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Review: Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy #4) by Ilona Andrews
It’s no secret to anyone following my book reviews that Ilona Andrews is one of my “drop everything and read the new book ASAP” authors. I anxiously awaited the arrival of the newest installment of the Hidden Legacy series and devoured the book within 24 hours. Reading the previous installments of this series makes for…
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Review: Broken News by Sara Dobie Bauer
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review. It’s common to refer to the main characters in a romance story as the heroes, but there are no heroes in this book. Eric West is an unabashed crime lord, and Will fully admits to being a bit…
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Review: Draakenwood (Whyborne & Griffin #9) by Jordan L. Hawk
We’re back in Widdershins for Whyborne & Griffin’s latest adventure, but this time it’s the old families who are the targets. When Whyborne is accused of murder, he and his allies must not only clear his name, but also prevent the rise of a great evil. Plenty of familiar faces appear in this story, including…
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Review: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
I started reading romance novels in 2016, in large part due to the emotional chaos wrought by the American presidential election. Luckily, judging by McQuiston’s author note at the end of this novel, she saw a need in the general readership and persevered in filling it. This book is exactly what I needed as the…
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Review: The Dragon Mistress: Book 3 (Eburosi Chronicles #10) by R.A. Steffan
I burned through all of the books in this series very quickly, then had to wait months for this latest installment. I read it all the evening of the day it was released. It was worth the wait. Like the previous books, Frella’s story contains nonstop action and adventure. Multiple relationships are in play. And…
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Review: The 5th Gender (Tinkered Stars Mystery) by G.L. Carriger
As someone who regularly speaks at writing and fandom conventions about the topic of “genre blending” or “genre blurring” in contemporary writing, I have some pretty strong opinions on the subject. Carriger’s science-fiction/romance/mystery is certainly one that I will now hold up as a great example of how to blend things right. This novel could…
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Review: Love Across the Universe by Stars & Stones Books
Disclaimer: I am friends with the majority of the authors in this collection. I won my hardcopy in a raffle basket supporting an academic scholarship. This science-fiction romance collection was an excellent summer read. The stories themselves were a mixed bag for me, with a few being stand-outs. Favorite Stories “The Pirates and the Pacifist”…
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Review: Hither, Page (Page & Sommers #1) by Cat Sebastian
This short novel was perfect for a summer night escape. It included so many things that I love in a story, such as mysterious small-town murder, morally gray characters, and good representations of mental illness (in this case, post-traumatic stress disorder). On their own, Page and Sommers were both characters that I loved getting to…
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Review: Three-Way Split (Comes in Threes #1) by Elia Winters
I binged this book in one evening with a glass of wine and some cat snuggles. Not a bad way to spend my time, and the book was an easy read that was fun to speed through and enjoy every moment. I was thoroughly invested in the individual and group dynamics of the three characters.…
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Review: The Initiation (Filthy Rich Americans #1) by Nikki Sloane
I picked up this book on the recommendation from a writer that I enjoy, who mentioned that it was not her typical fare but that she’d really enjoyed it. The Initiation was definitely not like any romance book I’ve read so far, and I’d even argue that it’s not really a romance book. There’s plenty…
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Review: The Barista’s Beloved (River Hill #4) by Rebecca Norinne & Jamaila Brinkley
Disclaimer: I am friends with both authors; however, I purchased this ebook for full price. The latest installment in this small-town romance series pairs up a whiskey distiller with a barista, and the fact that the distiller is the lady and the barista is a guy is only one of the many things I loved…
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Review: A Duke in Disguise (Regency Impostors #2) by Cat Sebastian
It’s hard to distill this book into a short review, because it was chock full of elements I loved with surprising moments at every turn. Sebastian is fantastic at creating characters that go against expectations, either the reader’s or for their position in society. Verity and Ash follow the “friends to lovers” journey, but the…
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Review: The Mathematical Gambit (The Galipp Files #2) by Jamaila Brinkley
This story continues the adventures of a pair of professional spies — if only their income from the profession could support them. Instead, Simon works on his magical studies and Anastasia relies on the patronage of members of the peerage who know about her clandestine role. The partners reunite to solve another case involving rich…
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Review: “Eidolon” (Whyborne & Griffin #1.5) by Jordan L. Hawk
This short story takes place near the beginning of Whyborne and Griffin’s relationship, and reading it after seven full novels is an interesting trip into the past. In this story, there’s still a bit of relationship angst that I now know to be completely unfounded, but it’s not so angsty as to make me roll…
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Review: Proper English (Think of England #0.5) by K.J. Charles
I will happily read pages and pages of characters in a historical novel interact at a house party. Bonus points if half of them don’t like each other, the other half like each other a bit too much, and at least one person is outright rude. I enjoyed myself so much, following the point of…
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Review: Reverb (Twisted Wishes #3) by Anna Zabo
Disclaimer: I consider the author a friend; however, I purchased this ebook for full price. The final book to follow the romantic escapes of the band Twisted Wishes focuses on bass player Mish Sullivan. She’s pretty much the literal definition of strong, independent woman who knows what she wants. But what she wants is different…
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Review: The Baker’s Beauty (River Hill #3) by Rebecca Norinne & Jamaila Brinkley
Disclaimer: I am friends with the authors; however, I purcahsed this ebook for full price. Sometimes my interest in the romance between two characters takes a backseat to my interest in the development of the characters themselves. This book was sweet and enjoyable, with all the traditional romance novel tropes, but I found myself much…
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Review: The Distiller’s Darling (River Hill #2) by Rebecca Norinne & Jamaila Brinkley
Disclaimer: I am friends with the authors; however, I purcahsed this ebook for full price. I felt a bit guilty enjoying a glass of port while reading this book, but I have a feeling that I’d have loved it no matter the beverage. Iain and Naomi have almost nothing in common on the surface, but…
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Review: A Prince on Paper (Reluctant Royals #3) by Alyssa Cole
I enjoyed the third book in the series just as much as the others, even if it was yet another take on the premise. I especially found the intersection between traditional fairy tales and modern royalty compelling. The character development paths of Nya and Johan sucked me in on their own, which is important when…
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Review: The Vintner’s Vixen (River Hill #1) by Rebecca Norinne & Jamaila Brinkley
Disclaimer: I am friends with both authors; however, I purchased this ebook for full price. This is a fun new series that brings together two writers whom I greatly enjoy. I’m excited to read more in the town of River Hill, and the story of Angelica and Noah was the perfect way to start. Sparks…
