalones that are part of a... Continue Reading →
15 Great Grumpy / Sunshine Romance Novels
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 →
THROWBACK THURSDAY: Opposites Attract Romances
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 →