You may notice that fewer book reviews have appeared on my blog since the beginning of the year. To better manage my time (and sanity), I’m trying something new. Though I’m dropping down to two full-length book reviews a week, I’m also introducing this monthly feature, where I’ll highlight all of the books I read in the past month that I rate at five stars, with a few sentences about why. In the long run, this will allow me to feature more books on the blog than I have been, so I hope you find some great new titles to add to your to-be-read pile!

Fighting for Breath

Abrianna Denae (Fighting for Love collection)

Denae packs a lot of emotion into a low-angst story for how much potential for heartache and angst exists in this story’s relatively complicated premise. However, Denae gives us enough insight into each of the main characters that Brooks and Lucas’ interest in Cole feels straightforward and genuine. They also might feel a little too good to be true, which explains a lot of Cole’s hesitation. However, the connections they build with Cole’s younger brother provide a solid framework for a true family to be built beyond the typical happily ever after.

Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.

The Amazing Alpha Tau Self-Improvement Project

Lisa Henry & Sara Honey (Alpha Tau #2)

I don’t usually find myself interested in college romances, since I’m a bit beyond that age. However, if I enjoyed the first book in this series, this second installment blew me away by how simultaneously sweet and hilarious it is. Henry and Honey find the perfect balance between making Marty outrageously entertaining and too outrageous to be believable. I adored how both Marty and Dalton help each other learn and grow. These aren’t your typical frat boys–they’re so much better.

Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the authors.

Easy Does It

K.M. Neuhold (Palm Island #5)

The friendship between Easy and Lux has been a fascinating background to the earlier books in this series, especially as they were portrayed (based on other characters’ viewpoints) with Lux as the island’s “token straight guy” and Easy as, well, the embodiment of his nickname. The reality is so much more complicated, which always makes for the best stories. This isn’t a simple friends-to-lovers, bi-awakening story…it’s the gentle yet steamy development of Easy and Lux taking their epic friendship to the next level after a true lightning strike moment. As always, I loved my visit to Palm Island and already can’t wait to be back.

Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.

Broken Ice

Marina Vivancos (Alpha Omega Hockey #4)

I love how Vivancos pushes the boundaries of alpha/omega romance. This book in particular incorporates elements of how A/O dynamics are a stand-in for gender issues and sets up additional immediate conflict by adding a unique medical twist. Beau, the omega in question, is an absolute delight, and I adored reading a book fully from the perspective of a character so adorably oblivious. In this instance, scenes from Emilio’s POV might have pushed this story too far into angst territory, but narrowing the viewpoint allowed Vivancos to keep the mood relatively light-hearted, with facepalm moments instead of heartache moments.

Rent: Paid in Full

Jesse H. Reign (Bad Decisions #1)

Sometimes I pick up books because I want a bit of escapism that is the mental equivalent of candy. I’ve read other works by this author, so I knew that at the very least, it’d be a solid story. However, I was blown away (and pleasantly surprised) by the quality of the writing and the depth of character for what, on the surface, is nothing more than erotica (with plot that literally exists to continue the erotica). The enemies-to-lovers romance arc sneaks in along the way, giving me all the feels during the requisite dark moment and a delightfully satisfying happily ever after.

Victors and Vanquished

Merry Farmer (Kings and Kingdoms #4)

Though there have been plenty of side trips to give other characters in this sprawling cast a chance to shine, the through-line of this epic series has always been Peter. So, while it seems weird that the final book detailing this era of the Frontier should be from Magnus’s point of view instead, it’s actually amazingly perfect. Men like Peter are who Magnus has been working toward this future for the entire time, and I appreciated being able to see everything come to fruition through his eyes. I’m completely invested in this world and will happily return to it as often as the author decides, but I’m also entirely satisfied with how this phase of the story has concluded.

Links to my other 5-star book reviews in the past month:

One thought on “Five-Star Reads for January 2024”

  1. Pingback: January Wrap-Up and February Goals for Author J.L. Gribble

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