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 →
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 →
As a SUPER slow-burning angst fest, I’m having a very difficult time assigning a rating to this forbidden/taboo romance - but it's so well done that I've got to give it points for originality. So let's call this a 5-star with an asterisk read. Hartmann has crafted another complex, bittersweet romance that will rip your... Continue Reading →
This lighthearted debut takes awhile to find its footing, but it started to shine once it did. I couldn’t resist that adorable cover, and it’s actually a great reflection of the vibe - this easygoing romance features a (mostly) confident, curvy heroine and a muscular hero who acts like an alpha but secretly has a... Continue Reading →
Exactly the light and sexy read that I was looking for! I read this writing duo's first book a few years ago, and I remember thinking that I'd have to check them out again once they got into a writing groove... and dropped the third person perspective. So I was delighted when I sampled this... 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 →
I finally, FINALLY, moved this up to the top of my TBR, and it made my love for the rest of the series come rushing back to me - one of my all-time favorites. Often, when you've been anticipating reading a book for so long, you build up unrealistic expectations that it has no chance... Continue Reading →
Watching an ice queen's heart melt for the right man is as satisfying as it is unexpected. A love note to book lovers, this literary romance stars the villain of everyone else's story. She's the stereotypical "unfeeling" workaholic; a woman who is successful, beautiful, and comes across as ice cold. She's the woman that the... 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 →
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 →
It’s not that I didn’t enjoy this, it’s just that it was WAY too short to do the topic justice. The overall tone is super light and low angst, with a quick, easy vibe that almost felt wholesome. That's in complete contrast to the topics at hand - famous rock star who is grieving the... Continue Reading →
WOW! I wasn't sure that I was going to like this smooth-talking player at the start, but I was feeling the swoons in such a MAJOR way by the end. This book is a JOURNEY; a slow tearing down of walls and insecurities. MQ carefully navigates the complexities of a hero who honestly doesn't know... 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 →
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 →
Float Plan had me crying within 5 minutes, so I was fully expecting the next book in the series to emotionally wreck me - but it was like a big, warm hug. This romance/women's fiction crossover is still a heartfelt read, but it's much lighter and more uplifting. The short length allowed me to binge... Continue Reading →
There's a lot to love about this unique, swoony debut, and if it wasn't plagued by some major pacing issues, then it probably would've been an easy 5-star rating for me. First and foremost, I LOVED the hero. He's a cinnamon roll sweetheart who is too adorable and patient for his own good - literally.... 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 →
Yeah, I might've swooned over this book - and this beautifully broken hero - in a big way. I devoured it in one sitting, and I was hooked the whole way through. I really, really LOVED it. We met this couple in It Happened One Summer, the first stellar book in this interconnected series, and... 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 →
Releases June 21st There's a lot to love about a cinnamon roll sweetheart who falls hard and fast for his girl - this hero was GREAT! As a longtime fan of Score's work, I was excited to dive into this and see how her style changes for a more "traditional" romance audience. This still has... Continue Reading →
I… have no idea why this wasn’t three separate books. It really should’ve been three separate books. There are six different perspectives, three different love stories, and endless drama. Every time I would start getting into one love story, the chapter would end and I’d be dropped into another one. That actually was so frustrating... Continue Reading →
This was straight up DELIGHTFUL; a banter-filled, smile-inducing treat. It's been far too long since I've read anything by Sivec, so I thought I'd jump back into this series of interconnected standalones - and I'm so glad that I did. I love a unique meet cute, and these two had chemistry even when they were... Continue Reading →
The ironic thing is that most of my criticisms are literally spelled out in the book via our editor hero’s notes on the heroine’s romance novel: “Slow beginning. Get to the meat. Give readers a reason to stay. If you bore them, you lose them. Awkward word choice? Drop this paragraph. We don’t need this... Continue Reading →
"I tried to keep you out of here.” He knocked his free fist against his chest. “But you won’t go. You’re never going to go. You just won’t.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Releases March 1st Yeah, I might've swooned over this book - and this beautifully broken hero - in a big way. I devoured it in one... 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 →
It took all of five minutes for me to realize that I was going to love this debut author's work, and love it I did. This was excellent - light, swoony, and slow-burning, with depth that sneaks up on you and a focus on mental health. I adored the roommates to lovers dynamic, and this... Continue Reading →
One of my favorite books of 2021 finally released on ebook this week, and I've got an EXCERPT to share! This was my first time reading a book by Sarah Ready, but I'll definitely be back for more. This brother's best friend/baby-making romance was light and playful with so many great heartfelt moments. I listened... Continue Reading →
This is one of my MOST anticipated reads of the year, because this author's debut was one of the best things I read in 2021! Elena Armas took the romance community by storm with her slow-burning debut, The Spanish Love Deception. I absolutely adored it! The American Roommate Experiment will definitely read as a standalone,... 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 →
Well this was a sweet treat! It's low angst and laidback, with characters who are easy to like and a storyline that kept me turning the pages. I absolutely loved the cinnamon roll hero, who is unlike any I've read before - he's kind, supportive, and loyal, with a dad bod and the biggest heart.... Continue Reading →
So, here's the thing. This wasn't bad, but I was looking forward to a playful, enemies to lovers-style, neighbors romance (as promised by the blurb), and that lasted for all of twentyish pages before it turned into a sugary sweet survival romance. I wanted the neighbors to lovers romance, the passing of notes and the... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and my final selection is the brother's best friend romance, Josh and Gemma Make a Baby! And you know what? It hasn't even released on Kindle yet! I listened to the audio version (out now), and this light and... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and one of my absolute favorites is The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood! This debut is mega popular for a reason - it's intelligent, playful, and filled with slow burn goodness. I loved this mysterious, grump of a hero,... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that includes the swoony single dad romance, Forbidden! When I read Forbidden back in May, I was already pretty confident that it'd be making this list. I loved the dynamic between these two, and the book manages to... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that includes the swooniest of love stories, Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle! It's been several months since I read this adorable enemies to lovers romance, so I relived the story all over again as I pulled some quotes... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that includes Kristen Callihan's slow burn treat, Make It Sweet! I've been a big fan of Callihan's work for years, but Make It Sweet is now one of my new favorites from the author. It's got such a... Continue Reading →
Anytime I’m up til three in the morning bingeing - straight up DEVOURING - a romance, you know it’s a great one. And I did exactly that with this. Ready is a new-to-me author, but something about the blurb had me really excited for this, so I turned on the audiobook as soon as it... 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 →
"It hit like a bullet to the gut, but I smiled through the pain." Phenomenal. There were goosebumps on my arms, tears in my eyes, and a knot in my throat when I turned the final page - and my eyes had been glued to EVERY SINGLE page before that. And there are a lot... Continue Reading →
I was really looking forward to this, but it's a no from me. I'm not going to be able to explain my rating without at least a few spoilers, so that's your warning. Just know that it started off well and then unraveled quickly. The story follows Stella, a woman who has a series of... 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 →
I absolutely loved this swoony hero, but the whole book is about the age gap, and that's just tedious after awhile. This series starter kicks things off with a forbidden romance that's VERY slow burning, angsty, and almost laidback. It's Kandi taken down a notch - yes, there's angst and drama, but I didn't feel... 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 →
Small town, slow burn goodness with a hero whose self-doubt made my chest ache; this is quite the series starter. I went into this with an interesting perspective - I've read a few of Reid's books, but it's been 3 years since the last time and I certainly don't know all of the inner workings... 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 →
I can already picture this as a movie, and it would be GREAT. It's got serious Bridget Jones vibes, pairing classic rom com moments with a healthy dose of reality. Our heroine is the star of the show, and she's convinced that she knows exactly what type of guy she wants. But as the book... Continue Reading →
Such a feel good read! After the heavy storyline of How to Fail at Flirting, I really wasn't sure what to expect going into The Fastest Way to Fall - but it was sweet, swoony, slow burn goodness. The hero is ADORABLE, and I absolutely loved the strong, resilient heroine. They have a relationship that... Continue Reading →
Let’s just say that this book needed a little more time in the oven, but I liked it a lot. I always binge Dangelico's books in one sitting, and I had no trouble devouring this one. It held my attention the whole time, with a laidback vibe, likable characters, and a light, easy feel. I... Continue Reading →
This book... destroyed me. It's powerful. It's devastating. It's utterly romantic. And it will stay with me for a very long time. It's incredibly unique and wholly captivating, and I felt my blood pressure rising with every unpredictable scene. I loved it. Even my review has the potential to be triggering, so stop now if... 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 →
Grinning. I was grinning like a fool while reading this sexy, playful, and SWOONY love story - it is smart and funny and just so completely Loring. I loved every minute of it. Our hero is a sweet charmer, a guy who loves love and always wants to be immersed in it. When paired with... 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 →
I’m a VERY picky lady when it comes to second chance romances, so when one holds my attention throughout - it's a win! The obvious love and connection between these former lovers kept me hooked, and the deeper undertones of the story made it a richer experience. This has the same kind of vibe as... 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 →
Softer and sweeter than her usual style, this slow-burning love story is the kind of low angst read that I love to dig into. While the first third leaned more towards chick lit - with a heavy focus on our heroine and her interactions with the royals next door - the book slowly transitions into... Continue Reading →
Jeeves Reads Romance 