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romancingthereader's reviews
1385 reviews
A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I want to throw my TBR out of the window and read this series all the way through. Immediately.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyna
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Duskwalker Brides character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle and audio on Hoopla app. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Paranormal Romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Fish out of water, he falls first and HARD.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Reia is give to a Duskwalker as a sacrifice for her townโs protection. She must live in the Veil with a creature who is nowhere near human, and struggles to accept her fate.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I was recently inspired - thank you Katie from The Opposites Bookshelf - to take this bad boy off of my TBR, and it was such a good read.
Orpheus is everything I want in a monstrous MMC. Heโs impossible not to love - both as he pines for companionship and how he structures himself as Reiaโs protector. He was so curious and unintentionally funny and grateful and just in awe that he could be loved, and it made my heart melt.
Reia was a fun main character as well - her sense of humor had me cackling and I found her relatable to how Iโd act in her situation.
This one stayed on my TBR so long for length, and I definitely think it was 100 pages too long (really only because I fell in love with this couple so quickly), so thatโs where the half point came off. But you wonโt get boredโฆ youโll be feral for more details.
If youโre sleeping on this series, pick up book 1 and get on it!
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyna
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Duskwalker Brides character series. Book 1.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle and audio on Hoopla app. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Paranormal Romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Fish out of water, he falls first and HARD.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Reia is give to a Duskwalker as a sacrifice for her townโs protection. She must live in the Veil with a creature who is nowhere near human, and struggles to accept her fate.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: I was recently inspired - thank you Katie from The Opposites Bookshelf - to take this bad boy off of my TBR, and it was such a good read.
Orpheus is everything I want in a monstrous MMC. Heโs impossible not to love - both as he pines for companionship and how he structures himself as Reiaโs protector. He was so curious and unintentionally funny and grateful and just in awe that he could be loved, and it made my heart melt.
Reia was a fun main character as well - her sense of humor had me cackling and I found her relatable to how Iโd act in her situation.
This one stayed on my TBR so long for length, and I definitely think it was 100 pages too long (really only because I fell in love with this couple so quickly), so thatโs where the half point came off. But you wonโt get boredโฆ youโll be feral for more details.
If youโre sleeping on this series, pick up book 1 and get on it!
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I closed this Elsie Silver book like I close so many of themโฆ with a sigh and hearts in my eyes. She really knows how to write them.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Rose Hill character series, Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Small town romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Single dad, rockstar, golden retriever MMC, slow burn.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Skylar Stone shows up in Rose Hill to find herself again, after decades of performing for others. She meets West, a single dad whose ranch she stays on, and who just might be the man she needs to plant new roots.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: At this point, everything Elsie Silver puts out is a one-click, read on release week type book. I was excited for Wild Eyes - I loved the idea of crazy, fun West and his feral kids. But it delivered much more than I expected.
Wild Eyes packed a punch - whether it was from the strong and hilarious Skylar or the insanely likable West, or his two kids that were written so well I cried half the time they were on page.
The story arc and the way the two characters grow togetherโฆ itโs something special Elsie Silver can do. Sheโs got me obsessed with the other side characters and whatโs coming next. Sheโs putting out banger after banger, and Iโm here for it.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Rose Hill character series, Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Small town romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Single dad, rockstar, golden retriever MMC, slow burn.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Skylar Stone shows up in Rose Hill to find herself again, after decades of performing for others. She meets West, a single dad whose ranch she stays on, and who just might be the man she needs to plant new roots.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: At this point, everything Elsie Silver puts out is a one-click, read on release week type book. I was excited for Wild Eyes - I loved the idea of crazy, fun West and his feral kids. But it delivered much more than I expected.
Wild Eyes packed a punch - whether it was from the strong and hilarious Skylar or the insanely likable West, or his two kids that were written so well I cried half the time they were on page.
The story arc and the way the two characters grow togetherโฆ itโs something special Elsie Silver can do. Sheโs got me obsessed with the other side characters and whatโs coming next. Sheโs putting out banger after banger, and Iโm here for it.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
Nocturnal by Clio Evans
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This one goes out to all the dark romance lovers - Clio Evans created the perfect spooky season read, and Iโm forever in awe of her ability to create.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Nocturnal by Clio Evans
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Monster romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Dark academia, trigger warnings galore, enemies-to-lovers.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Nora takes a job at a Scottish university, and soon realizes all is not what it seems. Her fellow professors all believe in monsters, but she believes in logicโฆ except when a huge forest god starts stalking her.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Clio Evans has the most incredible ability to create a story Iโve never imagined. And her take on dark academia was a showcase of that ability.
Nocturnal was an interesting read, and it was very dark. Both main characters were very nuanced, and the play between their humanity and their darkness was really well done. The little end twist got me good, as well.
On top of that you get a lot of the Clio Evans signature monster spice, so it was a solid read all around.
Heads up, If youโre sensitive to certain aspects of dark romance, please check trigger warnings on this one!
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 4/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐๏ธ on KU
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Nocturnal by Clio Evans
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Monster romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Dark academia, trigger warnings galore, enemies-to-lovers.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Nora takes a job at a Scottish university, and soon realizes all is not what it seems. Her fellow professors all believe in monsters, but she believes in logicโฆ except when a huge forest god starts stalking her.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Clio Evans has the most incredible ability to create a story Iโve never imagined. And her take on dark academia was a showcase of that ability.
Nocturnal was an interesting read, and it was very dark. Both main characters were very nuanced, and the play between their humanity and their darkness was really well done. The little end twist got me good, as well.
On top of that you get a lot of the Clio Evans signature monster spice, so it was a solid read all around.
Heads up, If youโre sensitive to certain aspects of dark romance, please check trigger warnings on this one!
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 4/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐๏ธ on KU
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Unbearably Yours by Elodie Colliard
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Guys, itโs no secret Iโm a sucker for letter writing. And this oneโฆ oooohhhh ๐ค๐ผโฆ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Unbearably Yours by Elodie Colliard
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Itโs Always Been You character series. Book 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. Courtesy of Netgalley.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Second chance, forced proximity, love letters, PNW vibes.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Charlee is a wild, free heart who loves her job as an environmental journalist. To save her failing organization, she agrees to a docuseries that has her pairing up with another journalist - Oliver - who she doesnโt know is the pen pal she fell in love with years ago.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Came for the cover, stayed for the fall PNW vibes and the love letters.
Oliver and Charleeโs story felt like the breath of fresh air they were always enjoying in the PNW. The setting was a perfect first read of fall, but the connection between the two characters jumped off the backdrop so well.
I loved the then-and-now storytelling, and the way all of the events of Charlee and Oliver came full circle at the end. I was pleasantly surprised at the spice. And the cameos by characters from other books (I havenโt read them) were so intriguing I want to pick up the rest of the series.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Unbearably Yours by Elodie Colliard
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Itโs Always Been You character series. Book 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. Courtesy of Netgalley.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Second chance, forced proximity, love letters, PNW vibes.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Charlee is a wild, free heart who loves her job as an environmental journalist. To save her failing organization, she agrees to a docuseries that has her pairing up with another journalist - Oliver - who she doesnโt know is the pen pal she fell in love with years ago.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Came for the cover, stayed for the fall PNW vibes and the love letters.
Oliver and Charleeโs story felt like the breath of fresh air they were always enjoying in the PNW. The setting was a perfect first read of fall, but the connection between the two characters jumped off the backdrop so well.
I loved the then-and-now storytelling, and the way all of the events of Charlee and Oliver came full circle at the end. I was pleasantly surprised at the spice. And the cameos by characters from other books (I havenโt read them) were so intriguing I want to pick up the rest of the series.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
The Heartbreaker by Sara Cate
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
At this point I donโt know if I have to review Sara Cate or if my reviews are just functioning as a reminder to pick up her latest.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Heartbreaker buy Sara Cate
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Good Brothers character series. Book 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Erotic romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Age gap, forbidden romance, professor/student, forced proximity, accidental pregnancy (not his).
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Luke canโt help but be attracted to the beautiful and enigmatic Sadie, despite the fact that sheโs his student. When she announces sheโs pregnant, he takes her in to his spare bedroom with some strict โจrulesโจ.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: At this point, if you have read Sara Cate you know what youโre going to get. But just in case you havenโt, hereโs a quick overview.
โ Youโre going to get intensely vulnerable characters with heart wrenching dual POVs.
โ Youโre going to get heavy spice, but coupled with all of the feels - there might be some incredibly sexy scenes, but they all mean something to the plot and the couples evolution.
โ Youโre going to get knocked on your butt in the final 20%, becauseโฆ. Groveling. But then youโll also be weirdly turned on.
Anyway - the Goode Brothers series has been excellent from the start, and Luke and Sadieโs story was a really good read. Iโm sad we are over halfway through here, but itโs been perfection.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Heartbreaker buy Sara Cate
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: The Good Brothers character series. Book 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book ARC on Kindle. ๐ on KU.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Erotic romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Age gap, forbidden romance, professor/student, forced proximity, accidental pregnancy (not his).
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Luke canโt help but be attracted to the beautiful and enigmatic Sadie, despite the fact that sheโs his student. When she announces sheโs pregnant, he takes her in to his spare bedroom with some strict โจrulesโจ.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: At this point, if you have read Sara Cate you know what youโre going to get. But just in case you havenโt, hereโs a quick overview.
โ Youโre going to get intensely vulnerable characters with heart wrenching dual POVs.
โ Youโre going to get heavy spice, but coupled with all of the feels - there might be some incredibly sexy scenes, but they all mean something to the plot and the couples evolution.
โ Youโre going to get knocked on your butt in the final 20%, becauseโฆ. Groveling. But then youโll also be weirdly turned on.
Anyway - the Goode Brothers series has been excellent from the start, and Luke and Sadieโs story was a really good read. Iโm sad we are over halfway through here, but itโs been perfection.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ๐น๐ช ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Election years can burn you out pretty easilyโฆ especially if youโre an empath like me. Iโm passionate, but exhausted by it. So when I saw this book and its synopsis, I was ready to romanticize politicsโฆ and it was such a solid read.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Fool Me Once character series. Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: Hybrid. E-book on Kindle and audiobook on Hoopla app.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, fake dating, heโs loved her all along.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Alexis and Logan meet at a bar and attempt a one-night stand, but theyโre caught by paparazzi. In an attempt to save his campaign for governor from scandal, they agree to fake a relationship for the cameras.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: When an author decides to write in single POV, Iโm always on the fence on whether I will like it. The key, at least to me, is that as a reader I can still make inferences on the MMCโs feelings. And Ashley Winstead did that so well.
Logan was clearly head-over-heels for Alexis, and I was basically screaming it at the pages. It was so well done, I really was physically rooting for them.
I really enjoyed it all. I took off a half point because the spice was crammed at the end - it made sense with the story but the slow burn was so tough.
Tis the season, though, right? If you need some political fiction to distract you, I highly recommend going this route.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐: Want more political romance? Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston is an incredible read, as is the All the Kings Men duet by Kennedy Ryan.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Fool Me Once character series. Book 2.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: Hybrid. E-book on Kindle and audiobook on Hoopla app.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Opposites attract, fake dating, heโs loved her all along.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Alexis and Logan meet at a bar and attempt a one-night stand, but theyโre caught by paparazzi. In an attempt to save his campaign for governor from scandal, they agree to fake a relationship for the cameras.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: When an author decides to write in single POV, Iโm always on the fence on whether I will like it. The key, at least to me, is that as a reader I can still make inferences on the MMCโs feelings. And Ashley Winstead did that so well.
Logan was clearly head-over-heels for Alexis, and I was basically screaming it at the pages. It was so well done, I really was physically rooting for them.
I really enjoyed it all. I took off a half point because the spice was crammed at the end - it made sense with the story but the slow burn was so tough.
Tis the season, though, right? If you need some political fiction to distract you, I highly recommend going this route.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4.5/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐: Want more political romance? Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston is an incredible read, as is the All the Kings Men duet by Kennedy Ryan.
Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Somehow this book, and its author, are insanely popular - but I never see it talked about in my circles. But Iโm obsessed with itโฆ so if somehow you havenโt heard of this series or given it a try just yet, let me convince you.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Assistant to the Villian continuous series. Book 2 of 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: Paperback
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Fantasy romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Grumpy/sunshine, workplace romance, found family, the slowest burn of all time.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: The story continues as Evie and her boss, The Villain, continue their fight against a manipulative King.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: HNM described this series as Once Upon a Time meets The Office, and I have to sayโฆ SPOT ON.
This series is something special for sure. Itโs absolutely hilariousโฆ it has the absolute best charactersโฆ itโs a page turner paced perfectlyโฆ
And Iโm saying this all even after the two main characters have only kissed through Book 2. Itโs that good.
Evie is this oblivious, sugar sweet, sassy pants of an FMC who loves to get under The Villainโs skin. The Villain, AKA Trystan, is absolutely hopelessly in love with Evie and is so mad about it. I live to read him pining for her.
Then you throw in this perfect fairytale vibe, a subplot - with sub romances - that keeps stringing me alongโฆ and this freaking frog that holds up funny signs at the best momentsโฆ Iโm obsessed.
It is a continuous series. Both books end on cliffhangers. Even though the third book comes out next yearโฆ donโt sleep on it until then. Youโll love this ride.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 1/5 ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Assistant to the Villian continuous series. Book 2 of 3.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: Paperback
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Fantasy romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Grumpy/sunshine, workplace romance, found family, the slowest burn of all time.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: The story continues as Evie and her boss, The Villain, continue their fight against a manipulative King.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: HNM described this series as Once Upon a Time meets The Office, and I have to sayโฆ SPOT ON.
This series is something special for sure. Itโs absolutely hilariousโฆ it has the absolute best charactersโฆ itโs a page turner paced perfectlyโฆ
And Iโm saying this all even after the two main characters have only kissed through Book 2. Itโs that good.
Evie is this oblivious, sugar sweet, sassy pants of an FMC who loves to get under The Villainโs skin. The Villain, AKA Trystan, is absolutely hopelessly in love with Evie and is so mad about it. I live to read him pining for her.
Then you throw in this perfect fairytale vibe, a subplot - with sub romances - that keeps stringing me alongโฆ and this freaking frog that holds up funny signs at the best momentsโฆ Iโm obsessed.
It is a continuous series. Both books end on cliffhangers. Even though the third book comes out next yearโฆ donโt sleep on it until then. Youโll love this ride.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 1/5 ๐ถ
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I think I could write a 400 page dissertation on what I loved about this book. And Iโd still want to go back and edit in more details.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed from Libby app.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: LGBTQIA+ rep, non-binary rep, second chance, friends-to-lovers, food as a love language, getaway vibes.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Theo and Kit broke each others hearts four years ago right before taking the trip of a lifetime. But as fate would have it, they both wait until the last minute to use their trip vouchers and end up on the same European food tour.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: There is, quite simply, nothing I didnโt love about this book.
The setting - this indulgent food tour across the most decadent placesโฆ the characters - so deep and layered and utterly humanโฆ the structure - how it switched POVs midway and both main characters had the most intensely relatable inner monologuesโฆ the last 20% - where I sobbed through a love story for the ages.
It was all perfect. This book was like a sexy Eat, Pray, Love. It awakened so much in me.
But perhaps the most important part for me was the way that sex and partnership and love was depicted. I always think about how people say theyโd love to live in certain fantasy romance novels - but thisโฆ THIS is where Iโd like to live. Where you love who you want so deliberately. Where love isnโt defined by gender or even confined to just two people.
This book is transcendent. Itโs easily my top read of 2024, without question.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Standalone
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed from Libby app.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Contemporary romance
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: LGBTQIA+ rep, non-binary rep, second chance, friends-to-lovers, food as a love language, getaway vibes.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: Theo and Kit broke each others hearts four years ago right before taking the trip of a lifetime. But as fate would have it, they both wait until the last minute to use their trip vouchers and end up on the same European food tour.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: There is, quite simply, nothing I didnโt love about this book.
The setting - this indulgent food tour across the most decadent placesโฆ the characters - so deep and layered and utterly humanโฆ the structure - how it switched POVs midway and both main characters had the most intensely relatable inner monologuesโฆ the last 20% - where I sobbed through a love story for the ages.
It was all perfect. This book was like a sexy Eat, Pray, Love. It awakened so much in me.
But perhaps the most important part for me was the way that sex and partnership and love was depicted. I always think about how people say theyโd love to live in certain fantasy romance novels - but thisโฆ THIS is where Iโd like to live. Where you love who you want so deliberately. Where love isnโt defined by gender or even confined to just two people.
This book is transcendent. Itโs easily my top read of 2024, without question.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5/5 โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3.5/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
The Lumberjack by Susan Stoker
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
JJ and Aprilโs story was well overdueโฆ but this one was so much more than just their story, and it was really great.
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Lumberjack by Susan Stoker.
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Game of Chance character series. Book 4.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book and audio on Kindle app. ๐ on KU to read and listen.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Romantic suspense
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Friends-to-lovers, heโs loved her all along, memory loss, military veterans.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: JJ and April have been dancing around each other for years, but when an accident leaves April without her memories, JJ steps up to take care of her during her recovery.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: For four books Iโve been screaming at these two to get their act together and they finally did - and I loved it.
JJ and April were meant to be, and I loved how they admitted their feelings early and often. This one had almost zero couple drama, just intense drama going in around them, and that was refreshing.
The end of this series wrapped all four stories up so well, but also featured other guys from other series, and I was so pumped. Truly canโt miss when you read a Susan Stoker book.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: The Lumberjack by Susan Stoker.
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐: Game of Chance character series. Book 4.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐: E-book and audio on Kindle app. ๐ on KU to read and listen.
๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ: Romantic suspense
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐: Friends-to-lovers, heโs loved her all along, memory loss, military veterans.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐: JJ and April have been dancing around each other for years, but when an accident leaves April without her memories, JJ steps up to take care of her during her recovery.
๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: For four books Iโve been screaming at these two to get their act together and they finally did - and I loved it.
JJ and April were meant to be, and I loved how they admitted their feelings early and often. This one had almost zero couple drama, just intense drama going in around them, and that was refreshing.
The end of this series wrapped all four stories up so well, but also featured other guys from other series, and I was so pumped. Truly canโt miss when you read a Susan Stoker book.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 4/5 โญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: 3/5 ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
I was excited for this oneโฆ but the ick I got through the first 50 pages forced me to close it. It could just be me. I just felt like it all got out of hand super quickly.