Voracious Romance Reader • Honest Reviewer
Sleeper, Charmer & Troublemaker I've been a longtime fan of funny lady Kayley Loring, and the Name in Lights series is the one that really cemented my love for her work! I rated all three books in this lighthearted rom com series as 5 stars, and I have a special love for Sleeper. They're all... Continue Reading →
It was surprisingly easy to put together this list, because the forced proximity and sexual tension that arise from roommates situations in romance books is often deliciously addictive. When you stick two very different people together, there's always some friction, and I love the build as they find their way together. There are also so... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
It’s the end of the year, and that means it’s time to reflect back on the books that made an impact! I’ll be talking about my favorite reads of 2022 this month – including the best romance series I read this year. Some of these started up in 2022, some of them came to a... Continue Reading →
Neighbors to lovers might not be the first trope I think of when discussing popular tropes in romance novels, but it is one that delivers again and again. Initially, I wasn't sure that I'd have enough solid recs to put together a list with this theme, but I ended up being overwhelmed by the choices!... Continue Reading →
5-star reads were few and far between for me this month, making them feel even more special when I found them. After loving Elsie Silver's Heartless in October, I went a full four weeks(!) without a 5-star read, which is unheard of for me. It was only after another reader recommended Amanda Gambill's Honestly, I'm... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
I read some excellent books in October, with two that are clear contenders for my Best of the Year list! Earlier this year, I read and adored Flawless by Elsie Silver, and I was convinced there was no way that the next book in the series would earn my love in quite the same way.... Continue Reading →
When two characters are stuck together, forced to work out their differences when they would've otherwise run and avoided the intimacy, magic can happen. Whether they're feuding co-workers, former lovers in need of a second chance, or semi-strangers who have found themselves living together, there are SO MANY different scenarios where forced proximity can shine.... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
Kindle Unlimited readers, this one’s for you! We’re just finishing the third quarter of 2022, so it's the perfect time to look back on the best books I’ve read in Kindle Unlimited so far this year. There is a GREAT selection of romance books in the program, and some of my favorite books of 2022... Continue Reading →
I read some really great romance books in September! If you saw my monthly wrap-up, you know that I held off on reading some of my most anticipated new releases (I didn't have any time to devote to full-day binges!), so I ended up checking out a lot of new-to-me authors this month. That always... Continue Reading →
My favorite kind of audiobooks - those performed in duet, so that you can distinguish between the characters! Audiobooks have come a long way in the last several years, shifting from books that are simply read aloud to true audio performances. I remember trying to get into audiobooks a few years ago, and I just... Continue Reading →
Do I judge books by their covers? Absolutely! How else am I going to know when to stop scrolling online? I'm the kind of mood reader who enjoys trying out tons of new-to-me authors, and covers are one way of narrowing down my options. And there's a certain artist who has been catching my eye... Continue Reading →
This time of year always makes me think back on the books I’ve read so far and revisit my TBR to see what else I want to check out before the year is over. I’ve read some excellent romance novels in 2022, and I’m sure that there are more to come! The contemporary romance novels... Continue Reading →
You'll be seeing some of these books on my Best of 2022 list for sure - August brought some excellent reads. Both Love on the Brain and Thank You For Listening made my Best of 2022 (So Far) list back in June after I posted my sneak peek reviews, and they remain some of my... Continue Reading →
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 →
If you’d asked me a year or two ago, I would’ve told you that I don’t like women’s fiction. I’m a romance girl; I love love, and that’s what I like to read about. However, I consume so much romance that I’ve found myself drawn to romance/women’s fiction crossovers recently, because they usually feature insightful,... Continue Reading →
Something about small town romance novels just hits a little different - in a good way. While the stories still feel contemporary and modern, there's often a laidback, easygoing feel or a cast of characters that make the setting feel more like a community. Whether the book is part of a series of interconnected standalones... Continue Reading →
July may have been a rocky reading month for me, but I ended up with some GREAT reads. I think it says a lot that my Best of July list only includes one July release, lol, though three of these came out in June. I had to look a little harder than usual for books... 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 →
Over the holiday weekend, I shared the reviews for my 15 favorite books of 2022 (so far) individually. This is the complete list, showcasing just how varied those picks are! From traditional to indie, debut to fan favorites, mafia to rom com, there's quite a range here. But each book is a contemporary romance novel... Continue Reading →
An embarrassment of reading riches made it VERY difficult to put this list together, lol! I couldn't limit myself to six books this month, so I've got six top picks and a few honorable mentions. My top picks were all really great reads, and the honorable mentions would've easily made the list in a less... Continue Reading →
Kindle Unlimited readers, this one’s for you! We're just finishing the first half of 2022, so it seems like the perfect time to look back on the best books I’ve read in Kindle Unlimited so far this year. There is a GREAT selection of romance books in the program, and some of my favorite books... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
Whether it's the hot jock and the nerdy girl, the tutor and the troublemaker, the playboy and the virgin, or something a little more complicated, college, high school and new adult romances can be filled with tropes. Some of my favorite new adult romances are tropey goodness. Others are a little more nuanced, with stories... Continue Reading →
There was an embarrassment of reading riches in May, so my biggest problem was choosing which books would make this list! This month, I really focused on setting aside books that weren't working for me and giving my full attention to those that did - whether they were new releases or retro reads. And that... Continue Reading →
There might be a few days left in the month, but I'm calling it a wrap - there are already plenty of great candidates for my Best of the Month list (coming soon)! Plus, you know, it's a holiday weekend and there aren't any new releases til Tuesday. May started off a little slow, but... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
April was kind of a lame release month, but the good books were REALLY good. I'm betting more than one of these will be on my Best of 2022 list at the end of the year. The month started off strong for me, with several 5-star reads in a row, then my enjoyment of the... Continue Reading →
This is basically its own trope in romance novels - the (typically grumpy or broody) hero harbors deeper feelings for the heroine than he'd care to admit, the playboy is stopped in his tracks by the right girl, or the regular guy is smitten from the start. Whatever the situation, there's something so immensely swoony... 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 fake relationship romance! I read a LOT of fake relationship romances (I can't seem to get enough of them), so I've got tons of recommendations featuring the trope. I posted... Continue Reading →
Kindle Unlimited readers, this one's for you! We just finished the first quarter of 2022, so it seems like the perfect time to look back on the best books I've read in Kindle Unlimited so far this year. There is a GREAT selection of romance books in the program, and some of my favorite books... Continue Reading →
Redemption seemed to be the theme of the month, and I'm not complaining! This is one of those months where I would've anticipated a completely different group of books making my Best of the Month list, so the surprise discoveries were that much sweeter. I've got two new-to-me authors, two newer-to-me authors, and two rising... Continue Reading →
What a month! There were a TON of new releases in March, and for a few weeks it felt like more quantity than quality. After a strong start to the month, I felt myself getting pulled into a slump mid-month because I was reading so many new books, but not finding a lot of 5-star... Continue Reading →
It was an exploratory reading week for me, and with that came mixed results! None of my one-click authors released new books this week, so I checked out the work of several new-to-me or newer-to-me authors. My favorite was the easy, sexy Say Yes to the Boss, which made me think it might be time... 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 →
It was a better reading week for me! Two bingeable books made my week, Shenanigans and Dr. Potter. The audio version of Shenanigans made the Vegas wedding-turned-marriage of convenience romance shine, and I loved the light, easy feel. The unpredictability of Dr. Potter had me glued to my seat, and it had me tearing through... Continue Reading →
Rich jerks are a huge trope in romance novels - heroes who might be a little moody, broody, and grumpier than the average guy. When I told my husband that billionaire romances are a common trope, he blinked and looked at me like he must've heard me wrong (you mean millionaires, right? Millions aren't enough?),... Continue Reading →
I really struggled to find reading time this week - I was way too busy doomscrolling - but there were tons of great releases. One of my favorite books of the year so far, Hook, Line, and Sinker, came out this week. I posted my sneak peek review awhile back, and I've still got such... Continue Reading →
I'd call February a disappointing release month overall, but there were still some great new books! This month, my favorites were immediately obvious to me, so I've separated these into two groups - Top Picks and Honorable Mentions. My two favorite new releases were EASILY Lease on Love and A Ticking Time Boss. Lease on... Continue Reading →
I can't believe February is almost over, it certainly got away from me a little bit, lol! I started out with a strong reading month, but haven't been able to focus for days given all of the doomscrolling I've been doing. Regardless, it was a fun month of reading experimentation for me. Most of my... Continue Reading →
Lots of hits AND misses this week, but a win overall! I read a mix of ARCs and audiobooks this week, and the results were pretty interesting. My favorite book of the week was actually not a new release - I listened to the audio version of Tara Sivec's Just My Type, and it was... Continue Reading →
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 →
It ended up being a solid reading week for me! While the new releases were a little sparse this week, I read a few that hit the right notes. I seriously enjoyed the light and sexy office romance, A Ticking Time Boss, which has reminded me why I like Olivia Hayle's writing. I also revisited... 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 →
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 sports romance! I read a ton of sports romance, so I post a fresh list of recommendations right around this time every year. The new list is on the way... Continue Reading →
January was a crazy busy release month, and I ended up reading like half of the new releases that I wanted to - but the books were great! My ratio of 5-star romances to less successful reads was higher than ever, and that's because there were so many exciting new releases to choose from. And... Continue Reading →
I'm going to be catching up on January releases for the next several months, because there were SO MANY new romance books released this month! Nearly every one of my favorite authors released a new book in January, so there were tons to choose from - and I ended up reading many excellent books. There... Continue Reading →
It was a 5-star kind of week! Some weeks I wonder if I'm being too critical, and some weeks it's the opposite. Almost everything I read this week was 5-star worthy, and that includes a couple of upcoming releases that aren't in this group. It was a great week! My two favorites feature men with... Continue Reading →
It was a pretty good week! There were no losers in this mix, just two books that rose to the top of the pack. My favorite was easily the forbidden ex's brother romance, The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. It was another excellent read from O'Roark, who is quickly becoming a one-click author for... Continue Reading →
It was quality over quantity this week - I didn't get in as much reading time as I'd hoped, but the books were very good. I loved the sweet and laidback office romance from Rachel Lynn Solomon, Weather Girl. The hero was the swooniest gentleman, and the book was such a feel good read. My... 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 →
I'm usually more of a slow burn girl, but every once in awhile I'll devour a smokin' hot romance novel that doesn't take long to bring the heat. Whether it's a one night stand that turns into a relationship, a no strings fling that starts to feel like more, an arrangement that's supposed to be... Continue Reading →
I had a somewhat disappointing reading week, but looking back, it wasn't as bad as I thought. I listened to the hot and steamy The Lawyer on audio, and it was a great introduction to Marni Mann's work - I'll definitely be reading more. I also enjoyed the sexy and tense The Worst Guy, a... Continue Reading →
Whether it's a dark romance book, a college romance novel, or a rom com, one thing women readers seem to agree on is that the classic combination of the bad boy and the good girl just works in romance novels. Of every post on my blog, there's one that's always been the most popular: my... Continue Reading →
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 →
It's Christmas weekend, and hopefully that means you've got some time to put your feet up, settle under a warm blanket, and enjoy a hot book! lol, or a sweet seasonal romance, whatever you choose is fine by me. Christmas may or may not look a little different this year, but there are plenty of... Continue Reading →
Jeeves Reads Romance 