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 →
RETRO REVIEW: Boss Man Bridegroom by Meghan Quinn
I've got Meghan Quinn on my mind, so I thought I'd re-share my review for one of her older rom coms - the grumpy/sunshine, boss/assistant, wedding-related romance, Boss Man Bridegroom. I haven't been able to convince myself to dive into Quinn's newest, A Long Time Coming, yet(!), because friends to lovers drives me crazy 75%... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Do I Know You? by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka 🎧
Sometimes you start reading a book and get a great feeling about it almost immediately - there's something that pulls you in and lets you know that it's going to be a good one. That's how I felt about this. It was clear from the first few pages that the dynamic was WORKING for me,... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
What a gorgeous love story! This is EASILY my favorite of Clayborn's romances (so far), and the bar was already pretty high. I loved the instant zap of connection I felt towards these characters, from those awkward first encounters to the subtle shifts in their relationship. I loved this grumpy hero - a man who... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Sweet Spot by Adriana Locke 🎧
Such a cute, feel good read! This will be a win for small town, single parent lovers who appreciate a laidback and easygoing love story with a touch of heartache. I could feel the instant ZAP of attraction between these two, and it immediately had my attention. It reminded me of my favorite of Locke's... Continue Reading →
SNEAK PEEK REVIEW: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Water Under the Bridge by Kels & Denise Stone
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Exes and O’s by Amy Lea 🎧
I'm torn between 4 and 5 stars, but the ending had me absolutely SWOONING, so I'm choosing to round up. There's a lot to love about this room-ance - a strangers to roommates to friends to lovers slow burn with fun, slightly off-kilter vibes and a hero whose feelings I wanted to figure out. The... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Love and Kerosene by Winter Renshaw 🎧
What I love about Winter Renshaw is that I never know what I'm going to get; each book is wholly unique, and the journey is always unpredictable. That's definitely the case with this one as well, which certainly didn't progress in the way I expected. The premise was engaging, the story moved quickly, and the... Continue Reading →
SNEAK PEEK REVIEW: Final Offer by Lauren Asher
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Go Fake Yourself by Elle Maxwell
Putting a whole new spin on one of my favorite tropes, I loved that this fake relationship romance felt fresh and different. This couple moves in together and enters a fake relationship as complete strangers undergoing an experiment, which added a level of unpredictability and interest to the beloved trope. There's a great opposites attract... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson 🎧
Am I disappointed that this ended up being more women's fiction than romance, and that the true crime aspect was not a major element? Absolutely. However, I enjoyed the journey, and I happily binged it in one sitting. So I can't say that I didn't like it - this was a solid 3.5-star read for... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
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 →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman 🎧
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and the wonderfully unique Funny You Should Ask makes the list. As a self-proclaimed second chance romance hater, I think it's hysterical that a few wildly different second chance romances made my Top 20 list. When they work, they... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Terms and Conditions is another book that lived up to the TikTok hype. It's a marriage of convenience/office romance that ended up being right up my alley, and I loved how the hero was in so over his... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Honestly, I’m Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It is one of those books that came out of nowhere for me. Typically, I'm either anticipating a release myself or I get a recommendation and put it on my TBR for "sometime." With... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Talk Flirty to Me by Livy Hart
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 →
SNEAK PEEK REVIEW: Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What a gorgeous love story! This is EASILY my favorite of Clayborn's romances (so far), and the bar was already pretty high. I loved the instant zap of connection I felt towards these characters, from those awkward first encounters to the subtle shifts in their relationship. I loved this grumpy hero - a man... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend by Penny Reid
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 Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend. It's one of the more unique and memorable books I've read this year, with a hero that I absolutely adored. It's also beefy and a little... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and the swoony Mixed Signals easily makes the list. I ended up bingeing the whole Lovelight series in less than a week, and that's because they are effortlessly charming. Better together, these books seem to improve with each installment,... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Untying the Knot by Meghan Quinn 🎧
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and no book put me through my paces emotionally like Untying the Knot. Meghan Quinn is no stranger to my Best of the Year lists, because she swings for the fences with every release, and creates magic every so... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Meet Me Halfway by Lilian T. James
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and 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 it blew me away once I... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Mile High by Liz Tomforde
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that includes the banter-filled playboy tamed romance, Mile High. This is one of those books that I heard about months ago and let sit on my kindle for just the right day. It's nearly 500 pages long and... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Elizabeth O’Roark
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 →
SNEAK PEEK REVIEW: Things We Hide From the Light by Lucy Score
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It was great to be back in Knockemout - this sequel did NOT disappoint! I think I liked it better than the first one, and that was very tough competition. There was just something immensely compelling about this wounded and vulnerable hero; he's a genuinely good guy who is in a dark place, and... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and one of my top picks is the playboy tamed romance, Hook, Line, and Sinker. I'll admit to being very hesitant to dive into this romance initially. Friends to lovers romances where the hero is a manhoe are not... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan 🎧
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Thank You For Listening is one of the subtler picks. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of the audiobook, and it blew me away - I think that I may have been one of the... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Consider Me by Becka Mack 🎧
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year. I don't assign these specific rankings, but... Consider Me is definitely up there! I loved this playboy tamed romance so much that I happily ate up a 20+ hour audiobook by a new-to-me author and wanted more at the... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Lease on Love by Falon Ballard
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and this debut surprised me in the best of ways - I loved it from start to finish. It's a great romance with a side of women's fiction, and the storyline felt fresh and authentic. Plus, roommates to lovers... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and 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, but it took only a few... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Heartless by Elsie Silver
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Heartless is definitely one of 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.... Continue Reading →
TOP 20 OF 2022: Flawless by Elsie Silver
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 →
MINI AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Hidden Waters by Catherine Cowles 🎧
It's a mini review! I'm clearing out my review queue of all the books I can't seem to convince myself to finish, for one reason or another. That doesn't mean these are negative reviews, it simply means that something isn't compelling me to keep reading at the moment. Maybe I'll go back to them another... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: Wicked Ways Duet by K. Bromberg
It's the time when I ponder my top reads of the year, and that makes me nostalgic about books that have made the list in the past. One such love story is the Wicked Ways duet, my first experience with K. Bromberg's writing. Her books made my list in 2019, 2020, AND 2021, so I... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Mile High by Liz Tomforde
I am such a sucker for a playboy whose entire life changes once he meets the right girl, and that is exactly what this beefy book is all about - I absolutely loved it! It reminded me a lot of one of my other favorites, Consider Me, though this felt fresh and different in its... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh
Such a great, feel good, holiday romance - I can see why everyone is raving about it this year! The vibe is lighthearted, Christmasy enough to give those holiday feelings, and adorably romantic. I loved the concept, and I could totally see this as a movie. One that I would watch without hesitation. The hero... Continue Reading →
MINI REVIEW: In a Jam by Kate Canterbary
It's a mini review! I'm clearing out my review queue of all the books I can't seem to convince myself to finish, for one reason or another. That doesn't mean these are negative reviews, it simply means that something isn't compelling me to keep reading at the moment. Maybe I'll go back to them another... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese 🎧
I had to contemplate my rating for a few days, which is not quite how I expected this to go. I'm a big, big fan of Liese's work and I was very excited for her first book with a major publisher. However, most of my issues lie with the narration - and that's not something... Continue Reading →
MINI AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Runaway Groomsman by Meghan Quinn
It's mini review week! I'm clearing out my review queue of all the books I can't seem to convince myself to finish, for one reason or another. That doesn't mean these are negative reviews, it simply means that something isn't compelling me to keep reading at the moment. Maybe I'll go back to them another... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Honestly, I’m Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill
There's just something so absolutely delicious about peeling back the layers of a prickly grump, figuring out what makes him tick and finding that gooey marshmallow center hiding beneath his beautiful but thorny exterior. And that is where this playful grumpy/sunshine romance shines! This one came on my radar out of nowhere, so I went... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: How to Kiss Your Grumpy Boss by Jenny Proctor
So cute! This hero is more grumbly than grump, falling hard and fast for his girl - and her adorable son. I jumped right into the series and had no trouble keeping up, but the family-oriented farm setting added a special something to the story. It's light and exceedingly low angst, with an easygoing, feel... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Co-op by Tarah DeWitt
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Folk Around and Find Out by Penny Reid
Laidback and easygoing, this small town/single mom romance is soft and a little sweet. I loved the concept of two people finally getting to truly know each other after years of being reluctant acquaintances. There was just enough history between them to keep things interesting without bogging the story down, and that added a richness... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Companion Project by Chelsea Curto
Unconventional meet cutes, falling before meeting face-to-face, and texting in romances are all like catnip to me, so this had me completely hooked in the first half. After reading and enjoying Curto's debut, An Unexpected Paradise, I had an idea of how this playboy-tamed romance would go. We knew that the hero is relationship-adverse but... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai 🎧
Not at all what I was expecting, but in a good way! The blurb made this sound like it was going to focus more on the matchmaking side of things, and it also minimizes the relationship that this former couple had in the past. I am not a fan of second chance romances, so I... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Heartless by Elsie Silver
"The last few threads holding him together snap before my eyes. I can almost hear the pinging of them flying apart like a popped guitar string." I was crossing my fingers that this would live up to the excellence of Flawless, and now I'm really not sure which book I adored more - it was... Continue Reading →
RETRO REVIEW: Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover
Interestingly enough, I was one of the ARC readers for Heart Bones back in 2020 when it released with a super vague blurb, a totally different cover, and an indie vibe. I'd only read one other book from Hoover at the time (Regretting You), and it didn't resonate with me. Hoover was CoHo back then,... Continue Reading →
SNEAK PEEK REVIEW: The Co-op by Tarah DeWitt
"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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Rootbound by Tarah DeWitt
What a debut! After absolutely loving Funny Feelings, I couldn't resist checking out DeWitt's debut novel, and it exceeded expectations. Quieter and more introspective, Rootbound is the story of a woman who (accidentally) reconnects with her estranged family, finding all kinds of love in the process. It's got the same kind of layered feel as... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
“You’re absurd.” It comes out sounding like You’re adorable.“You’d love it.” He grins. “Don’t lie.” When you're fake dating the, ah, literal Holiday Spirit, things are bound to get complicated. This chaotic, charming, one-of-a-kind story is filled with holiday fun that put a smile on my face. I've been a huge fan of Hogle's work... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: An Unexpected Paradise by Chelsea Curto
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 →
RETRO REVIEW: From the Embers by Aly Martinez
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas 🎧
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Consider Me by Becka Mack 🎧
Loved it, loved it, LOVED it! You know things are going VERY well when the 20-hour runtime on an audiobook doesn't faze me, and I spend time doing math to determine whether it's physically possible for me to stay up late enough to finish before going to bed (sadly, no). I really wasn't sure what... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Lucy on the Wild Side by Kerry Rea
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Fiction Between Us by Julie Olivia
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: When Gracie Met the Grump by Mariana Zapata
You know what? I liked it, but I also think it should've (and could've) been about 200 pages shorter. Zapata is known as the queen of slow burn romance, and I love the way she writes the subtle shifts in relationship dynamics, these tiny moments that build up the intimacy. That's all still here in... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: When in Rome by Sarah Adams
You can't go wrong with a secretly sweet, grumpy hero who owns a bakery and gets his defined forearms from making sweet treats all day. Throw in plenty of small town charm, a fish out of water romance, and several troublemaking community members, and there's a lot to love about this easygoing romance. It's closed... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Would You Rather by Allison Ashley
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 →
SNEAK PEEK REVIEW: Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
“You’re absurd.” It comes out sounding like You’re adorable.“You’d love it.” He grins. “Don’t lie.” When you're fake dating the, ah, literal Holiday Spirit, things are bound to get complicated. This chaotic, charming, one-of-a-kind story is filled with holiday fun that put a smile on my face. I've been a huge fan of Hogle's work... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
I’ll be generous with my rating, because this wasn’t a good fit for me, but it’ll be just the kind of soft, magical romance that some readers are looking for. This is the first adult romance by the author, and that could explain why it had such YA vibes. Yes, these are adult characters (31/36),... Continue Reading →