Hurst takes a bit of a risk by opening this book at a point of conflict before we’re given a chance to emotionally connect with any of the characters, but it pays off in the long run. As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that the present-day events are the flash point for two men … Continue reading Book Review: Saving Him by Sara Hurst
Book Review: Drama Queen (The Court #1) by Charlie Novak
Comparing the drag queen main character in this story, Bubblegum Galaxy, to the drag queen protagonist of an earlier Novak book would be easy, but this author immediately puts her excellent characterization skills to work by making their personalities and general vibes drastically different (in both drag and boy mode). At the same time, I … Continue reading Book Review: Drama Queen (The Court #1) by Charlie Novak
Book Review: Unholy Trinity (Rebel Kings MC #6) by Garrett Leigh
Read my reviews of previous books in the Rebel Kings MC series: Devil’s Dance (#1) | Saint’s Song (#2) | Forgive Me Father (#3) | Love Thy Brother (#4) | Reluctant Renegade (#5) When the VP of the Rebel Kings MC started more actively pursuing a potential relationship with the sister of the President earlier in this series, I figured … Continue reading Book Review: Unholy Trinity (Rebel Kings MC #6) by Garrett Leigh
Book Review: An Oath and a Promise (Riehse Eshan #4) by Adelaide Blaike
Read my reviews of previous books in the Riehse Eshan series: A Knife and a Blade (#1) | A Whisper and a Breath (#2) | A Shadow and a Storm (#3) I first found this series in a bit of a sweet spot, soon after the third book was released. That meant I got to binge-read everything available … Continue reading Book Review: An Oath and a Promise (Riehse Eshan #4) by Adelaide Blaike
Book Review: Light From the Grave by Sara Dobie Bauer
As a reviewer who occasionally reads and reviews her friends’ books, this can result in the peculiar scenario of writing about how much I loved a story that evolved from the grief experienced by a person I care for. Though there is a romance through-line to this book, the true themes involve how the two … Continue reading Book Review: Light From the Grave by Sara Dobie Bauer
Book Review: Icarus and the Devil (Soul to Find #1) by Layla Reyne
The opening scene of this book is certainly memorable for being a unique way to open a story. It’s also extremely well done for how it introduces certain paranormal facets of this world without hitting the reader with too much information, then escalates quickly while continuing to drop deliciously subtle world-building details. I learned enough … Continue reading Book Review: Icarus and the Devil (Soul to Find #1) by Layla Reyne
Book Review: Forward Entry (Sydney Swallows #1) by Aurora Crane
Last spring, I joined a “tipping pool” with other readers of this author in picking the winning teams each week for the Australian Football League. It took me at least 3 months to figure out that the sport was not, in fact, rugby. By that point, I was committed to my strategy of picking teams … Continue reading Book Review: Forward Entry (Sydney Swallows #1) by Aurora Crane
Book Review: Tango Down (The Renegades #4) by Cara Dee
Read my reviews of previous books in The Renegades series: Rogue Launch (#1) | Enemy Combatant (#2) | On the Double (#3) The beginning of this book directly intersects with the action-packed finale of the previous novel. It means that all the various characters I’ve come to care about, main heroes and secondary, are in immediate danger right … Continue reading Book Review: Tango Down (The Renegades #4) by Cara Dee
Book Review: Salt Kiss (Lyonesse #1) by Sierra Simone
Read my review of the series prequel, Salt in the Wound. I have zero regrets about enjoying the series prequel before this official beginning to the trilogy, but I’m curious how readers who did not read it engaged with the progression of this compelling story. For me, Isolde was a constant, almost ominous presence even … Continue reading Book Review: Salt Kiss (Lyonesse #1) by Sierra Simone
Book Review: Patience (Damned Connections #1) by Lark Taylor
This book picks up moments after the close of the previous series set in the same world, and includes many of those previous heroes as significant secondary characters, so I’m not sure how well this book works as a stand-alone. However, as someone who did read and enjoy that previous series, I was already more … Continue reading Book Review: Patience (Damned Connections #1) by Lark Taylor
Book Review: Halo by E.M. Lindsey
Victor and Oliver may come from thoroughly different walks of life, and exist in vastly different current lives, but this isn’t an opposites-attract romance. Instead, this is a story about love arriving when it’s least expected (and possibly even least wanted) for two people who don’t believe they deserve it but are still able to … Continue reading Book Review: Halo by E.M. Lindsey
Book Review: Heartstrings Series by Erica Montrose
This post includes reviews of the books in the Heartstrings series: Write From the Heart (#1) | Heart For Sale (#2) | Heart Medicine (#3) Write From the Heart (Heartstrings #1) Contemporary romance doesn’t always have to mean a completely realistic setting or characters. In this instance, we’ve got talented, prolific, successful (and self-published) author … Continue reading Book Review: Heartstrings Series by Erica Montrose
Book Review: Enemy Combatant (The Renegades #2) by Cara Dee
Read my review of the first book in The Renegades series, Rogue Launch. This series is designed to stand alone, and the heroes of book 1 were brand new even for long-time readers of Dee’s work. In contrast, book 2 is still accessible for new readers, but I had the pleasure to already start firmly … Continue reading Book Review: Enemy Combatant (The Renegades #2) by Cara Dee
Book Review: Like I Pretended (Heather Bay #4) by Charlie Novak
Read my reviews of the previous books in the Heather Bay series: Like I Pictured (#0.5) | Like I Promised (#1) | Like I Wished (#2) | Like I Needed (#3) One of my favorite aspects of Novak’s writing is that not only does each series portray a fantastic cast of well-developed primary and secondary characters, but each of … Continue reading Book Review: Like I Pretended (Heather Bay #4) by Charlie Novak
Book Review: Reluctant Renegade (Rebel Kings MC #5) by Garrett Leigh
Read my reviews of the previous books in the Rebel Kings MC series: Devil’s Dance (#1) | Saint’s Song (#2) | Forgive Me Father (#3) | Love Thy Brother (#4) We’re a few books deep into this relatively interconnected series by this point, and readers are at least a little familiar with the main characters of this particular installment. … Continue reading Book Review: Reluctant Renegade (Rebel Kings MC #5) by Garrett Leigh
Book Review: Take the Plunge by Colette Davison
Limited new ways exist to start a novel, regardless of genre, and contemporary fiction is even more constrained in options. “Waking up hungover and handcuffed to my best friend’s little brother while stranded in the middle of the woods” is pretty unique, especially when for the beginning of a contemporary romance instead of, say, a … Continue reading Book Review: Take the Plunge by Colette Davison
Book Review: A Gentle Way to Love (Ways to Love #1) by Abrianna Denae
I joke that I read polyamory romances because you get more relationships for the price of one, but the reality is that I truly enjoy the intricacies that can develop out of the traditional storyline arc when three (or more) people are involved. The general premise of this book was entirely novel to me, as … Continue reading Book Review: A Gentle Way to Love (Ways to Love #1) by Abrianna Denae
Book Review: Conduit Crisis (Ghostly Guardians #3) by Louisa Masters
Read my reviews of the previous books in the Ghostly Guardians series: Spirited Situation (#1) | Vortex Conundrum (#2) Though each book in this series features a brand-new romantic connection, the overarching plot means that this is not a series of stand-alone novels set in the same world. For this installment, the external plot we’ve been following … Continue reading Book Review: Conduit Crisis (Ghostly Guardians #3) by Louisa Masters
Book Review: Pretty Wreck (Pretty Broken #3) by J.R. Gray
Read my reviews of previous books in the Pretty Broken series: Pretty Obsessed (#1) | Pretty Toxic (#2) This book features the, to this point, least-known member of the band to readers. Gray sets us up to immediately care about Alister as much as the others, however, since this book opens with him close to rock bottom. … Continue reading Book Review: Pretty Wreck (Pretty Broken #3) by J.R. Gray
Book Review: Relentless (Room For Love #6) by Kate Hawthorne
Read my reviews of previous books in the Room For Love series: Reckless (#1) | Heartless (#2) | Faultless (#3) | Fearless (#4) | Limitless (#5) | A Very Messy Motel Brothers Wedding (#5.5) I was incredibly honored to be one of the few people to read this book before its surprise release. What makes it even more special is that … Continue reading Book Review: Relentless (Room For Love #6) by Kate Hawthorne