I got incredibly spoiled by how good all the books in the Bluewater Bay series have been so far. This installment certainly wasn't a terrible book by any means, writing-wise, but it didn't hold up to the story-telling quality of the other novels. Too much of the story hinged on events that occurred before the … Continue reading Review: How the Cookie Crumbles (Bluewater Bay #12) by Jaime Samms
Review: Stuck Landing (Bluewater Bay #11) by Lauren Gallagher
Though at first it seems odd to have an F/F romance in the midst of a series that has been primarily M/M to this point, Anna Maxwell has been a recurring character through the Bluewater Bay tales, and it was lovely to finally see her find some happiness of her own after the drama of … Continue reading Review: Stuck Landing (Bluewater Bay #11) by Lauren Gallagher
Review: Wedding Favors (Bluewater Bay #7) by Anne Tenino
Though I wasn't a huge fan of the short story that featured these characters in the Bluewater Bay Valentine's Day collection, I'm very glad I went back to read Lucas and Gabe's novel when I realized I'd missed it. I didn't have the patience for either character when they were teenagers. As adults, I still … Continue reading Review: Wedding Favors (Bluewater Bay #7) by Anne Tenino
Review: Rain Shadow (Bluewater Bay #10) by L.A. Witt
One of the things I love most about this series is the diversity of characters. This doesn't refer to just skin color, or occupation, or whether the character is famous or "normal," but also in terms of personal history. In this case, Scott is a guy who hasn't had a serious relationship in decades, and … Continue reading Review: Rain Shadow (Bluewater Bay #10) by L.A. Witt
Review: When to Hold Them (Bluewater Bay #9) by G.B. Gordon
One of the things that I love about this series is that the creators of the world recognize that the entire town of Bluewater Bay does not revolve around the television show being filmed there, however much the characters mention the "Hollywood Invasion." So much of the Pacific Northwest is protected national park (for now), … Continue reading Review: When to Hold Them (Bluewater Bay #9) by G.B. Gordon
Review: The Deep of the Sound (Bluewater Bay #8) by Amy Lane
I was thrilled to see that the next book in this series was by the same author (and featured the same characters) as my favorite story in the Valentine's Day anthology, "Nascha." In fact, that story takes place over the same time period as this novel, and it was fun to see what was going … Continue reading Review: The Deep of the Sound (Bluewater Bay #8) by Amy Lane
Review: The Burnt Toast B&B (Bluewater Bay #5) by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haimowitz
First, the elephant in the room. One of the heroes of this tale is a transgender (female-to-male) character. I'm actually glad that this is not hinted at in the back-cover blurb, and that I found it out naturally (very early on in the book). It put a different slant on the relationship, but only by … Continue reading Review: The Burnt Toast B&B (Bluewater Bay #5) by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haimowitz
Review: Lone Wolf (Bluewater Bay #4) by Aleksandr Voinov & L.A. Witt
As a professional author and former fanfic writer, this novel was an odd sort of wish-fullfillment romance that I never knew I wanted. Reading it was both fascinating and oddly bizarre, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. Reading about other authors and their process is always an interesting experience, because I believe there's no "one, true … Continue reading Review: Lone Wolf (Bluewater Bay #4) by Aleksandr Voinov & L.A. Witt
Review: Hell on Wheels (Bluewater Bay #3) by Z.A. Maxfield
Characters can make or break any book, but especially romances, and the characters in this book shined. Though both of them come from worlds far from my experience, Nash and Spencer were guys I could relate to, guys I could cheer for. And even better, neither of them existed in a vacuum. Their decisions regarding … Continue reading Review: Hell on Wheels (Bluewater Bay #3) by Z.A. Maxfield
Review: There’s Something About Ari (Bluewater Bay #2) by L.B. Gregg
This novella was a fun, quick read with striking characters that I devoured in one sitting. I appreciated that it didn't follow the traditional romance genre formula, because there was no "meet-cute." No slow burn between characters as knowledge and attraction deepen. Instead, this was the metaphorical final five minutes of the movie as two … Continue reading Review: There’s Something About Ari (Bluewater Bay #2) by L.B. Gregg
Review: Starstruck (Bluewater Bay #1) by L.A. Witt
This is an excellent introduction to the Bluewater Bay shared-universe romance series, giving us just enough information about the town of Bluewater Bay and the television show Wolf's Landing to provide a taste for more. This book also does a great job of showing how major Hollywood stars are human just like anybody else, with very … Continue reading Review: Starstruck (Bluewater Bay #1) by L.A. Witt
Review: The Ruin of a Rake (Turner Series #3) by Cat Sebastian
This was a satisfying conclusion to the romantic tales of the extended Turner family. While I was concerned that Lord Courtenay wouldn't appeal to me as a romantic lead after his introduction in The Lawrence Browne Affair, author Cat Sebastian proves a deft hand at hidden depths that do not negate any of the character … Continue reading Review: The Ruin of a Rake (Turner Series #3) by Cat Sebastian
Review: A Case of Possession (A Charm of Magpies #2) by K.J. Charles
This was not a long novel, but I think I would have devoured it just as quickly had it been twice the length. I've decided that I adore Lord Crane. Like any true romantic hero, he has looks, brains, and money. But his personality, lack of regard for polite society, and familiarity with the world … Continue reading Review: A Case of Possession (A Charm of Magpies #2) by K.J. Charles
Review: The Soldier’s Scoundrel (Turner Series #1) by Cat Sebastian
I'm starting to see the appeal of romances, especially the ones where a happily ever is guaranteed. I don't always like the emotional angst characters have to go through to get there, and I've discovered that I'm not a huge fan of the "you're better off without me" trope (it hits a bit close to … Continue reading Review: The Soldier’s Scoundrel (Turner Series #1) by Cat Sebastian