Voracious Romance Reader • Honest Reviewer
Little bit of a bumpy start, but this had no trouble winning me over by the end. This heroine has quite the personality, lol, and her over-the-top brashness and overt sexuality had me uncomfortable with the age gap (21/31) for awhile, and also feeling like these two were decidedly in the friend zone. Which, yeah,... Continue Reading →
All sugar and SPICE (and everything nice), this low angst/high heat romance is a feel good treat. Our hero was gone for his girl from the moment they met, and he has no intention of letting her get away this time around. It's rare to find a hero who is so ALL IN from the... Continue Reading →
I couldn't quite bring myself to rate this any higher, but there was a lot that I liked about it. This new adult debut has been pretty buzzy, and it's easy to see why - the opposites attract vibes and giant teddy bear/football player hero were both definite wins, and I liked that the storyline... Continue Reading →
Three strikes, and... Grey is officially off my one-click list. There was a time when Grey was one of my favorite rom com authors - if not my #1 - so it is REALLY disappointing to acknowledge how bland and generic this was. This 3-star rating leans more towards a 2 than a 4, and... Continue Reading →
Technically speaking, I never officially reviewed this book on my blog - and it's time to remedy that! I read my first Chloe Liese book near the end of 2020 (book three in this series), and I loved it so much that I went backwards and read this one, which was also fantastic. Probably my... Continue Reading →
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 →
It's always an amazing feeling when one of my highly anticipated reads meets my very high expectations, but to have it far surpass them? SPECTACULAR. After reading and loving Mile High, I was really nervous going into this, sort of a strange mix of excitement and dread that it wouldn't be able to live up... Continue Reading →
If we’re being honest, I expected a lot more from this. Having read and loved several of Sorensen’s more recent books, I was excited to start the series that has been so influential to her work. And it was just kinda disappointing. There is so much internalization that the reader knows a LOT more about... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Definitely not my favorite in the series, but it was cute. This series has consistently been light and sexy, easy and playful - and this installment is too. It's character-driven, with so much banter and conversation. I was delighted to hear that the flirt on the team actually still has his v-card, and it was... Continue Reading →
These co-writes have been a bit uneven for me, and the streak continues with this one. As a long-time fan of Loring's work, it's easy to see Crais' influence, and that has its pros and cons. Pros include getting the dude's perspective right, making this series feel like true sports romance, and (of course) the... Continue Reading →
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 →
I'm kinda confused by the blurb, but that doesn't dampen my excitement for the newest steamy rom com from Kayley Loring and Connor Crais. Is it an accidental pregnancy romance (in present day) or a secret baby from the past? Yeah, I can't tell from this blurb, lol. But I loved the first book in... Continue Reading →
The spiciest book in the series yet, this is sexy but not particularly satisfying in the romance department. Told in flashbacks and present day, the story follows two people who had one steamy and memorable two-night stand a few years ago, before they realized that sleeping together would jeopardize both of their jobs. I could... Continue Reading →
It’s lust over love for this couple, but that makes for a fast-paced, sexy read. While I think there were a few missed opportunities (especially in enhancing the emotional connection), I enjoyed this overall and had no trouble bingeing it in one sitting. The hero is a sweetheart of a guy who gives off bad... Continue Reading →
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. If you'd asked me six months ago, this probably wouldn't have been the Meghan Quinn book that I expected to make this list! She is an excellent writer who usually has a... Continue Reading →
Light and easy, this fake relationship romance is low angst fun. It plays up the tropes for a lighthearted, laidback read, and I loved the hero. He's a cinnamon roll sweetheart who knows his pro football career will end at some point, so he's opened a bakery with his two best friends. This certainly felt... Continue Reading →
I finally took the plunge, and this absolutely lives up to the hype - I ADORED it! This one's for those readers who have the patience to follow little breadcrumbs scattered throughout the story, tiny moments of romance that slowly (SLOWLY) build into something truly beautiful. I loved that build in intimacy, the steps that... Continue Reading →
I'm a big fan of the concept, it's the execution that I didn't love. Having a second chance romance set in a Survivor-like reality show created some great forced proximity, tension, and the requirement that this couple work out their differences if they want to succeed. I loved that it felt unique, and I was... Continue Reading →
Not quite the grumpy/sunshine read I was looking for, this soft and sweet romance still makes a great series starter. I've been meaning to check out Travis' work, and this was the perfect introduction to her writing - it sets up the series nicely while still remaining a total standalone, and it showcased her unique... 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 →
There's a new hockey romance on the way from Sarina Bowen, and it sounds sexy! I'm not a huge fan of "lessons in seduction" romances, but I've read some pretty great ones, and I really enjoyed the last book in the series (Shenanigans), so I'm excited to check this out. It should be another light... Continue Reading →
The third person perspective doesn't do the story any favors here, because I actually really loved the foundation of the book, but I always felt like I was watching it happen from a distance. There are some GREAT elements to the story, including tons of history between these childhood rivals turned present day frenemies, a... Continue Reading →
I've been meaning to check out Stacy Travis' work, and this series starter might be the perfect book to begin with! If you've been following the blog for awhile, then you know I'm trash for a texting storyline, and I don't know why. This one is also a sports romance with a hero in need... 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 →
Have you ever read a book, and it just... completely starts off on the wrong foot? That initial stumble flavors your entire reading experience, and then suddenly all of these other little things start to bug you. That's how this went for me. There's a lot of good stuff going on in the story -... Continue Reading →
There's a new rom com from Meghan Quinn on the way soon, and I'm never gonna complain about that, lol! This one is an accidental pregnancy/best friend's sister romance that is sure to have forbidden vibes... even though they've clearly already crossed a few lines. It's also got a roommates element that's got me excited,... Continue Reading →
He's a hot billionaire hockey player AND super sweet? Too good to be true! I found myself really loving the hero at the heart of this Vegas wedding romance. While our heroine struggles with self-doubt and a lack of trust, this hero rises to the occasion and shows that he's worth fighting for. I'm still... Continue Reading →
I didn't really like it, but you might. It's essentially what's spelled out in the blurb - best friend's little sister asks the pro hockey player to take her v-card, as a casual situation that starts to feel like more. It's a tried and true trope that sometimes hits and sometimes misses for me, depending... 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 →
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 →
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 →
This was an EASY 5-star rating for me, one of my new favorites from Hunter. It's a little bit Beauty and the Beast, a little bit Vegas wedding, and a whole lotta light and steamy fun. I loved these two together, and our insecure, vulnerable hero was such a lovable grump. The opposites attract dynamic... Continue Reading →
Sign me up for more from this writing duo - this was a great series starter. I’ve been a longtime fan of Loring’s writing and Crais’ voice, so I couldn’t wait to see what their first book together was like. And it was good! This definitely felt like it had a little more male influence,... 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 →
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 →
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 →
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and the final book in one of the best sports romance series I've read definitely earns a spot on the list! I've read and loved every book in the Play Hard series by K. Bromberg, and each one has... Continue Reading →
As 2021 comes to a close, I'm revisiting my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Meghan Quinn is a repeat offender. As in, her books often fly to the top of my list - and The Perfect Catch is one of my all-time favorites from her. Read on for my book review and plenty of quotes to give you a feel for the vibe!
A second chance romance that I actually liked? It must be the holiday cheer in the air! I'm always a little wary of second chance romances, but a book buddy recommended this Christmas read, and I decided to give it a shot. I'm glad that I did! It's longer than a novella, shorter than a... Continue Reading →
It... wasn't great. Not terrible, but not all that good either. I've been enjoying this series because each novella is a fun little under-100-page Christmas treat, but this year's installments definitely miss the mark in the romance department. This hero goes from a total jerk to a total sweetheart in the blink of an eye,... Continue Reading →
I’ll offer up the unpopular opinion on this one, because - while I liked it - I can easily identify some things that really bugged me. There's a lot to love about this, from the vulnerable hero to the banter to the sense of community. While this will technically read as a standalone, anyone who... Continue Reading →
What a promising start to this brand new series of light, sexy hockey romances! I loved the texting, the unique meet cute, and the likable characters. These two have chemistry from the moment they meet, and the mistaken identities, online (second) meet cute, and sexy times only enhanced that. It's a low angst treat that's... Continue Reading →
This was so not what I was hoping for. I've been reading this series since the start and Riggs is a character that's intrigued me, but the romance was lackluster at best. I need to give a few spoilers to explain what didn't work for me, so that's your warning. The biggest issue? Riggs sleeps... Continue Reading →
There's just something SWOONY about a sweetheart of a hero who shows his fierce, alpha side when his protective instincts kick in. I adored this kind and loving hero; he takes care of everyone but himself, and doesn't hesitate to step in when our heroine is in need. Their marriage of convenience might not have... Continue Reading →
This sweetheart of a hero deserved a better story, I'm afraid. I love a good holiday novella to get me in the festive spirit, and this quick, steamy story had the potential to do that. It's a sweet treat for fans of the series, a fast-paced peek at how everyone is doing around the holidays,... Continue Reading →
I keep going back and forth between three and four stars for this one, but there are definitely some things that I was unsatisfied with, so I'm leaning towards three. This had an uphill battle from the start, because I really, really hate the main trope - one night stand results in a baby, and... Continue Reading →
Have you seen that old Josh Duhamel movie, Life as We Know It? Then you've got an idea of the concept behind this emotional romance - two people who "hate" each other are bonded by their friends, and become co-parents when those friends pass away unexpectedly. I will openly admit that there are MANY similarities... 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 →
"There weren’t any fireworks or choreographed dance mobs. We didn’t even kiss because she was nursing the baby at the time. It just happened, like everything else we do. We just happen." I think that quote is supposed to be a romantic description of this strangers to friends to lovers romance, but it's more of... Continue Reading →
Crackling chemistry from the very first interaction - this couple is absolutely combustible, and watching their cat and mouse game from the sidelines was totally engrossing. I wasn't sure what to expect from this antihero redeemed romance; Finn has been the "villain" throughout this series of interconnected standalones, and his history is somewhat problematic. But... Continue Reading →
A former football star who is kind and caring? Sign me up! I loved the hero in this laidback sports romance. He is sweet, sexy, and easily the best part of this book. I'm having a tough time with my rating for this one, because it had all of the ingredients of a great book...... Continue Reading →
Such an original storyline! I loved the concept of a guy so desperate to win his wife back that he’s willing to read romance novels to figure out all the ways he went wrong. I can honestly say I’ve never read a romance quite like this one before, and the journey was both hysterical and... Continue Reading →
I started this before bed (big mistake, HUGE), stayed up WAY too late, and devoured it in a matter of hours. Prepare to fall for Dallas because he is slightly broken but so, so easy to love! Nothing But Trouble was really great so I was looking forward to this big time, even as I... Continue Reading →
Sexy, sweet, and sensual, this is a love story in two parts. It’s half vacation fling and half second chance romance as these two deal with the aftermath of the secrets between them. It’s got plenty of humor but focuses on the emotional aspects of the story. I loved the chemistry between RJ and Lainey... Continue Reading →
You know, I wasn’t sure I was loving this in the beginning. With a title like “Enemies,” I was expecting it to be intense from the start, with a slow build from hate to love. That’s really not how this story goes, and I am completely okay with that, because it is beautifully written. This... Continue Reading →
Jeeves Reads Romance 