Tag: romance

  • 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…

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  • 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…

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  • 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…

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  • 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…

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  • Review: It Takes Two to Tumble (Seducing the Sedgwicks #1) by Cat Sebastian

    This was a fantastic look at how two people who might otherwise have nothing in common develop a natural and loving relationship. At times, Ben came across as a little too perfect. Luckily, Phillip balanced this out by becoming a sympathetic character without losing any of the thorny character traits that intrigued me. 

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  • Review: Outside the Lines (Bluewater Bay #22) by Anna Zabo

    Disclaimer: I am friends with the author of this novel; however, I purchased the ebook for full price. My metric for how I view a good romance novel has turned into whether the interpersonal relationships are occurring between mature adults. I don’t have time for whiny teenage angst produced by characters in their twenties, thirties,…

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  • 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…

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  • Review: “A Case of Spirits” (A Charm of Magpies short) by K.J. Charles

    This short story was included in my Kindle edition of A Case of Possession (A Charm of Magpies #2). This delightful short story doesn’t add much to the interpersonal relationship between Lord Crane and Stephen Day, but it does show how Crane and his manservant Merrick have become intricately linked with Day’s world of magician justiciars.…

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  • 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…

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  • 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…

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  • Review: The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies #1) by K.J. Charles

    Now that I’ve discovered a newfound love for queer historical romance, it was really only a matter of time before I made the jump to the urban fantasy variety. This novel was an excellent introductory choice that I devoured in the space of one airport wait + flight to Florida, and I had to resist…

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  • Review: The Lawrence Browne Affair (Turner Series #2) by Cat Sebastian

    A break from the daily routine in the form of a business trip to Seattle for the day job meant a break in my regular reading habits. Ages ago, my favorite contemporary romance author (okay, Anna Zabo is really the only contemporary romance author I really read) noted that a novel by one of their…

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  • Author Interview with Rebecca Halsey

    Not every book gets two birthdays, but sometimes life happens. Since I’m a huge fan of authors who face adversity and come back swinging, I’m pleased to host an interview with author Rebecca Halsey on the occasion of her novel’s re-release. I previously read and reviewed Notes of Temptation last year, tearing through it while on…

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  • Love Across the Universe Blog Tour: What’s next?

    I’m pleased to host the authors of the new science fiction/romance anthology, Love Across the Universe, which came out on August 1. Now that their stories have been released into the wild, it’s time to find out what all of them are working on next! Elsa M. Carruthers: “All B+ut You” I have a few essays…

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  • Review: WILDFIRE (Hidden Legacy #3) by Ilona Andrews

    This was a thrilling conclusion to a major part of the Hidden Legacy story line. Nevada Baylor’s family and her interactions with them are my one of my favorite parts of this series, and it was exciting to see plot progression on that front. For some reason, I had it stuck in my head that…

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  • Review: WHITE HOT (Hidden Legacy #2) by Ilona Andrews

    This series is a prime example for one of the major rules that applies to book buying: Don’t judge a book based on its cover (or publisher). If you’re already a fan of Ilona Andrews’ other books, there’s absolutely no reason that you won’t also enjoy this series. The romance is there to support and…

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  • Review: BITE SOMEBODY by Sara Dobie Bauer

    Disclaimer: I acquired this novel at a convention through a book trade with the author, whom I consider a friend. Not gonna lie — I probably never would have picked this novel to read without outside influence. But I met the author at a convention and we hit it off immediately, and I knew based…

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  • Spotlight & Review: MEMORIES OF MAGIC (Fay of Skye #3) by Cara McKinnon

    Once I fell in love with the Fay of Skye series, I could no longer claim to dislike romance, historical romance, or paranormal romance. But I definitely fell in love with this series because of the incredible twist McKinnon puts on her tales, setting them in an alternate universe and focusing on both diversity and…

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  • Blog Tour: CRAZY LITTLE SPRING CALLED LOVE

    The authors of the stories in Crazy Little Spring Called Love (order here) sat down to answer some questions for their readers. For links to the full list of interview questions, teasers, and more, visit the blog tour page. About the book: This delightful fantasy romance anthology features eight magical stories inspired by the awakenings…

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  • Cover Reveal: CRAZY LITTLE SPRING CALLED LOVE

    I’m pleased to be part of the cover reveal for an upcoming fantasy-romance anthology called Crazy Little Spring Called Love from Stars and Stone Books, featuring so many lovely authors that I know! It will be released May 3, and is available for preorder from Amazon! Includes stories by Heather Bythesea, Elsa Carruthers, M.T. DeSantis, Traci Douglass,…

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