It's always the quiet ones! A little shy and a lot grumbly, this hero steals the show in a big way. He's this reserved, gentle giant who rarely speaks to anyone (other than our heroine), and he's convinced that he doesn't have what it takes to keep a woman happy in the long run. Watching... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams 🎧
So adorable, seriously! Bad boy/good girl is a classic combination for a reason, and I loved watching these two opposites fall hard for each other. It's a little bit fake relationship, a little bit love lessons, and a whole lot of swoony fun. Neither of these characters have been able to shed their reputation, and... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Your Last First Kiss by Avery Maxwell
This caught me on the right day, in the right mood, and I was woefully unprepared for how FANTASTIC it was going to be. I've been meaning to check out this new-to-me author, and this seemed like the perfect place to jump in. It's a spinoff from a series, the start of something new, and... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Doctorshipped by Savannah Scott 🎧
Low angst and super cute, this is easygoing and lighthearted. It's got tons of small town charm, a great cast of characters, and a grumpy/sunshine dynamic that is always a win. Add in a single dad who also happens to be a doctor, and you can't go wrong with any of the components. I found... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Runaway Love by Melanie Harlow 🎧
Like a bowl of vanilla ice cream, this hit the spot - even if it didn’t bring anything new to the table. With small town vibes and a grumpy single dad, this felt lighter and cozier than some of Harlow's other work. It still featured a hearty dose of spice, with sexual tension that probably... Continue Reading →
MINI REVIEW: The Ones We Fight For by Katie Golightly
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Meet Hate by Abi Sabina
What kind of blurb gives away things that happen 90% of the way into a book? This author literally spoils her own book by detailing every major plot point in the blurb, and I am genuinely confused by that. So it’s not that I didn’t like this strangers to instant enemies rom com, but the... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: The Matchmaker by Catherine Walsh
Banter-filled and playful, this was super cute. After seriously enjoying Holiday Romance over the winter, I was excited to check out Walsh's next book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I figured it'd be similar in vibes to the rom com that stole everyone's hearts during the holiday season. And while the two... Continue Reading →
MINI AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Until You by K. Bromberg 🎧
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: Flirting with Forever by Claire Kingsley 🎧
It's tough to develop an emotional connection to a couple when their entire relationship is physical, and that's where I struggled with this one. While I've been a fan of the series, this particular installment didn't strike the same chord with me. Nora is known as being a man-eater and an overtly sexual woman, which... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Golden Hour of You and Me by K Jamila
So soft and sweet, with a hero who is all kinds of swoony, there was a lot to love about this slow-burning romance. Our heroine is angry and confrontational, actively trying to keep people out, and this patient, steady hero sees right through her. I loved that the premise felt unique, and I loved that... Continue Reading →
MINI REVIEW: My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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 it's... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Strictly Pleasure by Carrie Elks
Easy, light, and sexy - I devoured this with no trouble! While I enjoyed the first book in this series of interconnected standalones, I liked this one a whole lot more. I was intrigued by the relationship dynamics from the first few pages, and it continued to keep me on my toes the whole way... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Jasper Vale by Devney Perry 🎧
When the hero's ex influences the plot from start to finish, it certainly puts a damper on things. Beyond the complete and utter lack of communication between this newly married couple, it felt like every time I started to get into the story, the hero's ex would be mentioned again in some way that would... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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 for... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Chick Magnet by Emma Barry 🎧
I liked the heart of this one, so I'm choosing to round up - even if it wasn't the perfect fit for me. With a brightly colored cover and a playful, punny name, I kinda expected this to be more of a rom com, and it's really not. There are definite small town vibes, with... 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: Indigo Ridge by Devney Perry 🎧
I guess I'm glad that I read the second book in this series first, lol, because I probably wouldn't have continued on if I had started with this one. The two books are very, very different - this one is much more suspense-focused, so much so that it overtakes the romance. And the romance itself... 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: 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 →
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: 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 →
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: 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Talk Flirty to Me by Livy Hart
I loved this SO MUCH. I've been hearing nothing but good things about this book for months, but - as a second chance romance hater - I just couldn't bring myself to dive in. Finally, I decided to give it a try... and I couldn't stop once I started reading. The crackling tension, playful banter,... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Juniper Hill by Devney Perry 🎧
So bingeable, with a hero who is the sweetest man underneath his frosty exterior, this made for the perfect introduction to this small town series. Yes, I skipped right to the book with the tropes I was most interested in, lol, and I have no regrets. It's clear that the series is tied together enough... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: How the Grump Saved Christmas by Claire Kingsley 🎧
Featuring a plot right out of a Hallmark movie, this sweet second chance romance has all of the holiday vibes. It's laidback and easygoing with a slightly boring feel - it was more plot-driven and less romance-focused than I was hoping, but there's a lot to like about the story. It definitely has that Christmasy... 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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Wrong Bridesmaid by Lauren Landish 🎧
Quick and spicy, this wedding-themed romance is focused as much on the small town drama as it is on the love story. It's a slightly different vibe than Landish's usual, still heavy on the spice, but a little easier and more laidback than expected. Our couple has instant chemistry before the heroine realizes who she's... 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: 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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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: 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: Pint of Contention by Susannah Nix
Heavier and steamier than the cover implies, this was another solid addition to the series. I loved the hero, who is a genuinely good guy secretly yearning for love that he doesn't believe he'll ever have. And I also kinda loved the fact that both characters were older, with a successful, confident, 45-year-old heroine and... 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 →
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 →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: In The Weeds by B.K. Borison 🎧
Sometimes it takes a second chance to get things right, and the result is even sweeter because of the struggle. I'm talking about the couple in this book (which I LOVED!), but I'm also referring to my own reading experience. Back when this first released, I tried jumping into the series without reading the first... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison 🎧
It's easy to see why this friends to lovers romance is so popular - it is completely swoony and CHARMING, with a great found family feel and an intriguing cast of characters. I also adored the hero, who is so obviously head over heels for his girl from the moment he meets her. There are... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Eloise and the Grump Next Door by Emma St. Clair & Jenny Proctor
I loved it from start to finish - this was a sweet and swoony treat, featuring an adorable grump of a hero and playful, lighthearted vibes. I've been meaning to check out both of these authors individually, so I jumped at the chance to read their first team-up, and it was more than I could've... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Matchmaking a Single Dad by Angela Denise
Not my favorite of the series, but it did have a lot of good stuff going for it. There's a small town feel that ties the series together, with a fun cast of characters. I also love a swoony single dad with a precocious daughter, and pairing him with the woman who makes him feel... Continue Reading →
15 Sweet & Spicy Small Town Romance Books
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 →
SNEAK PEEK 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... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston 🎧
Charming and poignant, this ghost story is a little bit romance and a little bit women's fiction. Our hero is a ghost, so that causes plenty of tension, naturally. But as someone who exclusively reads romance novels, I wasn't making an exception for this. There's a sweet and swoony love story wrapped up in the... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Spare Me by Tara Sivec
We all need a sexy nerd like this one in our lives - this hero is adorable... and also kind of a caveman. I loved him, and I loved this refreshingly low angst rom com from start to finish. While the whole Summersweet series has been great, this is easily one of my favorite installments.... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Flawless by Elsie Silver
Flawless is right - I absolutely LOVED this from start to finish. I'll admit that I'm a cover hoe and that's the primary reason I checked out this new-to-me author's work, so I had no idea what was in store for me when I started reading. But this gripped me from the first few pages,... 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 →
BEST OF 2022 SO FAR: Book Lovers by Emily Henry 🎧
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. The final book on this list is probably the most universally anticipated romance of the year - Book Lovers. It's actually my first time reading something from Henry, and I can see... Continue Reading →
BEST OF 2022 SO FAR: Meet Me Halfway by Lilian T. James
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. 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... Continue Reading →
BEST OF 2022 SO FAR: Hook, Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. 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... Continue Reading →
BEST OF 2022 SO FAR: Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. That list wouldn't be complete without the steamy small town romance, Things We Never Got Over. It's a beefy beast of a book that slowly simmered into something truly memorable, and my... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Maggie Moves On by Lucy Score
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 the same small... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Help Me Remember by Corinne Michaels 🎧
Sitting squarely between 3 and 4 stars for me, the best part of this suspenseful romance is its unpredictable storyline. I've read amnesia romances before, but never has one played out quite like this one - and that definitely kept me on my toes. I liked the teases and the guessing, and it certainly gets... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Meet Me Halfway by Lilian T. James
I'd heard good things about this, but it far exceeded my expectations - I absolutely loved it! It felt so original, focusing on the strength and determination of the single mom heroine and the issues with making assumptions. There's a great neighbors to lovers romance, and seeing the subtle shifts in the dynamic was immensely... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
I've got a lot of thoughts about this one, a lot of thoughts. Women's fiction lovers are likely to enjoy this more than romance readers, though even telling you if this is ultimately a romance feels like a spoiler. I was really loving this for the first 30% or so - the laidback, emotional feel... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: A Borrowed Boyfriend by Angela Casella
Easy, sexy, and a little different than the norm, I got everything I wanted from this low angst romance. What starts as a fake relationship soon turns into something else entirely, and I loved that this didn't take the usual path. This hero is a sexy bartender who looks like trouble, so it was great... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: My Perfect Enemy by Jessica Prince
It was like (not love) for me, but there's a lot of good stuff going on in this fling to more romance. After one steamy night together, this couple soon realizes they're in over their heads when they become boss/assistant. I loved the sexual tension, and there are some really sweet moments between this single... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: All Downhill With You by Julie Olivia
All kinds of adorable and just the low angst read I was in the mood for, this made for a great introduction to Olivia's work. The grumpalicious hero paired with a sunshiney heroine made for a fun dynamic, and the story deftly tackles heavier subjects while maintaining a light and easy feel. It's got small... Continue Reading →