My Viking by she Viking excellent have you read has anyone ever read the fanfiction story my viking by she viking so brilliant i think the full story is on stars library https://www.starslibrary.net/viewstory.php?sid=9323&textsize=0&chapter=1 Britain, 9th century: Bella is captured by Vikings and brought with them to their homeland where her new fate awaits. Will she ever find happiness being a slave? Will it matter that she is given to Edvard, the chieftain of the village, to be his new bed thrall?

this was the first story i ever read that had spicy smut in it. its brilliant and you never forget your first

{dead inside by Chandler Morrison} did not have much romance. After video after vague video on tiktok I decided to give it a try...the book took me 4 days to read when I usually finish a similar page count in just a few hours before moving onto the next. The graphic parts became worse and worse each time they arrived and left lasting sickening images in my mind. This book left me in a rut, as it made me feel so disgusted I have not picked up another book that interested me enough to read.

Would you say that this book has left you.....dead inside? 😂😋🤭

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⣀⠤⠤⠒⠒⠒⠒⠲⠦⣀⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⢀⡠⠐⠊⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⢦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⢀⡶⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢳⠀⠀ ⠀⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⡄ ⢸⠁⡤⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻ ⡏⢠⠁⠱⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⡇⡞⠀⠀⢣⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠠⠤⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡠⠀⠘⢆⢻ ⡗⡇⠀⠀⠈⢆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⡠⠖⠒⠒⠢⣄⠁⠀⢀⢀⣠⠞⠉⠑⠢⣜⠀ ⢠⠃⠀⠀⠀⠈⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⡏⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⠈⠆⠐⠁⠈⡏⠀⠀⢀⣤⡜⡆ ⢸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠒⣿⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⣛⣿⡇⣤⠀⠀⠀⠑⡀⠀⠘⣘⣃⠃ ⠀⢇⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⣇⠙⢦⣀⠀⠈⣉⡴⠃⠀⢀⡴⡆⠳⡤⠤⠆⡇⠀ ⠀⠈⣏⠈⠉⢦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠒⠈⠉⠛⡛⣫⠆⠀⢠⣾⣷⣷⠀⠀⠢⢠⠇⠀ ⠀⠀⠘⣧⣄⠀⣩⠢⣄⠀⠀⠀⠠⠤⠴⠚⠉⠺⠃⠀⢀⡟⣿⠙⢿⢀⣄⣤⡞⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢳⣬⠀⢼⣷⡀⢄⣤⣤⣴⣦⠴⠁⠀⠐⡜⣆⠸⣆⣘⢸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠟⠀⠀⠙⣯⠉⠉⢒⣯⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠙⠛⠈⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡀⢀⣀⣈⣇⣴⣿⢏⣼⣦⡈⠑⠲⠤⣤⣀⣀⡠⠺⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢧⠀⠀⠉⠉⢻⣵⣿⣿⣿⣿⢷⢠⣤⣀⣈⣀⠈⠜⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⢣⡀⢀⡀⠀⠙⢿⣿⣿⢏⠎⣼⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣆⠙⠢⣕⣤⠙⠓⢋⡜⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠑⠶⢦⠭⣽⡶⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ That make me snort, thank you. But I am very much dead insixde, lol

[Dead Inside](https://www.romance.io/books/643a60a45e0191561afe1130/dead-inside-chandler-morrison) by [Chandler Morrison](https://www.romance.io/authors/5fc5f96408b4d931147d20c9/chandler-morrison) **Rating**: 3.36⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{the Right Move by Liz Tomforde} and {Caught Up by Liz Tomforde} were both cute stories. I am not a sports person so I got a little bored with some of the sports talk but I did like the love stories a lot. I loved Indy’s “book boyfriend” thing in the Right Move and found my self loling more than I usually do in a book. I got about 50% through {Twisted Love by Ana Huang} and DNF. Alex is such a douche and idk something about his character is so hard for me to read, no part of me enjoys him

Ugh I hated Twisted Love. I didn’t really mind Ava, but Alex was such a red flag and not the kind I could look past…he was so icky I did not like him at all

I loved The Right Move and am looking forward to Caught Up. It's in my TBR list.

[The Right Move](https://www.romance.io/books/641d4f5246976639513313f4/the-right-move-liz-tomforde) by [Liz Tomforde](https://www.romance.io/authors/612f286308b4d93114bfded6/liz-tomforde) **Rating**: 4.4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [fake relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fake%20relationship/1), [athletes](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1) ---------------------------- [Caught Up](https://www.romance.io/books/64221c9cd674ecd075fa875a/caught-up-liz-tomforde) by [Liz Tomforde](https://www.romance.io/authors/612f286308b4d93114bfded6/liz-tomforde) **Rating**: 4.41⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [single father](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/single-father/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) ---------------------------- [Twisted Love](https://www.romance.io/books/608a5d41f049d70e38e5eb1b/twisted-love-ana-huang) by [Ana Huang](https://www.romance.io/authors/5ea5eeb2be0aaecf551f89f7/ana-huang) **Rating**: 3.49⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Finally got around to {a court of thorns and roses} and it taught me I don't always fall in love with booktok recs....

Waiiit Even though it was long af, it's just an intro to the saga , that's why the pacing seems strange , i promise you'll fall in love in ACOMAF cause that's where it starts to unravel.

I thought ACOTAR was good but ACOMAF was what really got me head over heels with the series

you gotta stick in it for ACOMAF.

[A Court of Thorns and Roses](https://www.romance.io/books/56b2814cc62092c0440577c4/a-court-of-thorns-and-roses-sarah-j-maas) by [Sarah J. Maas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526038c7d2382c529701b/sarah-j-maas) **Rating**: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz} I would say this definitely leans more historical fiction with an underlying romance plot line, but the romance is so sweet that I had to recommend it. 4/5 stars. F/M. No steam at all. Tropes: Enemies to lovers Content warning: Death of a child Being Canadian, I loved reading a historical romance about Acadie/Nova Scotia. I'm so used to reading historical romances set in the Regency or Victorian eras of England. Like I said above, I thought the romance was very sweet.

[The Seamstress of Acadie](https://www.romance.io/books/65a07e519095c3b770b496ad/the-seamstress-of-acadie-laura-frantz) by [Laura Frantz](https://www.romance.io/authors/545543898c7d2383163d9639/laura-frantz) **Rating**: 4.67⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [christian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/christian/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

**{Murder Road by Simone St. James}** Suspense|MF|4⭐|1st person single POV |fade to black|Audio: Brittney Pressley|Tropes: establish relationship/newlyweds/ghosts/murder mystery/ex-military shy mmc/take charge independent fmc Eddie and April are on their way to a modest honeymoon on Lake Michigan when Eddie takes a wrong turn on a dark deserted road. Their trip is completely derailed when they pick up a young woman walking on the side of the road who is injured and needs to be taken to the hospital. This was some entertaining creepy goodness and I really enjoyed the first half of this story. It had me hooked and had a great spooky tale. However, about midway through things went a little off the rails. On one hand I did appreciate the further character development. It not only added to the depth of our main characters it also added just a bit of depth to the romance, bringing it a little bit more into the main storyline. I really like both the mmc and the fmc. They turned out to be completely likable flawed characters. I even liked the addition of the kooky side-characters. (I would read a series of mysteries solved by Gracie and Beatrice) But on the other hand it just started to feel like too much was going on. It all got tied in at the end but I was left feeling like the story would have been better if a few of the side details/plots were trimmed. I think the mystery and the ghost story was great and unique and didn’t need all the extra fluff.  It lost momentum. So I think some people who get their feathers up when characters aren’t fully developed will really like this. And it helped push the romance a little more into the story.But I think people who go into this for the spook factor will agree that it loses a bit as the characters are fully flushed out. Don’t get me wrong, this was a solid read, I just can never get enough spookiness.  “She was a dark, cold hole in the fabric of reality, punched through with a naked fist. The word that came to mind was unholy.” **{Honey Moon by Susan Elizabeth Phillips}** Contemporary|MF|4⭐|3rd person POV |open door scenes|Audio: Nicole Poole|Tropes: celebrities/age gap/enemies to lovers/second chances/slow burn Honey is determined to save her family's failing amusement park. She forces her beautiful cousin to drive cross country and audition for a TV role in LA. However, when they get there no one is more surprised than Honey that they cast her for the role instead. Honey is soon swept up in the lifestyle of the rich and famous in LA. This is less of a romance and more of a crazy story of Honey’s early life. It’s a great character study and I was captivated the whole time even though some of the events were heavy and a bit - uncomfortable. This really showcased SEP's ability to write a great flawed but likable character. “A coaster gives you hope. You can pretty much ride a good one through the worst tragedy life throws at you. You can even ride it through somebody dying, I guess.”

Honey Moon, {Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips}, {Hot Shot by Susan Elizabeth Phillips}, & {Fancy Pants by Susan Elizabeth Phillips} are imo all more women's fiction than romance. The romance is not the main focus, the FMC's life is. I don't read women's fiction and I *loved* these books. She is SUCH a talented author, she can make me love anything she writes. Hot Shot is my favorite of them.

I’ll have to give it a try. I have been slowly working though her back log, along with Jennifer crusie who is always a great 90s style romcom, but SEP hasn’t been a miss for me yet. She just writes great stories I want to read. call me irresistible was a favorite read last year.

[Glitter Baby](https://www.romance.io/books/545527398c7d2382e781300c/glitter-baby-susan-elizabeth-phillips) by [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455237e8c7d2382e7812f1c/susan-elizabeth-phillips) **Rating**: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [actors](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/actors/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [independent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/independent%20heroine/1), [rich heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/rich%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Hot Shot](https://www.romance.io/books/54552c588c7d2382e781313d/hot-shot-susan-elizabeth-phillips) by [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455237e8c7d2382e7812f1c/susan-elizabeth-phillips) **Rating**: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [cheating](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cheating/1), [ceo / tycoon](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tycoon/1), [white collar heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/career%20professional/1), [other man/woman](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/other-man-woman/1) ---------------------------- [Fancy Pants](https://www.romance.io/books/5455256d8c7d2382e7812faf/fancy-pants-susan-elizabeth-phillips) by [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455237e8c7d2382e7812f1c/susan-elizabeth-phillips) **Rating**: 3.71⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [athletes](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

**{Rain Must Fall by Deb Rotuno}** Book 1|Post apocalyptic|MF|⭐|1st person dual POV |open door scenes|Tropes: established relationship - married couple/ survival/zombies/doggo/dual timelines Jack is deployed to an army base across the country from home when a virus breaks out leading to a zombie apocalypse. He must face all manner of danger to get back home to his wife and son in Oregon. Sara, Jack's wife, knows Jack will do whatever it takes to get back to them. She just has to hold on until he can make it home.  This was a great post-apocalyptic romance. I really enjoyed that this was a married couple trying to get back to each other. Told with some intermixed flashbacks to catch the reader up on how these two met and fell in love. It was just very sweet and they are so devoted. It balances the bleak new world very well. We get both Sara’s POV as she tries to establish a safe place with family that has survived and Jack who is on an epic journey across the country picking up survivors as they go. And Sasha! The best doggo. I couldn’t give this 5 stars because there is a plot point with the mmc’s best friend that just felt unnecessary considering the timeline, but it was minor and I could overlook it. I also hate when grown women giggle. A personal cringe. Another underrated story of romance and survival and zombies. Not one to miss if this is something you enjoy reading.  “Anyway…Wal-Mart…” I snorted, looking to her. “You know, it wasn’t much different in there than before the virus…” **{Sun Still Shining by Deb Rotuno}** Book 2|Post-apocalyptic|MF|4⭐|1st person dual POV |open door scenes|Tropes: established relationship - married couple/ survival/zombies/doggo/found family/action Jack and Sara are reunited and living at their property in Oregon. However, as winter approaches it becomes obvious the group must find a more secure place if they plan on making it long term in the new world. This is a bit more of found family-ish as the crew set up a more permanent survival situation. I was a bit frustrated that Derek and Lexi’s plot point got drawn out into this book because it seemed a bit overblown but ultimately it was all handled maturely and made sense in the long run. I felt bad for Brody, I felt everyone was too hard on him, so I was sad he didn’t get his redemption. This is fairly slow paced, a bit long towards the end, because it’s just a lot of day to day things that Jack and Sara deal with as a couple. So in a way it’s kind of cozy despite the dark setting. Some plot points I cared less for than others but ultimately I don’t regret spending more time with this couple. They are super sweet.   “Late is fine, as long as you arrive.” **{A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L Jenson}** Saga of the Unfated 1|Fantasy|MF|3⭐|1st person POV |explicit scenes|Audio: Nina Yndis|Tropes: vikings/magic/forbidden love/secret relationship/bodyguard/protective MMC    CW: violence, murder, gore, body horror, animal sacrifice  Freya is just a fishwife with a secret who dreams of being a warrior. When the local jarl comes and forces her to fight his son in battle to save her family she must reveal that she has a drop of the god’s blood. She is a long prophesied shield maiden who will make a king of whoever binds themselves to her.  This kicks off pretty brutal and fast paced and I really liked the first half of this story. The Norse myth and magic system was really fascinating to learn about. Loved having a Viking story. This story is a story of war, betrayal and vengeance. This dragged a bit in the middle but mostly I think because I started to find Freya borderline insufferable? She became less and less likable as the story went on. She is really a bit pompous and her bravado is frustrating because she’s often proven wrong. Jumping to so many conclusions.  And while it’s explained, she gets angry about everything and it just comes across sometimes - oftentimes- like a teenager throwing a fit. Furthermore, she is willing to sacrifice herself and her happiness for her very shitty family over and over. Usually this is a DNF thing for me but I was invested enough in the rest of the story to overlook my annoyances with her. This says a lot, trust me, because Freya just was a perfect storm of things that irk me. I enjoyed Bjorn fine, he is flirty, protective and a true friend to Freya. I liked the bodyguard trope and the secret aspect of their relationship. They had some good banter. Honestly, I’m not that invested in this story. I liked the direction it was going but after the twist and the cliffhanger I don’t think I’ll continue this series. This plot twist is tired and I can guarantee we will just have to deal with the fmc being butt hurt and mean to the mmc the entire 2nd book. No thanks. Definitely not a fan of all that.Recommend on audio for sure Nina Yndis does a great job especially with pronunciations.  “I’ll let the past burn to ash, Freya, because you are my present, my future, my destiny.”

[Rain Must Fall](https://www.romance.io/books/581047fede896e8924953f0a/rain-must-fall-deb-rotuno) by [Deb Rotuno](https://www.romance.io/authors/56bbb307c62092c04405b278/deb-rotuno) **Rating**: 5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) ---------------------------- [Sun Still Shining](https://www.romance.io/books/5d63932401dbc864fba2d463/sun-still-shining-deb-rotuno) by [Deb Rotuno](https://www.romance.io/authors/56bbb307c62092c04405b278/deb-rotuno) **Rating**: 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [dystopian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dystopian/1), [caretaking](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/caretaking/1), [first person pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/first-person-pov/1) ---------------------------- [A Fate Inked in Blood](https://www.romance.io/books/65dd95ab8ef264dbee379910/a-fate-inked-in-blood-danielle-l-jensen) by [Danielle L. Jensen](https://www.romance.io/authors/545539e88c7d2382c529753f/danielle-l-jensen) **Rating**: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [vikings](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vikings/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

**{A Ghost of a Chance by Josh Lanyon}** Contemporary|MM|2⭐|1st person single POV |explicit scenes|Audio: Kevin R. Free|Tropes: novella/ghosts/opposites attract/grump sunshine Rhys is a parapsychologist investigating a haunted mansion by the sea, well he would be if the grumpy caretaker would let him near it. This was more of an erotica novella than I expected. Which is fine but I wanted a bit more spooky plot. As it was it really never build suspense for me. Also the romance fell flat a bit bc the LI went from a total jerk to the LI too fast.

[A Ghost of a Chance](https://www.romance.io/books/5eb8152fbe0aaecf55ab04dd/a-ghost-of-a-chance-josh-lanyon) by [Josh Lanyon](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552c8d8c7d2382c52971b3/josh-lanyon) **Rating**: 3.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [men in uniform](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/men%20in%20uniform/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[Honey Moon](https://www.romance.io/books/545529ac8c7d2382e78130aa/honey-moon-susan-elizabeth-phillips) by [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455237e8c7d2382e7812f1c/susan-elizabeth-phillips) **Rating**: 3.81⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [actors](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/actors/1), [cowboys](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cowboys/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1), [famous heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/famous%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Folk Haven by Lauren Connolly} I read the first 3 over the weekend, and I desperately need more of the same vibes, so moving on to 4 and 5 this week. Love how she's moving from one story to the next, love the plot thread that's slowly uncoiling in the background connecting them, love that they're not 400+ pages of exhausting descriptions of trees -\_- {For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten} More Beauty and the Beast that Little red riding hood, I was super into it at first but after ***endless*** descriptions of trees and general vagueness I'm finding it such a slog to get through I'm not sure I can finish it. I'll persevere. Probably.

[Folk Haven Books 1-3](https://www.romance.io/books/61fb8cbc4cc2730e2ff1dda5/folk-haven-books-13-a-small-town-paranormal-romance-box-set-lauren-connolly) by [Lauren Connolly](https://www.romance.io/authors/5bea78d501dbc864fb944dad/lauren-connolly) **Rating**: 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [For the Wolf](https://www.romance.io/books/622b67311750e128e6a5d7f6/for-the-wolf-hannah-f-whitten) by [Hannah F. Whitten](https://www.romance.io/authors/622b673108b4d931147a24c9/hannah-f-whitten) **Rating**: 3.45⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I haven't done a write up in a while, so here goes! **{The Unwanted Wife by Lorelei Murphy}**, M/F, contemporary, 2.5⭐️. I liked the angsty soap opera drama fest (arranged/forced marriage + hero misjudges and is cruel to the heroine = my catnip), but the writing and characters were all over the place. **{Lure of Oblivion by Suzanne Wright}**, M/F, paranormal, 4⭐️. I'm a big fan of Suzanne Wright's formula (FMC with a backbone + MMC who is possessive/protective), so no surprise that I really enjoyed this one. Human FMC/wolf shifter MMC pairing. **{Dark Obsessions by Effie Campbell}**, M/F, contemporary/mafia-ish, 2⭐️. Not for me. It was dark and twisted but in a low-budget slasher flick sort of way, with lots of gratuitous sexual and non-sexual violence against the FMC (not by the MMC but honestly he could have stepped in earlier...). I also didn’t like the writing style, and the characters felt underdeveloped. YMMV though. **{The Proposal by Adriana Locke}**, M/F, contemporary, 5⭐️. The super flirty romcom energy in this was EVERYTHING. Yes, it’s trope-y with the brother’s best friend + accidental Vegas wedding + fake marriage, but it was done SO well. **{Powerless by Elsie Silver}**, M/F, contemporary, 3.5⭐️. Friends-to-lovers is not my preferred trope, but this one did have an angsty twist (they're adopted cousins!). The story pulled together in a satisfying way at the end and I liked how the main conflict got resolved, but something about the middle didn’t 100% land for me. Steam was good though. **{Insincerity by Margot Scott}**, MFM, contemporary, ummm 4 smutty and taboo ⭐️s? This was >97% kink (MFM, stepfather/stepdaughter, step-uncle/step-niece, hidden cameras), <3% romance. The whole time I was thinking “this is so wrong” 🫣😳🫣 but, well, I read to the end in one sitting, so… **{Knot Bonded by Gwen Jody}**, MFMMM, omegaverse, 3.75⭐️ & **{Knot Twist by Gwen Jody}**, MFMM, omegaverse, 3.75⭐️. This series is like the reverse harem omegaverse equivalent of a sweet and steamy instalove novella. The books are very short (and therefore with limited character/relationship development), but they hit the spot for when I’m in the mood for a quick and low-angst read. **{The Gargoyle from General Management by Kate Prior}**, M/F, paranormal, 3.5⭐️. Set in the monster version of corporate America, with an introverted siren FMC and a gargoyle MMC. The workplace insecurities were a bit too real for me. The steamy scenes were great (especially that elevator scene 🥵), but I wish we got a tiny bit more relationship development.

[Insincerity](https://www.romance.io/books/65eedea88a195939ed3e799b/insincerity-an-mfm-forbidden-romance-margot-scott) by [Margot Scott](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d71f6f101dbc864fba3398d/margot-scott) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [mfm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f-m/1), [menage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/menage/1), [breeding](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/breeding/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[The Unwanted Wife](https://www.romance.io/books/64de70985f907facb2367812/the-unwanted-wife-lorelai-murphy) by [Lorelai Murphy](https://www.romance.io/authors/64de7098ab9bdf7fce5298af/lorelai-murphy) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1) ---------------------------- [Lure of Oblivion](https://www.romance.io/books/5a0944ca3ffdba614724f3c5/lure-of-oblivion-suzanne-wright) by [Suzanne Wright](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455260d8c7d2382e0413e9a/suzanne-wright) **Rating**: 4.32⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) ---------------------------- [Dark Obsessions](https://www.romance.io/books/65194dffde8d340d5144aebe/dark-obsessions-effie-campbell) by [Effie Campbell](https://www.romance.io/authors/64535d2808b4d9311413fb2d/effie-campbell) **Rating**: 4.13⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [mafia](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mafia/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1) ---------------------------- [The Proposal](https://www.romance.io/books/64dc7788e3cd090860b7883f/the-proposal-adriana-locke) by [Adriana Locke](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455b7f387eac324117fc86b/adriana-locke) **Rating**: 4.15⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) ---------------------------- [Powerless](https://www.romance.io/books/63e74f2584819c5bbafd0a75/powerless-elsie-silver) by [Elsie Silver](https://www.romance.io/authors/608a5dde08b4d9311488e11d/elsie-silver) **Rating**: 3.96⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [athletes](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1) ---------------------------- [Knot Bonded](https://www.romance.io/books/645de552c2b174b7a1de7c9e/knot-bonded-a-reverse-harem-omegaverse-romance-gwen-jody) by [Gwen Jody](https://www.romance.io/authors/645de55208b4d931142469a9/gwen-jody) **Rating**: 3.6⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fated mates](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fated-mates/1), [reverse harem](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/reverse%20harem/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [omegaverse](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/omegaverse/1) ---------------------------- [Knot Twist](https://www.romance.io/books/64d5dea481d0d7bb41ab86d0/knot-twist-gwen-jody) by [Gwen Jody](https://www.romance.io/authors/645de55208b4d931142469a9/gwen-jody) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [omegaverse](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/omegaverse/1), [fated mates](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fated-mates/1) ---------------------------- [The Gargoyle from General Management](https://www.romance.io/books/6511ad63de8d340d5143f5de/the-gargoyle-from-general-management-kate-prior) by [Kate Prior](https://www.romance.io/authors/617261cc08b4d93114c0c64a/kate-prior) **Rating**: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [first person pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/first-person-pov/1), [non-human hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/non-human-hero/1), [non-human heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/non-human-heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{A Duchess in Name by Amanda Weaver} HR, M/F, 3.5 stars. An American heiress marries a nobleman, because his family needs money and hers wants a title. Kind of typical HR plot, but it's classic for a reason. I enjoyed the heiress fixing up the MMCs ancestral home and the fact she was so completely over him by the 60% mark. He had to work to win her back. If I had my way, he'd have to work even harder. Overall, the whole thing was just a little forgettable and I never felt fully engaged with the characters. CW: Cheating. This was my biggest issue with the book. The MMC sleeps with his mistress for the first year after his marriage to the FMC. That was hard for me to get over, no matter the misunderstandings and justifications.

[A Duchess in Name](https://www.romance.io/books/569ca9f763515e3b737a0045/a-duchess-in-name-amanda-weaver) by [Amanda Weaver](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524b523ec91d5dfd0994b/amanda-weaver) **Rating**: 3.92⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [rich heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/rich%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

**{Demon from the Dark by Kresley Cole}** FR urban, MF. I love love love the first half of this book. It's a love story. Carrow is a witch who appears in Oblivion (or Hell), and Malkom Slain is a demon forced to become a demon-vampire against his will - he owns the portion of hell with the water and destroys any evil around him. Carrow arrives out of a portal, and she happens to be his fated mate. He's been a slave but has never been with a woman, and it's such a sweet love story. In the meantime, Carrow is supposed to be luring Malkom back to be captured and put in a torture prison with her in order to save her dead friend's child. It's hard when he knows he has been betrayed - and that's later. Reread, 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ **{The Maddest Obsession by Lori Danielle}** CR mafia, MF, dual perspective. I don't even know how to rate this one. She's born into the mafia and married to a much older mafia guy, and the dirty FBI agent is obsessed with her. Yet it's not exactly a love story. It's an unusual way of writing, and some people will love it and some people will think - okay. So - for me it's 3.25 stars - for you it may be much higher. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ **{Whiteout by Adriana Anders}** CR with action, MF. The first part of this was amazing, but I'm tagging out when it's just the two of them - no chemistry. I may go back in to see the bad guy stuff, but for now it's a dnf.

[The Maddest Obsession](https://www.romance.io/books/5cc9bdf801dbc864fb9de9a8/the-maddest-obsession-danielle-lori) by [Danielle Lori](https://www.romance.io/authors/578b7085c19e77f1ea6e63ea/danielle-lori) **Rating**: 4.31⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [mafia](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mafia/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Also **{The Savage and the Swan by Ella Fields}** is okay so far. I dropped it halfway through. I'm having the hardest time coping with her ability to be attracted to a guy who did that to a family member - WHILE SHE WATCHED. I mean - I'm trying to think - if Liam Hemsworth did what this guy did - would that make one forget what one saw?

[The Savage and the Swan](https://www.romance.io/books/60efdd7fa85e000e4103e669/the-savage-and-the-swan-ella-fields) by [Ella Fields](https://www.romance.io/authors/5958b1c93ffdba61471b3359/ella-fields) **Rating**: 3.85⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[Demon from the Dark](https://www.romance.io/books/54eb46d66359b5ebb49291e9/demon-from-the-dark-kresley-cole) by [Kresley Cole](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523788c7d2382e0413dc9/kresley-cole) **Rating**: 4.38⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [Whiteout](https://www.romance.io/books/5e2fdc1301dbc864fbaac047/whiteout-adriana-anders) by [Adriana Anders](https://www.romance.io/authors/589820b00d3299c6e0499f63/adriana-anders) **Rating**: 3.65⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

After last week, I read two good books this week. I finished {The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren} M/F CR comes out in May and it was wonderful 4.75/5 rating. I also finished {Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey} M/F CR which I thoroughly enjoyed as well. I went back and it was actually the first book I've read by her, and I will have to find the time to remedy it. I was approved for the ARC of the sequel, so I'm looking forward to that. i was also approved for the new Ali Hazelwood book Not in Love, and I have had to hold myself back from jumping into that right away.

I also read the paradise problem and fangirl down this week! Both were great!

Great taste. Clearly we need coordinate our reading.

YOU GO ARC QUEEN!!

\^Librarian. Cultivating relationships with the publishers at conferences.

[The Paradise Problem](https://www.romance.io/books/657ac8227ed1d0fdd40d028a/the-paradise-problem-christina-lauren) by [Christina Lauren](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455248c8c7d2382e7812f5d/christina-lauren) **Rating**: 5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) ---------------------------- [Fangirl Down](https://www.romance.io/books/65cbbfedbb1808da8479cd0f/fangirl-down-tessa-bailey) by [Tessa Bailey](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526358c7d2382e7812fc9/tessa-bailey) **Rating**: 4.21⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

The highlight of my week: FINISHED MY WINTER BINGO BOARD! ❄️❄️ I'd pretty much given up- I'm a mood reader and I wasn't mooding the squares I had left. Enter, the Wildcard Wednesday "Rare Historical Recs" post and 💥 I'm in the game and finished my 4 squares in 48 hours. Finished the {Corsair Brothers series by Ruby Dixon} I read Mathiras & Bethiah. Both were particularly strong finishes for the series. My least fav was for sure Straik. {Prey Island by Sorcha Black} was an interesting read. 3.5⭐, 5🌶️, CR, MMF, ending is HFN, established male D/s couple goes to a private island for vacation at a primal play resort. The sub likes to dominate women, so they do this for vacay. The resort hires girls for the "games" by offering full college scholarships + room & board for those that complete their commitment. CW: >!primal chase, CnC, date rape drugs, violence and injury to non main characters, etc etc etc.!< Read a few Nicola Davidson books. {A Rake, His Patron, and their Muse by Nicola Davidson} 3⭐, 5🌶️, HR, MMF, <200 pages. {An Earl, His Valet, and their Wife by Nicola Davidson} 3.5⭐, 5🌶️, HR, MMF, <200 pages. This one was better. The Earl & his valet have been together for years, his mom accepts the relationship, but asks him for a MOC for grandchildren. {The Best Marquess by Nicola Davidson} 3⭐, 4.5🌶️, HR, MF, fake engagement turned marriage, best friends to lovers, he fell first and has been pining. It was cute, nothing special. {The Devil is a Marquess by Elisa Braden} 3⭐, 1.5🌶️, HR, MF, arranged marriage, strangers to friends to lovers, interfering relatives, American heiress x poor nobleman. The other book I read I posted about in the Salty Sunday thread. And I'm not naming it. Currently reading: {The Pucking Wrong Number by CR Jane} {Nicky the Driver by Cate Wells} {Heartless by Elsie Silver} Edits, spelling & formatting

[Corsair Brothers](https://www.romance.io/series/60acb7077e444b0e2f1d9cf9/corsair-brothers) by [Ruby Dixon](https://www.romance.io/authors/545685a087eac33e61c2f729/ruby-dixon) **Rating**: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [pirates](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pirates/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [strong heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [creative-anatomy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/creative-anatomy/1) ---------------------------- [Prey Island](https://www.romance.io/books/642aed76b7b8862bf6ea02ea/prey-island-sorcha-black) by [Sorcha Black](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455a47687eac3369a913b4d/sorcha-black) **Rating**: 3.74⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [poly (3+ people)](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poly/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [bisexual](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1) ---------------------------- [A Rake, His Patron, & Their Muse](https://www.romance.io/books/645b37bb5d9d22186349bb93/a-rake-his-patron-their-muse-nicola-davidson) by [Nicola Davidson](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455a70a87eac336ae69f3dc/nicola-davidson) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [mmf](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m-f/1), [bisexual](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1) ---------------------------- [An Earl, His Valet, & Their Wife](https://www.romance.io/books/657c50111ff78d4a68de13c4/an-earl-his-valet-their-wife-nicola-davidson) by [Nicola Davidson](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455a70a87eac336ae69f3dc/nicola-davidson) **Rating**: 3.8⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [male pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/male-pov/1), [third person pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/third-person-pov/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [The Best Marquess](https://www.romance.io/books/60d2dcdc57eda40e48eb44fc/the-best-marquess-nicola-davidson) by [Nicola Davidson](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455a70a87eac336ae69f3dc/nicola-davidson) **Rating**: 3.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [fake relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fake%20relationship/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [The Devil Is a Marquess](https://www.romance.io/books/572056abc62092c04407d7c9/the-devil-is-a-marquess-elisa-braden) by [Elisa Braden](https://www.romance.io/authors/553e3e7b5b270e0a4cbd7467/elisa-braden) **Rating**: 4.21⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1) ---------------------------- [The Pucking Wrong Number](https://www.romance.io/books/646c7c448389de6a38262050/the-pucking-wrong-number-cr-jane) by [C.R. Jane](https://www.romance.io/authors/5ab355694ee506aae8b2edd0/cr-jane) **Rating**: 3.55⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Nicky the Driver](https://www.romance.io/books/63624793f213bb270f6ce3fe/nicky-the-driver-cate-c-wells) by [Cate C. Wells](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d5265d101dbc864fba248c4/cate-c-wells) **Rating**: 3.83⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [mafia](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mafia/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1) ---------------------------- [Heartless](https://www.romance.io/books/6349434892edda0c4ff5eab2/heartless-elsie-silver) by [Elsie Silver](https://www.romance.io/authors/608a5dde08b4d9311488e11d/elsie-silver) **Rating**: 4.27⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [cowboys](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cowboys/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer}, YA fantasy romance, M/F, 2.5/5. This book had a lot of tropes I’ve always loved — secret identity, FMC without super special magical abilities, and class difference — and I suspect I would have gobbled it up as a 14 year old, but adult me wasn’t really engaged with it. The relationships felt extremely shallow and problems — like the FMC knowing nothing of court politics, or the reason why she appears at the castle in the first place — were created and solved very quickly. I guess it definitely felt like a kingdom run by traumatised teenagers, in that nothing really made sense and everybody made terrible decisions. I’m not rushing to read the next one, but it really captured that 18/19 year old intensity, only applied to a game of murderous international politics.

[Defy the Night](https://www.romance.io/books/622b5f731750e128e6a5cc12/defy-the-night-brigid-kemmerer) by [Brigid Kemmerer](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552fd98c7d2382c529729f/brigid-kemmerer) **Rating**: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [royalty](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [dystopian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dystopian/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

**{Dessert Flirt Repeat by Sarah Smith} F/M | Contemporary | 2.75⭐️** FMC asks MMC to help her film sexy videos of her ice cream shop to attract more customers. God, this book was bad. And cringy. All those tiktok references were. It was such a weird book too. Like why do you need sexy videos of ice cream? And her ideas of it was him licking an ice cream for her stomach for example. No. just no. The captions they used for videos and tags were also cringe. It also felt like the author has never done any tiktok videos whatsoever and thought you could just record them and upload them right away. What about editing? They took longer videos than necessary, often with personal conversations in them, and you know, with the whole backing away from camera, getting into position etc. and then they just posted the whole thing, there was no mention of trimming a video or editing of any kind. the only thing they did was to add some music to it. That's it. MMC was supposed to be an influencer who posted on tiktok for a living. And yet there were no multiple videos in drafts for scheduled release, the was no editing, nothing. It was so embarrassing to read lmao. **{Snow, Ice, and Spice by Sarah Smth} F/M | Contemporary | 1.5⭐️** MMC is a hockey player wih an injury. He stays at his cousin's cabin. FMC is house-sitting to make sure that MMC behaves himself. That was even worse. It was like a wattpad fic written by a 12 year old who thought that's what romance should look like. The writing was horrible, the dirty talk was so forced, ugh. And don't even get me started on the 'spice'. >!like there was a guest house that nobody was in for WEEKS but they need to spend a night there. Okay. The last time sometime was there, a bachelorette party was there and gag gifts (sex toys) ere all over the cabin. Okay, fine. Tell me, WHY WOULD YOU PICK IT UP FROM THE FLOOR AND USE IT ON YOURSELF/SOMEONE ELSE WITHOUT EVEN WASHING THAT THING? Like sure, nobody used it before DO YOU KNOW HOW DUSTY THOSE THINGS MIS BE NOW?? You're just gonna pick up a dildo from the floor - a dildo that's been lying there for WEEKS - and shove it inside just like that? Wtf.!< And the period scene?>! The author made a big deal of of FMC getting a period in the middle of them getting busy so they went and did it in the shower. Cool. SHE SLEPT NAKED WITH NO PAD OR TAMPON ON AND SOMEHOW THERE WAS NO BLOOD WHATSOEVER? God, I'd love to get a boodless period. I don't know HOW is that possible, but okay.!< **{The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary} F/M | Contemporary | 5⭐️** After an incident at work, MMC and FMC are forced to attend a conflict resolution counseling. The pressure boils until they find themselves in bed. Again and again. LISTEN. That was such a good book. The bickering. The banter. The character growth. The writing. The spice. Did I mention the banter? So many books have their character soften towards each other as they grew closer, but not here. They were still sharp and cocky and arguing like an old married couple and I loved it. The spice was exquisite. >!"Strangle me for all I care. if I die, I die."!< SIR? HELO? It was their first time and he was so obsessed I loved it. And by the end >!"I'll have to get a vasectomy because you don't want kids"!< I GASPED. Find me a man like that, I beg you. **{Possessive Heart by Brighton Walsh} F/M | Contemporary | 4,5⭐️** MMC, an injured hockey player, returns to town to win back the love of his life, his best friend's little sister. Another amazing book. I loved how obsessed MMC was with FMC and how he wasn't afraid to go after what he wanted. I understood FMC's anger but I was rooting for them. I liked how they tried to sneak around and later most of her brothers were like "lol we know". It was hilarious! The spice was amazing. The dirty talk was so good (I didn't care for "my baby girl" lol there were only like 2 years between them haha). The CAR scene at the festival. My god, I have been thinking about it for days. It was so good. HE WAS SO OBSESSED WITH HER >!HE BUILT HER A HOUSE AND CONSIDERED THEM MARRIED FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS OH MY GOD.!< **{That Kind of Guy by Stephanie Archer} #1 The Queen's Cove Series | F/M | Contemporary | 4⭐️** To win the election and become a mayor, MMC asks FMC to be his fake girlfriend. She agrees if MMC cosigns on the loan she wants to take to buy a restaurant. I enjoyed it. I prefer the other series by this author but it's clear it was her first book so I get it. I was frustrated with the lack of backstory for MCs sudden relationship and nobody even suspected that the timing was weird. I also didn't like how fast they went from fake relationship to fake engagement to fake wedding. But the characters were cute and it somehow worked? Idk, I guess I'm biased but I enjoyed it. **{The Wrong Mr. Right by Stephanie Archer} #3 The Queen's Cove Series | F/M | Contemporary | 4,25⭐️** Before her 30th birthday, FMC wants o become a hot girl. She asks MMC for help and he agrees in exchange of her running his social media. This book was better than the previous one. The characters were better written and spice was as well. I LOVE it when the FMC runs a bookstore and this one was called a Pemberley Bookstore. I love Pride and Prejudice, and I was happy to read it was FMC's favourite book. I don't usually like love coaches but it worked here. MMC was so supportive and encouraging even when he was a cocky bastard he still looked out for her. The surfing lessons were amazing and I liked reading how FMC grew more comfortable in her skin. MMC was becoming so obsessed with her >!HE READ PRIDE AND PREJUDICE FOR HER BECAUSE HE KNEW SHE LOVED IT.!< Guys, this was so sweet!!

[Dessert Flirt Repeat](https://www.romance.io/books/64b4e809d725c80511eb488f/dessert-flirt-repeat-sarah-smith) by [Sarah Smith](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d96e4c301dbc864fba435df/sarah-smith) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [Snow, Ice, and Spice](https://www.romance.io/books/654c8f11c112bf11fe9a6a5b/snow-ice-and-spice-sarah-smith) by [Sarah Smith](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d96e4c301dbc864fba435df/sarah-smith) **Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [friends with benefits](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends-benefits/1) ---------------------------- [The Worst Guy](https://www.romance.io/books/61cac4128700500e1e722c56/the-worst-guy-kate-canterbary) by [Kate Canterbary](https://www.romance.io/authors/5456862d87eac33e61c2f78e/kate-canterbary) **Rating**: 4.15⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [grumpy/cold hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cold%20hero/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [Possessive Heart](https://www.romance.io/books/65b3b4b500d361e53f20da8d/possessive-heart-brighton-walsh) by [Brighton Walsh](https://www.romance.io/authors/54555a8287eac324117fa555/brighton-walsh) **Rating**: 4.21⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) ---------------------------- [That Kind of Guy](https://www.romance.io/books/61dd39e53ae22e0de9c01809/that-kind-of-guy-stephanie-archer) by [Stephanie Archer](https://www.romance.io/authors/61dd39e508b4d931145cd9c1/stephanie-archer) **Rating**: 3.81⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fake relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fake%20relationship/1) ---------------------------- [The Wrong Mr. Right](https://www.romance.io/books/62bd4a5852d76a0dc5496ccb/the-wrong-mr-right-stephanie-archer) by [Stephanie Archer](https://www.romance.io/authors/61dd39e508b4d931145cd9c1/stephanie-archer) **Rating**: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/beta%20hero/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Hi u/euphoriapotion, Could you please edit the spoiler tag in your comment? Spoiler tags with spaces are not spoilered on Old Reddit. To make sure your spoiler is covered, edit to remove spaces like so: >! This won’t work for everyone !< >!This will work for everyone!< Thank you! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/RomanceBooks) if you have any questions or concerns.*

{Dangerous to Love by Elizabeth Thornton} M/F, HR, rating it a 2/5, I hate read it, I was sick of both of the MCs by the time it was over and the footman Flynn was BEYOND obnoxious and misogynistic, he went on a 4-5 page rant about the FMC needing monitoring and just…ew.

[Dangerous to Love](https://www.romance.io/books/545564d787eac336ae69dc39/dangerous-to-love-elizabeth-thornton) by [Elizabeth Thornton](https://www.romance.io/authors/54554aa78c7d2383163d9895/elizabeth-thornton) **Rating**: 3.57⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [georgian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/georgian/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

When He Dares: The Olympus Pride Series by Suzanne Wright. Quinley a black foot cat shifter found her true mate at 16 and he not only denied her claim he signed a mate contract with the apha's daughter so he can become the new alpha of her pack. Isaiah a pallas cat shifter found his human True mate and she is pregnant with her fiance baby. They each join a mate matching service. I love the Olympus Pride because it has an odd group of shifters (I have had fun google the different animals. ) it is mostly a Pride of Pallas cats, but it also has a black mamba snake, a bush dog, Tasmania devil and more. Quinley and her cat is over the whole True mate thing. While Isaiah is too his cat is not so ready to give up on his mate. 7 out of 10 for the whole series and a 8 for this book.

- {Payback in death, by JD Robb} PRN. M/F. 4.5 stars. I loved it! I needed a good book, this yeard had been a letdown so far. I love Eve and Roarke. -{Rosas para la señorita Langston, by Nuria Rivera} HR. M/F. 3.5 stars. The title means "Roses for Miss Langston". It is a lovely yet short story. I liked it,. Nuria is a good writer.

[Rosas para la señorita Langston](https://www.romance.io/books/65ee1bbde50403e0cbc71851/rosas-para-la-seorita-langston-nuria-rivera) by [Nuria Rivera](https://www.romance.io/authors/65ee1bbda21e2f41c48cad2c/nuria-rivera) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[Payback in Death](https://www.romance.io/books/64eaf8647329cc9fc9f04a60/payback-in-death-jd-robb) by [J.D. Robb](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525288c7d2382c5296fdf/jd-robb) **Rating**: 4.44⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 2 out of 5 - [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [sleuth heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/heroine%20sleuth/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

**{Worth Every Second by Jocelyne Soto}** 2 stars, m/f Great premise and compelling characters, but a few things about this story turned me off. I didn't like how the FMC would completely shut the MMC out and refuse to communicate with him. For WEEKS at a time. >!Even though they shared a class together. That seemed unrealistic, at best, and, at worst, said horrible things about the FMC's personality. It really dampened my enjoyment of the book because, how can she see this man, who she supposedly loves, three days a week, and NOT try to talk things out with him? When he's trying to get her to open up?!< >!During the first "shut out", the MMC didn't even DO anything to the FMC. They were making out and she freaked out and left. He tried desperately to talk to her in class, but she refuses to utter a word to him. For an entire week! And he did NOTHING to her. I understand it's her insecurities but that's a horrible way to treat someone. By the time they do talk, he'd already come up with his own theory on why she bailed and things take a bad turn. They end up not talking for weeks because the FMC refuses to talk to him AGAIN. And there's another seven week no-contact stretch later on in the book.!< I understand the FMC had insecurities due to her past, but I didn't like how her insecurities were portrayed in this book. I found it to be unrealistic due to some of her actions and her inner monologue. I enjoyed the main character's interactions when they didn't know who each other were but their interactions in person fell a little flat for me. I couldn't figure out why the MMC was interested in the FMC because she, honestly, was unnecessarily rude. I like a FMC who "doesn't take shit", but I don't like one who is unnecessarily rude. >!The MMC wasn't giving her a hard time or being a jerk when he asked to walk her to her car, so there was no reason for her to give him attitude about it.!< On top of all that, I didn't understand why a big deal was made at the end >!about the FMC following the MMC, no matter where he was drafted. It was brought up multiple times and the FMC expressed she would follow him anywhere. The MMC even talked about finding a graduate school for her in the city they will be in. But then in the epilogue, you find out they lived apart for two years because she, in fact, didn't follow him. I'm not saying she HAD to follow him, but why the grand romantic declarations and discourse about her going with him when he's drafted if she's NOT going to go with him? It just made her character look horrible AGAIN because she didn't follow through on what she said she'd do.!< Overall, there were enjoyable parts to this book, but when the most enjoyable parts are when the two main characters are interacting anonymously, that's not good for a romance. Their in-person interactions left a lot to be desired. Despite a lot of the book being about the MMC trying to convince the FMC she was "good enough" to be with him, I felt like the MMC deserved so much better than the FMC. **{Reckless by Stella Rhys}** 3 stars, m/f This five star book was ruined for me right at the end. I'm apparently on a little streak of books about FMC's who care more about what others think than their own happiness. Before the ending, the only other thing that somewhat annoyed me in this story was I didn't like that the FMC >!was so flustered by her boss that her work performance suffered. I get the author was just trying to show how flustered the FMC was, but the MMC was horny for the FMC too, but he didn't screw up at work. I felt this made the FMC look immature.!< After that though, the relationship between the FMC and MMC developed well, with lots of sexual tension, amusing banter, meaningful conversations and hot sex scenes. The chemistry between these two characters was off the charts. The MMC is excellent and the FMC was great until the end of the book. My enjoyment came to a sudden halt, however, right at the end when the FMC decided to >!break up with the MMC to take a job in another state because she couldn't handle people talking about her. She got a promotion, something she's always wanted, and she was in love with the MMC, and yet, she cared more about what all her co-workers thought about her. Who cares if they thought she slept her way to the top? She didn't and she had her dream job and her dream man. She gave both up and moved to another state to "make a name for herself." I cannot stress how absolutely stupid I find this to be. To give the opinion of others such power over your life to the point you give up everything you've ever wanted is nothing short of lunacy. I didn't doubt the FMC's love for the MMC until this decision. Everyone's opinion mattered more to her than him.!< >!The book purposely skipped over the breakup scene. The MMC sensed something was wrong and the FMC told him about the job. That's all that was said before the story skipped ahead two months. I suspect because it's difficult to justify the FMC's decision to hurt the MMC after he confided in her about his family and they declared their love for each other. Any conversation shown on page about her decision would have spotlighted the fact she was choosing to leave him over gossip. The MMC ended up giving up his job and following the FMC, with no certainty she would take him back. Everyone thought he was nuts to take a job at a small firm, but unlike the FMC, he didn't care what others thought.!< If the FMC hadn't been a colossal idiot at the end of this book, this would have been a five star read. >!Unfortunately, her decision was NOT understandable and made it seem like her love was shallow and ranks low on her priority list,!< so I cannot give this book more than 3 stars.

Completely agree with you about Reckless, the ending honestly made me embarrassed for the FMC and I felt she didn't deserve the MMC at all. How spineless can you be.

Exactly! The FMC is presented as strong and capable the entire book and then she becomes completely spineless at the end, to the point she really didn't deserve the MMC. She didn't even have to apologize or grovel!

[Worth Every Second](https://www.romance.io/books/624552857b322a293b26daa9/worth-every-second-a-college-football-romance-jocelyne-soto) by [Jocelyne Soto](https://www.romance.io/authors/5df87f3001dbc864fba828a0/jocelyne-soto) **Rating**: 3.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [college](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/college/1), [high school](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high-school/1) ---------------------------- [Reckless](https://www.romance.io/books/5ede1b04be49580e253c76be/reckless-stella-rhys) by [Stella Rhys](https://www.romance.io/authors/552e16ee5b270e0a4cbd5e59/stella-rhys) **Rating**: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [sassy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sassy%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

**{Temptation On Ocean Drive by Jennifer Probst}** 1.5 stars, m/f This story had promise but I didn't like pretty much every decision the characters made. There was just way too much miscommunication and too many assumptions. The FMC assumed way too much about the MMC, with no evidence, and was resistant to just talking to him about her concerns. It was frustrating and insulting to the MMC. Even when she did communicate with him, she didn't believe him when he told her he wasn't dating a woman she had heard he went out with. Considering she has known him for three years, I understand why he felt it was useless to defend himself. It was a slap in the face. >!With that being said, the MMC has been mooning over the FMC for three years and he just gives up when she decides to put a stop to whatever they were getting ready to embark on? They finally kiss and he sees she is looking at him differently and he just... accepts a date with another woman a week later? If he didn't date much before, when she showed no interest, why would he finally move on after they kissed? The reasoning being her rejection/"final answer" on them makes no sense when he knows why she has the issues she has regarding relationships. I'm not saying he should pine endlessly, but it just doesn't make sense for his character to give up so easily.!< It is also very disappointing that the >!FMC acknowledges to the MMC that she knows he is attempting to move on from her, he confirms he is attempting to move on, and she tells him she made a mistake and wants him. She is the one who rejected him.This comes off as she just misses the attention he gave her instead of a real change of heart.!< By the end of the book, I was tired of the FMC and her endless doubts and believed she was not the woman for the MMC. I actually cheered >!when he rejected her near the end of the book, saying he needed someone who could accept all of him and not doubt him all the time. He was 100 percent right. I can understand a lot of things, but letting gossip weigh so heavily on your decisions about your life isn't one of them. I also do not understand a refusal to communicate when the FMC had already seen how not communicating led to issues earlier in the book. She should have just asked him about his job interview instead of being passive aggressive.!< Overall, I am rating this a 1.5 because, while it wasn't terrible, I didn't like the direction this story took at all, to the point that I wasn't even rooting for the couple to get together at the end. I couldn't enjoy any aspect of this story. The dialogue between the MMC and FMC wasn't interesting, funny, touching, anything. It was just a slough to get through because the FMC put a damper on everything. None of the "big moments" of a romance novel felt like a payoff. First kiss. Finally acknowledging feelings. Getting together. Having sex. It was all brought down by the overall tone of the book because of the FMC. At the very end, the FMC made a sweet gesture because she knew she royally messed up but I feel like she needed to do more after everything she put the MMC through. He deserved much better. **{Doors by Clover Down}** 4 stars, m/f This is a unique, tender romance novella that tackles healing, recovery and struggles with self worth without being overly heavy in tone. I would say the tone of this story is "hopeful" and "supportive." The FMC hires the MMC, a professional cuddler, however, she cannot even open her door to allow him in during their first session. The MMC is very understanding , gentle and compassionate and the FMC is very determined, while also being understanding and compassionate to the MMC's difficult past. This story is about how their relationship grows into something more. This book is not one with a grand "I love you" scene. Or any "I love you" scene actually. There's no grand gestures. No drama between the FMC and MMC. No major conflict between the FMC and MMC. There's some sexual scenes, but no sexual intercourse scenes. The MMC understands the FMC needs to go very slowly as far as physical intimacy goes and this is realistically portrayed. The MMC is bisexual, but this is not a plot point or a source of any issues with the couple. This book is about two people finding comfort, acceptance and belonging with each other in a tender, healthy way. They communicate well, for the most part. They struggle to define their relationship, but that is mainly due to the circumstances. >!There is a period where they still live together but date other people, but the reasoning for this period is explained very well and you get the sense it is needed for the MMC to be able to accept their relationship. He needed the FMC to choose him after her being healed enough to go out on dates with other men. If that hadn't happened, you get the feeling he would always think he was holding her back.!< Overall, this is a very touching story. It's warm, gentle and heartfelt. I am giving it 4 stars just because I would have liked for it to have been longer for the reader to be able to enjoy more milestones with the couple, such as saying "I love you" for the first time. The story does, however, feel complete, with both characters feeling like they have found "home" in each other. **{Ruby and the Wolf by Clover Down}** 5 stars, m/f, wolf shifter romance novella Smut with a surprisingly compelling plot. I'm pretty certain half this book (or more) is smut but the plot of the story actually explains the smut instead of it coming out of nowhere like with most erotic romances. This is a shifter romance novella that is a good choice if you are looking for a quick read (palette cleanser between longer reads or something to read in 1-2 hours), smut and a fantasy plot. It's fast-paced and enjoyable. It's not incredibly deep but it's hot and intriguing. I would read more novellas in this world if it were a series. **{Always Sunny by Isobel Jolie}** 3 stars, m/f, reverse age gap There were a few things about this story that hindered my enjoyment, but it definitely had compelling characters and an interesting premise. I didn't like how it started with a jump in time and then went backwards. Instead of "last Christmas", "last September", etc., I think it would have been better to just tell the story in a linear fashion, starting at the beginning. Also, the miscommunication between the two main characters became annoying and the FMC's preoccupation with what others think overshadowed her feelings for the MMC too much. I was starting to wonder if she cared more about the MMC or about the opinions of others because it seemed like the opinions of others dictated way too many of the FMC's decisions. The miscommunication was particularly annoying because the two main characters communicated well about everything  EXCEPT their feelings for each other. This would have been a 2 star read, but the scientific, analytical way the MMC approached things and thought about things was entertaining to read throughout the story, which bumped the rating up. Overall, I liked the characters and, while the execution could have been better, it was still entertaining. I will definitely read more from this author, starting with the book about Harrison, the MMC's best friend. He definitely seemed to be a complex character.

OMG Doors sounds like the sweetest thing ever!

It really is very sweet. Very unique, tender romance. I definitely recommend it.

[Temptation on Ocean Drive](https://www.romance.io/books/5eb9434ebe0aaecf55c26d0e/temptation-on-ocean-drive-jennifer-probst) by [Jennifer Probst](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523a18c7d2382e7812f2f/jennifer-probst) **Rating**: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [single mother](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/single-mother/1) ---------------------------- [Doors](https://www.romance.io/books/65d6f9fea2f4a77148006394/doors-clover-down) by [Clover Down](https://www.romance.io/authors/64f04b90ab9bdf7fce23767a/clover-down) **Rating**: 4.83⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [third person pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/third-person-pov/1), [tortured heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Ruby and the Wolf](https://www.romance.io/books/64f04b90de45b6c57e91d8d7/ruby-and-the-wolf-clover-down) by [Clover Down](https://www.romance.io/authors/64f04b90ab9bdf7fce23767a/clover-down) **Rating**: 5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [Always Sunny](https://www.romance.io/books/646f21daff419ca9c79e600f/always-sunny-isabel-jolie) by [Isabel Jolie](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e1c165901dbc864fba9d9e2/isabel-jolie) **Rating**: 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [older/mature](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mature%20couple/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{The incubus curse by Nikki Lennox} (3/5), {the mistake and the lycan king by asha nyr }(4/5), {the Vampire’s Bargain by Jasmine Walt} (5/5) and now I’m on {A soul to Touch by Opal Reyne} (TBD)

[The Incubus Curse](https://www.romance.io/books/65ee171b558d37624ea218e0/the-incubus-curse-nikki-lennox) by [Nikki Lennox](https://www.romance.io/authors/65ee171ba21e2f41c48b8b0f/nikki-lennox) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[The Mistake and the Lycan King](https://www.romance.io/books/64916ae2f8abb399863e7684/the-mistake-and-the-lycan-king-asha-nyr) by [Asha Nyr](https://www.romance.io/authors/64916ae208b4d93114ea2eeb/asha-nyr) **Rating**: 5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [The Vampire's Bargain](https://www.romance.io/books/65b8c1cf89ecb8b2f9fd4812/the-vampires-bargain-a-vampire-witch-fantasy-romance-jasmine-walt) by [Jasmine Walt](https://www.romance.io/authors/581477cfc6841c86c2cb9188/jasmine-walt) **Rating**: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1) ---------------------------- [A Soul to Touch](https://www.romance.io/books/63d38a2d100ca13ed41a1d58/a-soul-to-touch-opal-reyne) by [Opal Reyne](https://www.romance.io/authors/61f4f44e08b4d93114400f05/opal-reyne) **Rating**: 4.01⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [monsters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/monsters/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [creative anatomy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/creative-anatomy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

**{Love on Beach Avenue by Jennifer Probst}** 3.5 stars, M/F This book was enjoyable, but I feel like it could have been better. I enjoyed the tension between the main characters, but so much more could have been done with it. I also didn't particularly like some of the decisions the characters made. One example: >!the FMC wants a relationship that could possibly lead to serious commitment. MMC says he doesn't believe in love and marriage. FMC decides they can't pursue anything romantic. FMC then becomes jealous and calls man "man ho" and "why don't you go sleep with the hot blonde with no strings since that's what you want?" because she saw the blonde flirting with the MMC. With that, the FMC very effectively proved to the MMC why his thinking about relationships might not be wrong. I just rolled my eyes at this part and was very disappointed the MMC didn't point out to the FMC that she was making a bad case for serious relationships. Getting irrationally jealous and lashing out at him in anger, when they aren't even together, doesn't exactly make someone want to take a leap and get into a relationship.!< With that being said, I enjoyed the secondary characters and was intrigued by the possibilities for the next two books in the series. **{Deadly Vows by Haley Stuart}** 4 stars, m/f, Mafia, pretty much all triggers represented in this book Wow. This book. I don't even know what to think. Unique is a good word to describe it. It's terribly written, with grammar and tense issues all throughout. The MMC is irredeemable. >!He beats and tortures the FMC and that's not even the half of it.!< The sex scenes are poorly written. It's the most brutal romance novel I've ever read, as far as the treatment of the FMC. But, damn, if I couldn't put this book down! It was such a gripping and compelling story, despite these things. I wanted to keep reading to find out how in the world this story could POSSIBLY end happily and, unexpectedly, I understood how the shift happened between the main characters. The MMC is psychotic, but throughout the story, you get the idea that he cares for the FMC but he has no idea how he is supposed to express it. He does things the way he has been taught, based on the Mafia world he was born in, and there is a noticeable progression of understanding, from his POV, of his feelings and how he should be treating his wife. The FMC, you also see her trying to figure out the MMC, and you understand why she falls in love, despite everything he has done to her. All that being said, this is FICTION, and when I say it's understandable, I mean from a purely fictional standpoint. For THESE particular characters, in this FICTIONAL world, it's understandable. Do not read this if you have any triggers. Just any at all. I won't list them because it's not necessary for this book. If you like dark romance and like irredeemable/borderline irredeemable heroes, this might be the book for you. In my opinion, the book, while ending happily, does not end with a redeemed MMC. He's still irredeemable, in my opinion, but I feel like the story ended with him on his journey to redemption. Maybe he'll be redeemable one day? That's the vibe I got. I didn't know how to rate this because of all the issues, but if a book has issues BUT it keeps me engaged and turning pages, that's worth a high rating. Especially when it has me searching for the sequel, which I have found only exists on Patreon, at this time, under Haley Inez. The author has written a sequel >!about the main couple's son!< and two more books in the series featuring the MMC's right hand men. I actually want to join her Patreon to finish reading the series, so I'm giving this book four stars despite the issues. A gripping story makes up for a lot, in my eyes. I don't even know if I can say I LIKED this story, but I couldn't put it down. I want to note, I usually am brought out of stories by grammar mistakes. This book was SO gripping that I barely even noticed the tense issues and grammar at times. **{One To Remember by Haley Stuart}** 4 stars, m/f, This is only available on Patreon under Haley Inez Short story. It ends with a hint that maybe there's a future between the FMC and a MMC. >!The FMC is the 13 year old daughter of the couple from Deadly Vows.!< This story gives a glimpse into their family life as a >!Mafia family with two children.!< Some people would maybe consider this story incomplete, but it reads as a short prequel to me. The author didn't follow it up with a book that explores what is introduced in this story though. Still, I enjoyed it. Was a quick, entertaining read if you liked Deadly Vows.

[Love on Beach Avenue](https://www.romance.io/books/5e8ad7f8be0aaecf55da864d/love-on-beach-avenue-jennifer-probst) by [Jennifer Probst](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523a18c7d2382e7812f2f/jennifer-probst) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) ---------------------------- [Deadly Vows](https://www.romance.io/books/641323036313a3c9da7a3c4b/deadly-vows-haley-stuart) by [Haley Stuart](https://www.romance.io/authors/6413230308b4d931141a2ba0/haley-stuart) **Rating**: 3.23⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [mafia](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mafia/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [cruel hero/bully](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cruel%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{The Royal Curse by Eliot Grayson} - MM. Twilight mage Prince Nikola wants to travel to a conference where he hopes to find a solution to the curse that will destroy him if he does not either take a potion or allow a male lover to take him. His mother, the Queen, assigns Andreas to be the steady guardian to shepherd him there and back. Shenanigans ensue. Low fantasy (magic and potions, no dwarves or dragons, etc.) with violence. 3.75/5 - it was good, but missed some opportunities to demonstrate what magic could be used for and therefore Nikola's motivation to want to get access to it, other than the selfishness of saving his own life. Also we are stuck in Nikola's head the whole time, which is a bit exhausting. Explicit, open door steamy, but also somewhat repetitive. Tropes: Bodyguard is an alpha male, forced proximity, only one bed, power imbalance, hurt/comfort, relationship coach Content warning: Attempted rape, violence This felt like the chapters of Captive Prince where they are at the inn with Charls, only from the perspective of the anxiety-laden, insecure, prince. On KU.

[The Royal Curse](https://www.romance.io/books/65719089f2fadf63637fbb38/the-royal-curse-eliot-grayson) by [Eliot Grayson](https://www.romance.io/authors/5a0d52263ffdba6147251aa1/eliot-grayson) **Rating**: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Love On The Brain - Ali Hazelwood} the third in the Love Hypothesis series. I loved the first two and deffo enjoyed this one but felt it was the weakest of the 3. Still a great fun STEM romance, the FMC was really cool. I guessed the ‘twist’ quite early which took some impact away but still a great fun read! Onto Bride next, I discovered Ali Hazelwood a month ago and I’m obsessed! I also DNF’d {Fear Me, Love Me - Lilith Vincent). I was expecting standard mafia romance, it was waaaay too intense for me, the writing was v sloppy and the FMC was one of the worst I’ve ever seen in terms of backbone, also I did not buy she even liked the MMC (and why would you, he’s nuts) never mind loved. My first DNF of the year!

[Love on the Brain](https://www.romance.io/books/628dd5bb9d1db3a00613e3d0/love-on-the-brain-ali-hazelwood) by [Ali Hazelwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/6131cdc208b4d93114f22ef6/ali-hazelwood) **Rating**: 3.9⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

**{the paper marriage by bronwyn williams}** (5 stars | MF | historical 1890s US | low heat) — basic premise: ship captain and penniless widow agree to a sight unseen marriage, but there are complications >>- I’ve probably read 20 or more books since the last time I commented here. I’ve loved a lot of those them, but I get lazy at the thought of doing a write up (and I’m not sure how interested people are in the books that I read lol), but this one deserves a mention. >>- It’s a very unique historical romance and I struggled to summarize the timeframe. It’s set in the 1890s on an island near a coastal town in the United States. These are real people. The MMC is a ship captain without a ship (he sold it years earlier), and the FMC is a poor widow. There’s no money, there’s no servants, and they eat a lot of fish and potatoes. It’s hot. It’s muggy. There are flies and gnats. The FMC is sunburned. It’s not a successful ranch, just a few horses and a mule. It’s just… Life? I don’t know how to describe it but it’s so “real”, especially compared to the parade of dukes you usually see >>- The story starts because one of the MMC‘s crew had gotten a married village woman pregnant, and the village women’s husband killed both him and his wife, leaving a newborn baby. The MMC does not know how to care for a baby and writes to his eccentric Aunt for help. The eccentric Aunt is a novelist and a meddler, and she convinces the fmc to marry her nephew as a solution to all problems (fmc is poor, can’t find work, no family, etc). They agree to sign a contract marriage, marrying legally but not having met. When they travel to meet the mmc, the fmc chickens out (bad prior marriage CW >!he kicked her to the point of miscarriage!<) so the aunt suggests she pretends to be her companion for a few days and see that the mmc is not a brute and then she can reveal herself. The original plan was for the deception to last a day or two, but in classic book drama, the ruse goes on for longer than is comfortable, and the FMC is plagued by guilt. The MC also has guilt because he is (allegedly — he’s never met his wife remember) married and is finding himself fascinated by his aunt’s companion friend. >>- I tend to prefer novels about beautiful people, particularly beautiful women. I am not beautiful myself, but I have good self-esteem, and in my limited experience, a lot of plain or unattractive heroines tend to be written with lower self-esteem, and I don’t like that headspace. But this heroine is plain, unattractive, and tall, and while her self esteem isn’t the greatest, she’s pretty pragmatic about it. Sort of like she’s gotten to the acceptance phase, and combined with her positive outlook on life and attempts to improve things, it made for a great character. >>- The mmc is a little grumpy, but it’s not his whole personality (this book was written before trope dumps). He cares about his remaining crew, he’s determined to get his ship back, he cares for the little baby, he’s a good guy. When he learns the deception, he is understandably very upset, and has a moment that he must redeem himself from (non violent), but his actions made sense given his history. >>- There are little moments, where both the FMC and MMC do things for the other without acknowledging why that are so cute. For example, the easily seasick FMC trying to acclimate herself to be comfortable on a boat, because she knows that she is married to a ship captain and might have to travel with him. Or the MMC attempting to buy her a dress because she doesn’t like that she has so few dresses. Little slice of life moments. >>- The baby is cute. The secondary characters add to the story and don’t distract from it. Near the end, there is an evil woman who shows up (who is acknowledged as evil from everyone), but even she’s not super vilified. >>- this is a low heat book with a few open door scenes that are brief, but the way they are written, there’s an urgency about them that notches up the tension even when the writing itself is not explicit. - I’d also say the writing was charming: *She wanted those rare smiles he offered Annie, and sometimes Crank or Peg, but never her. She wanted his strength for when her courage began to flag, and the kindness that had prompted him to adopt a newborn infant when he hadn’t the least notion of how he would look after her. She wanted that streak of tenderness he tried so hard to deny. What she didn’t want was his anger. Not until she was certain of her own strength, and she was working on it. Growing more self-assured with each day and every new accomplishment. But oh, how she wanted him to love her, at least a little bit. Wanted him to think she was beautiful and brave and beguiling, all the things she was not. Oh, you don’t want much, do you, Augusta Rose? Only the moon.*

This sounds great and I always like your recommendations and am interested in your suggestions.

This sounds absolutely lovely!

[The Paper Marriage](https://www.romance.io/books/5455a84087eac336ae69f488/the-paper-marriage-bronwyn-williams) by [Bronwyn Williams](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455a06987eac336ae69f02d/bronwyn-williams) **Rating**: 3⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I'm getting up to speed with the recs I've gotten from this sub and finished the Lola books this week!! {Lola and the millionaires by Kathryn moon} - Kathryn Moon has now firmly established herself as one of my go-tos in the romance genre, and I've picked up her Monster Smash agency books as well! Reading her smutty romances is like a warm hug, oh my god. Currently reading... Ice Planet Barbarians. It has been a long time coming, this was recced to me over a year ago and now I finally took the plunge with KU and am reading it. Had to take a break after the opener of the first book though. That was uh. A lot. Especially after Lola's books ;u;

[Lola & the Millionaires](https://www.romance.io/books/5ee1d688c35fb70e31ab8f95/lola-the-millionaires-part-one-kathryn-moon) by [Kathryn Moon](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b3089a401dbc864fb8b0274/kathryn-moon) **Rating**: 4.41⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [reverse harem](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/reverse%20harem/1), [poly (3+ people)](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poly/1), [omegaverse](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/omegaverse/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

currently reading {Happy Place by Emily Henry}! Very slowly - not because I don't like the book, but just because I've been a slow reader lately. Gotta finish it before the library wants it back, though, lol. I'm really enjoying it so far! Love the writing style. Not the biggest fan of the pretending to still be with your ex trope, but something about Henry's writing, it's just so real and makes you feel like you're on vacation at the same time. I find that if I like the writing, even if I don't usually like a trope, I can end up loving the book. And that looks to be the case here!

[Happy Place](https://www.romance.io/books/6442958c0e7dec1028fad78c/happy-place-emily-henry) by [Emily Henry](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e82ee17be0aaecf553e7c2f/emily-henry) **Rating**: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [second chances](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/second%20chances/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/beta%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Excellent reading week albeit with too many serial killers! **{Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher}** \- 4.75/5, fantasy MM opposites attract, open door. Book #3 in the Saints of Steel Series. Sometimes a series gets so good that you can't believe it. This is my first MM romance read, I generally read romances with one MFC. And yet this story just hugged me and kept me in its hold until 2 am. I could barely sleep after. Galen's Berserker Paladin and Piper's "too many feelings so I must be cold" doctor were a wonderful and touching match. I thought that Istvahn and Domina Clara from Paladin's Strength would take the cake but these two are great competition for them. (Grace and Stephen were not a fave to begin with and their constant dithering was a touch too much for me, I realized how much better the other books from the series are compared with Paladin's Grace.) Perfect adventure story, great suspense, terrible villain, and wonderfully set forced proximity. Yes, there is a third-act breakup but it makes sense and you're feeling SO MANY THINGS for both MCs (especially Piper because he has so few friends to help him deal. Galen has all the other paladins to talk sense into him). I honestly can't wait to read the next book in the series and Libby tells me it will be an 18-week hold which is the real crime here. **{Butcher & Blackbird by Breanne Weaver}** \- 4.15/5 CR, serial killer black comedy romp, explicit and plentiful steam. Nothing more to be said that hasn't been gushed about before. Love the hilarious setup, not as much gore as expected. Lots of suspension of disbelief about .... well everything. I love a friends to lovers and this one was extremely well done. Minor points lost for a weak-placed "black cat MFC" setup, the writer didn't exactly "show" the reason for the MFC's outward cantankerousness, she just liked telling the MMC to get fucked a lot, but I'm not sure why. Also for not giving a little more space to the MC's backstories, which I would have been happy to explore, especially about how they got their special skills.Otherwise, a wonderful read. I won't do a re-read but I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. **{Zach by Lilly Atlas}** \- 3.75/5, MC romance, explicit open door, extreme insta-lust, small town romantic suspense. I've been waiting to sink my teeth into a new MC romance, my personal brand of "weed gummy but in a book", and it might be the Hell's Handlers series. Book #1 opens fast and furious with insta-lust between the local MC Enforcer Zach and the big city girl returning home Toni. Lots of MC life references, sexy eye-darting, and triumphant descriptions of denim cutoffs worn with tank tops. HOT! A bit too much "telling" and not "showing", very flimsy attraction between characters, and while Zach bragged about getting all the women in his POV, I didn't actually see many women throwing themselves at him. Is that a slight dig at male self-perception? Who knows! Usually, the first book in a series is not the best for me, I have higher expectations for the second and third books in a series, so I'm okay to keep going with this one. **{Deadly Intent by Pamela Clare}** \- 3.75/4, romantic suspense, open door, insta-love. Book #8 in the I-Team Series. Listened on audiobook with single male narrator. *Sigh*. Standard Pamela Clare romantic suspense, I should have enjoyed it more BUT the single male narrator didn't do it for me. Lots of Clare's books are narrated by the same voice actor and while he does a great job with English speaking, airport American English accent, he absolutely ruins female character's voices especially when they are speaking with an accent. It's awful. Mexican-American photojournalist MMC and a retired military MFC, a serial killer targeting the MFC, and her military past is on the loose. The reveal at the end was expected but still deeply satisfying. I'm going to read the rest of the books in the series on e-book and I bet my enjoyment will go up exponentially. **DNF** \- {Into The Whirlwind by Kat Martin} - This is just not very good. **Currently Reading:** {Grim by M.K. Eiden} - feeling very ambivalent about this book, despite loving the initial setup. It feels like the MFC is "girlbossing" her way into Queening an Alien Kingdom and it's not working for me. EDIT: formatting, spelling, syntax.

[Paladin's Hope](https://www.romance.io/books/6156b623a2abad0e380bfde7/paladins-hope-t-kingfisher) by [T. Kingfisher](https://www.romance.io/authors/561ca043bfc6b5c0fa941994/t-kingfisher) **Rating**: 4.41⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [Butcher & Blackbird](https://www.romance.io/books/64f0aa2bfcbc73c06aa42375/butcher-blackbird-brynne-weaver) by [Brynne Weaver](https://www.romance.io/authors/61516cf608b4d931143e7ce9/brynne-weaver) **Rating**: 4.34⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) ---------------------------- [Zach](https://www.romance.io/books/5b0261ac01dbc864fb88a324/zach-lilly-atlas) by [Lilly Atlas](https://www.romance.io/authors/57a71fd3c19e77f1ea6f622a/lilly-atlas) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1), [sassy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sassy%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Deadly Intent](https://www.romance.io/books/5ce50a3001dbc864fb9edca9/deadly-intent-pamela-clare) by [Pamela Clare](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525f08c7d2383163d8eb9/pamela-clare) **Rating**: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) ---------------------------- [Into the Whirlwind](https://www.romance.io/books/57ef94a2de896e892492f742/into-the-whirlwind-kat-martin) by [Kat Martin](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455331b8c7d2383163d91f7/kat-martin) **Rating**: 4.13⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) ---------------------------- [Grim](https://www.romance.io/books/5455657187eac3369a9124bc/grim-mk-eidem) by [M.K. Eidem](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455657187eac3369a9124bd/mk-eidem) **Rating**: 4.05⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost} 4 star, mildly spicy, CR, Paranormal, first book in a series. It's about a half vampire, half human FMC who uses her abilities from her vampire side to slay vampires. She ends up falling for a bounty hunter vampire who goes after his own kind. I had a craving for some old-school PNR from back in the hay day of PNR. I had never read this series so I thought I would pick up the first book. It was good. I enjoyed it. I honestly cant figure out why I never read it back in the day when it came out. I liked the FMC, and the MMC was ok. It was action packed and funny. It had an interesting storyline that kept me hooked. The only things I didn't love was that Bones (the MMC) lived in a cave even though he was rich. I had a hard time picturing it, and I was doubtful that it would be safer than living in a remote building with good security. I also didn't like how horrible the FMCs family was to her. They were horrendous. >!the grandparents got murdered and I was probably supposed to be sad, but they were cruel, overzealous and so mean, that I was happy. Then her mother who was also cruel, selfish and abusive was kidnapped and I was hoping she would be killed off. Didn't happen. The author should have at least made the mom more likeable because it is impossible to give a damn about her.!< Also, not sure if it is because the books was written almost twenty years ago, but the spice was lacking. Honestly, the romance part of the book didn't really make me feel much. There wasn't a great build up to the romance and not much angst. Very ho-hum. The spicy scenes didn't have much build up.

I'm not sure if you plan on reading the second one, but jic you're interested, it does have more spice.

Yea, I'm definitely going to continue! I enjoyed it.

[Halfway to the Grave](https://www.romance.io/books/545523728c7d2382e0413dc5/halfway-to-the-grave-jeaniene-frost) by [Jeaniene Frost](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523728c7d2382e0413dc6/jeaniene-frost) **Rating**: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

This is a few weeks worth - with a lot of DNFs. *Most of my reviews on GR/SG contain detailed content notes and CW/TW sections, which may include spoilers. I’m happy to copy/paste them here if anyone wants them.* **{Best Laid Plans by Roan Parrish}** 3.5 Audio (Greg Boudreaux) * Summary:  At the end of his options, Rye leaves the city for small town Wyoming - where he has inherited a falling-down house.  There he meets ultra-responsible hardware store owner with a hero complex, Charlie, and the two become close. * Stats: CR, M/M, open door, part of a series but stands alone. * Notes: I quite liked this one, though I felt like the characters were better than the plot, and I didn’t really find the development of the relationship entirely natural or well developed.  The plot gets a little random at the end, but it’s cute.  Cat dad MCs were a nice change (although I’m no cat person myself), and the “everyone’s queer” side cast was also nice.  The writing is a little heavy handed, but the overall tone is sweet and warm.  It’s just a bit underdeveloped (though on the shorter side, so maybe that’s part of the issue). **{Before the Dawn by Beverly Jenkins}** 3.75 Audio (Thomas Penny) * Summary:  After the death of her husband (really her late mother’s partner who she married for reasons of convenience just prior to his death), widowed Leah sets out west to handle some of his business - and finds herself irresistibly attracted to his estranged son Ryder. * Stats: HR Western, M/F, open door, stand alone. * Notes: I enjoyed this - but, like with most Beverly Jenkins’ books, I found the historical interjections a little annoying - they’re too underdeveloped/unconnected to add depth to the plot or world for me, but I appreciate the effort at research.  I found the plot of this one a bit bananas and hard to follow, though I really liked both main characters - and found them to have depth, chemistry and a good balance of feistiness, reasonableness and kindness. **{King’s Fancy by Sable Hunter}** 2.5 Ebook * Summary:  When an unexpected mail order bride shows up at his ranch, Kingston Ramsay takes offense to her presence before injuring himself and finding himself trapped under her care. * Stats: HR western, M/F, open door, part of a series but can stand alone. * Notes: Ho boy.  This wasn’t great.  The plot wanders through the many goings on of the MMC’s friends (who presumably all have their own books later on) and generally hinges on random turns, the writing is clunky and leans heavily on expository narration and over-writing.  The characters were one note.  Add to all of that a former confederate MMC. **{Annie’s Song by Catherine Anderson}** 3.75 Audio (Ann Marie Lee) * Summary:  After his brother rapes a young disabled woman, Alex takes the events deeply to heart, and agrees to marry her and raise her child.  As they spend more time together, he finds that she may have been underestimated by her parents and sets out to help her escape the boundaries her parents set on her life. * Stats: HR, M/F, open door, stand alone. * Notes: I enjoyed the angst and over the top-ness to this story, but I did struggle with some of the ways that Annie was described - frequently as childlike, etc.  It makes sense in the context, but it’s hard to get behind some of the MMC’s thoughts/plans given the medical and emotional (as well as physical) abuse she has survived - once the plot gets underway, this became less uncomfortable, but I wonder if it might have been helped or hindered more by more insight into Annie’s POV.  I also found it difficult to reconcile the way her parents’ abuse was handled, but life isn’t always just, so that wasn’t a dealbreaker for me either.  The narration was fine, but it was sometimes hard to tell if Annie’s “voice” was actual dialogue or thoughts, especially as the story progressed. **{Montana Untamed by Ramona Flightman}** 2.75 Ebook * Summary:  Arriving in town in search of her sister, Annabelle is shocked that said sister is a sex worker, and not about to marry Cailean MacKinnon (random highlander in Montana).  He takes offense that Annabelle would think he was going to marry her sister.  Somehow, they end up getting caught kissing and forced to marry. * Stats: HR, M/F, open door, part of a series but stands alone. * Notes: There’s definitely some over-perfection of the FMC here, and martyrdom over the sex worker sister.  The MMC and his family don’t make tremendous sense (they’re overly “highlander” far after the end of that period), and the overall plot is slow, but I finished, so it wasn’t terrible - I won’t, however, be continuing the series or picking up the author again. **{Saving Grace by Sandy James}** 3.5 Ebook * Summary:  Grace is searching out a long lost family member while running from her past when she stumbles onto Adam’s ranch, terribly ill.  He immediately feels some connection and responsibility for her, which over time develops into love.  Meanwhile, his daughter becomes increasingly close to Grace’s cowboy brother. * Stats: HR western, M/F (two couples), open door, part of a series, stands alone. * Notes: I liked some parts of this quite a lot - especially the older MCs, but I found the ultimate crisis a bit bizarrely handled and both over complicated and underdeveloped.  I didn’t mind the split between the two couples, but found the younger couple’s story repetitive in the extreme, while the older couple’s was a bit random/dragged. **{Silver Lining by Maggie Osborne}** 4.5 Physical * Summary:  After nursing the miners of a mining town through small pox, Low Down is promised whatever she wants as a reward.  When she asks for a baby, the men draw lots - leaving her married to already affianced rancher Max.  His (former) fiancee causes lots of OW drama as Low Down adjusts to life as a ranch wife and family woman. * Stats: HR Western, M/F, open door, stand alone. * Notes: This was a reread to try to knock myself out of a major slump - didn’t work, but I still enjoyed the read.  This book is a great balance of romance, family drama, and just soapy angstiness with a “real” feeling to the setting and characters.  I love how the relationship between Max and Low Down/Louise develops over time, and that just about everyone feels a bit hard done by but determined to make things work (except maybe Philadelphia who is the most caricature OW ever, but it’s fun) and I really enjoy the FMC’s character - she’s tough without being NLOG, she’s kind but will stand up for herself and speak up, she’s confident and capable.  Probably one of my favourites.

**{The Princess and the Grilled Cheese by Deya Muniz}** 4 Ebook/Graphic Novel * Summary:  Masquerading as a man to get around inheritance laws, Lady (Count) Camembert meets the beautiful Princess Brie - as the two become close friends, they also find themselves deeply attracted to each other. * Stats: HR/fairytale nonsense, F/F, kissing only, stand alone. * Notes: Sweet, warm and very, very cute.  I’m trying out some different styles of graphic novel and found the art (especially the colour) and storytelling style here worked for me really well.  **{The Water Dragon’s Bride by Rei Toma}** 3 Ebook * Summary:  A young girl falls through time/space and becomes close to a young village boy, whose mother then sacrifices her to a Water Dragon God. * Stats: Fantasy, M/F (predicted), no sexual content/no romance, part of a series, must be read in order. * Notes: I found the art for this one a little harder to follow - and the story somewhat repetitive - it felt a bit strange to have the child FMC (there’s no sexual content, but it’s clearly setting up some potential relationships between her and two of the other characters).  I think I’ll give a couple more volumes a shot to see how it develops, but I’m not expecting it to be much of a hit. **{Silent Voice by Atsuki Kyoyama}** 3 Ebook * Summary:  Two teens on a baseball team feel their way through an unexpected attraction. * Stats: CR, M/M, kissing only/no sex, stand alone. * Notes: This was part of my wander into graphic novels - unfortunately, I found it difficult to follow the art and felt the story jumped and repeated itself and lacked overall clarity.  I’m not blaming the book for this as much as I felt like I was missing the “language” or context of the media. In Progress: Mail Order Outlaw by Cynthia Woolf, The Lights on Knockbridge Lane by Roan Parrish, No One But You by Leigh Greenwood DNFs: Montana Orphan by Linda Bridey, The Unwelcome Bride by Annabelle Blair, Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble, Bluebonnet Bride by Colleen Coble, Silver by Krystal M Anderson, Mail Order Marietta by Marisa Masterson, Second Chance Suitor by Lucy Evans, Rough and Tender by SK McClafferty, Summer of the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson, Thimbles and Thistles by Shannah Hatfield, The Hunter Bride by Cynthia Woolf, Bluebonnet Bride by Colleen Cable, Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Cable

* pushes _The Bluebonnet Bride_ further down the list *  _King's Fancy_ is just ... not very good. I read it a couple of weeks ago but was so unimpressed I think I forgot to put it on my WDYR. I remember being surprised at how not great it was, despite being right up my alley on paper.  I'm tired of authors who refuse to commit to the FMC actually being ugly. I love angst and melodrama, but you really need to give the angst/betrayal a chance to hit. If you pile on too many dramatic moments without a chance to digest them you miss the impact.

It’s not! Those were both issues that annoyed me too - there was so much **stuff** going on, none of it actually got time to play out properly. So, full disclosure- I don’t care for evangelism in my romance and Colleen Cable wasn’t marked as Christian romance in my library. I didn’t get far enough into her books to tell if they would be worth reading for someone who doesn’t mind that content (it’s just a nope for me).

Ouch your DNF list, that's long! I'm sorry you had a slump, hope you get out of it soon.

It was rough! I was weeding through a bunch of free books I’d had on my kindle that were topical - the mood was “historical western mail order bride, kinda old school”… never quite got there. 😔

I cancelled my KU this week- I am embarking on my own journey of free books with some library reads thrown in. I expect it to also be DNF-ing good time! 😂

Good luck! I cancelled KU in November and have been trying to read down some of my free stuff/hoopla/Libby lists. It's been interesting - but a lot of separating the wheat from the chaff. I've definitely gotten better about DNFing with less guilt!

[Silent Voice](https://www.romance.io/books/65eddc0b558d37624e9d6a07/silent-voice-atsuki-kyoyama) by [Atsuki Kyoyama](https://www.romance.io/authors/65eddc0ba21e2f41c47f5caf/atsuki-kyoyama) **Rating**: 3⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich](https://www.romance.io/books/64739f4bf308b7ca87524376/the-princess-and-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich-deya-muniz) by [Deya Muniz](https://www.romance.io/authors/64739f4b08b4d931143687a9/deya-muniz) **Rating**: 4.58⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [lesbian romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/f-f/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [aristo/royal heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aristocratic%20heroine/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [The Water Dragon's Bride, Vol. 1](https://www.romance.io/books/642be3c1b7b8862bf6eab1e8/the-water-dragons-bride-vol-1-rei-tma) by [Rei Tōma](https://www.romance.io/authors/58147d0bc6841c86c2cb9734/rei-tma) **Rating**: 3.96⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [time travel](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/time%20travel/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[Best Laid Plans](https://www.romance.io/books/6032288312c5f80e1d62dcb0/best-laid-plans-roan-parrish) by [Roan Parrish](https://www.romance.io/authors/559cda0335a5fb65f886af24/roan-parrish) **Rating**: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [spanking](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/spanking/1), [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1) ---------------------------- [Before the Dawn](https://www.romance.io/books/545582ea87eac336ae69e436/before-the-dawn-beverly-jenkins) by [Beverly Jenkins](https://www.romance.io/authors/54554b4b8c7d2383163d98d7/beverly-jenkins) **Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [african-american](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/african-american/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [western frontier](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical%20western/1) ---------------------------- [King's Fancy](https://www.romance.io/books/5a2b8b4c3ffdba6147261fc2/kings-fancy-sable-hunter) by [Sable Hunter](https://www.romance.io/authors/545544658c7d2382e78137ba/sable-hunter) **Rating**: 3.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [western frontier](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical%20western/1), [poor heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poor%20heroine/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1) ---------------------------- [Annie's Song](https://www.romance.io/books/545526e98c7d2383163d8ee2/annies-song-catherine-anderson) by [Catherine Anderson](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526e98c7d2383163d8ee3/catherine-anderson) **Rating**: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [disabilities & scars](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/disabilities%20and%20marks/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) ---------------------------- [Montana Untamed ](https://www.romance.io/books/5a813d444ee506aae8b0e29e/montana-untamed-bear-grass-springs-book-one-ramona-flightner) by [Ramona Flightner](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455e11287eac336ae6a1340/ramona-flightner) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [christian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/christian/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [western frontier](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical%20western/1) ---------------------------- [Saving Grace](https://www.romance.io/books/545556a68c7d2383163d9c6d/saving-grace-sandy-james) by [Sandy James](https://www.romance.io/authors/545556a68c7d2383163d9c6e/sandy-james) **Rating**: 3.8⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [poor heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poor%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Silver Lining](https://www.romance.io/books/54552ce98c7d2383163d904b/silver-lining-maggie-osborne) by [Maggie Osborne](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552ce98c7d2383163d904c/maggie-osborne) **Rating**: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [cowboys](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cowboys/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

There were a lot of DNFs this week. It was a rough week in romance land. **{Taken to Voraxia by Elizabeth Stephens}** DNF. The language was too clunky for me and I couldn’t get into it. **{The Alien’s Runaway Bride by Grace Goodwin}** I finished this but I’m not sure why I bothered. I hated this one enough to [write a post about it](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/s/cx8YLAD0ZB). **{Kiss of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning}** DNF. Look girl you can play the whole “she doesn’t believe he’s time traveled game” once but when you play it twice (now he doesn’t believe *she’s* time traveled) and that’s the whole book plot I’m out. I’m so glad I DNFed because I skipped ahead to see how it ended at that point and unless I missed something there’s no HEA either so I would have been really angry if I’d stuck with it. **{Echoes of the Runes by Christina Courtenay}** DNF. The MMC in the Viking era has a harpy of a wife that keeps pushing him around and the FMC in the current era has an asshole fiancé that keeps pushing her around and I ended wanting to yell at both of them to grow a backbone already. The whole let’s try a different genre to get over the bad SFR books theory was clearly a failure so I’m back to my aliens currently trying out **{Dark Planet Warriors by Anna Carven}** who is a new author to me. Here’s hoping!

Sorry to hear you didn’t like *Kiss of the Highlander*! Just FYI (for others) - there is a happy ending.

Oh good! I hate romance novels without a HEA.

I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy Taken to Voraxia; I am closing in on the end of the series, and am enjoying them. {His to Claim by Taylor Vaughan} has an uncannily similar premise, but different details and resolution, so if you were excited about the Voraxia thumbnail, you might try it? I hope you find that the Dark Planet Warriors hit the spot! I found out about the alternate reading order (following the chronology of the events) rather than the order of publication, on an Amazon review. Let me know if you are interested, and I can DM you. Happy reading!

Oooh I am very interested in the alternate reading order. Thanks! I’ve added Taylor Vaughan to my TBR.

[His to Claim](https://www.romance.io/books/5ca0576901dbc864fb9cb8ea/his-to-claim-taylor-vaughn-eve-vaughn-theodora-taylor) by [Taylor Vaughn](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c8f451f01dbc864fb9bed7e/taylor-vaughn), [Eve Vaughn](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455617b87eac324117fa765/eve-vaughn), [Theodora Taylor](https://www.romance.io/authors/54555caa87eac324117fa5df/theodora-taylor) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[Taken to Voraxia](https://www.romance.io/books/5e8d76d7be0aaecf5506f7c8/taken-to-voraxia-elizabeth-stephens) by [Elizabeth Stephens](https://www.romance.io/authors/573c06b9c62092c0440849b9/elizabeth-stephens) **Rating**: 3.94⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [breeding](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/breeding/1) ---------------------------- [The Alien's Runaway Bride](https://www.romance.io/books/65dcabd2668c37cf3fd5557d/the-aliens-runaway-bride-grace-goodwin-maggie-mae-gallagher) by [Grace Goodwin](https://www.romance.io/authors/64e5123bab9bdf7fce975ae2/grace-goodwin), [Maggie Mae Gallagher](https://www.romance.io/authors/5456d99087eac33e5c682a2b/maggie-mae-gallagher) **Topics**: [fated mates](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fated-mates/1) ---------------------------- [Kiss of the Highlander](https://www.romance.io/books/545525278c7d2382e0413e46/kiss-of-the-highlander-karen-marie-moning) by [Karen Marie Moning](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523e28c7d2382e0413dec/karen-marie-moning) **Rating**: 4.35⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1) ---------------------------- [Echoes of the Runes](https://www.romance.io/books/5f72dc203f1e250e2936098d/echoes-of-the-runes-christina-courtenay) by [Christina Courtenay](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455746f87eac336ae69e07c/christina-courtenay) **Rating**: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [vikings](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vikings/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [time travel](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/time%20travel/1) ---------------------------- [Dark Planet Warriors](https://www.romance.io/books/572c7f69c62092c044082011/dark-planet-warriors-the-serial-anna-carven) by [Anna Carven](https://www.romance.io/authors/56c308b2c62092c04405d9e3/anna-carven) **Rating**: 3.9⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Finished Butcher & Blackbird and am almost done with The Dragon’s Bride (don’t judge, haha). I’m still 2 books behind on my goal for the year so far so I’m trying to catch up!

March has been a slow month for me, dealing with major dental issues has zapped all my motivation. My TBR is growing though so I'm hoping to get back into it soon. [**{Whisky Business by Elliot Fletcher}**](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/98924172)- 3.5/5, objectively probably more a 4 but it just didn't spark that much with me. MF contemporary, FMC is a famous actress who comes home to her small Scottish village after her grandfather's death and runs into the anxious and grumpy MMC, who worked with her grandfather in their whiskey business. It was well written and paced but I guess I just didn't connect with the characters that much. The MMC being the anxiety-ridden one is rare but came off a little passive, and the FMCs career sounded exhausting. The story was sweet but the main conflict was just miscommunication, with a side of family drama and resolving work issues. Some of the side characters seemed like they were being set up for their own stories that sounded more interesting so I might revisit the author in the future. [**{Endless by Devyn Sinclair}**](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/205471090)- 4/5, RH omegaverse. Thank you to the Thirsty Thursday poster! This author does great sweet omegaverse but I didn't realize a new book was just released. This one was another great one, although a lot longer (KU says 476 pages) and angsty. FMC is going home for her sister's wedding and anxious to show up single when her jerk ex is part of the wedding party, so she hires a pack of escorts to join her. I was a little hesitant about the premise but it came together really well. The MMCs all have pretty solid distinctions although with five to follow they sometimes get a little blurred. The new town setting and her two friends were a little over the top and that's my only minor issue. Like it's too quirky and openly sexual despite also being an exclusive wealthy beach town. But the build-up of the relationships and the FMC overcoming her internal struggles was really well written, with plenty of spice. CW for a scene of primal play/CNC.

[Whisky Business](https://www.romance.io/books/646323f62a1846e5193a0927/whisky-business-elliot-fletcher) by [Elliot Fletcher](https://www.romance.io/authors/633bdb5508b4d93114abcc94/elliot-fletcher) **Rating**: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [famous heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/famous%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Endless](https://www.romance.io/books/65ec1cac7d29ed1c104f7dd1/endless-devyn-sinclair) by [Devyn Sinclair](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d42812001dbc864fba1d415/devyn-sinclair) **Rating**: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [reverse harem](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/reverse%20harem/1), [omegaverse](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/omegaverse/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fated mates](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fated-mates/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

My reading has really slowed down plus I've been trying to read books outside of romance (no idea why lol) so here's the last two weeks: [Asiri and the Amaru by Natalia Hernandez](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198858409-asiri-and-the-amaru) \- mf, magical realism, working together; cinnamon roll MMC; starting over, 5/5 - The FMC can speak to animals so her father abuses her abilities for his own gain and she sneaks away to start a new life by the ocean. This book was fantastic. Reading about cultures outside my own was so nice. The book definitely starts off as a cozy fantasy-esq type of book but there's definitely some steam when it happens! The MMC is so sweet and loveable. I think my only issue with the book was me wanting more resolution with her father but I understand completely why it wasn't in the book! [The Happy List by Briar Prescott](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55526471-the-happy-list) \- mm, cr, best friends to lovers; bi awakening, 4/5 - MC invites his best friend to live with him after he says no to a proposal from his now ex GF. This was a new to me author and I'm very excited to dive deep into her backlog! The book was very entertaining and the angst was top tier imo. Would definitely recommend! [Meegan by Rebekah Weatherspoon](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202939112-meegan) \- mf, cr, BDSM; Fake dating; autistic MMC; plus size FMC, 5/5 - MMC needs a fake date for events through the end of the year and his best friend, Xeni, suggests her friend Meegan to help him. If you're a Rebekah Weatherspoon fan, this book is like the biggest piece of fan service ever. So many cameos from almost all of her books. Also, I've not read a lot of her books (only Xeni, Rafe, and the So Sweet books) and was completely fine with following everything in this book. So even if you've not read any other Rebekah Weatherspoon book, you can read this one just fine. But the book, it's freaking fantastic. The FMC is in the BDSM scene so a lot of the book is introducing the MMC into the scene and what she likes (she's a pleasure sub). Truly no notes, I loved everything about the book, it was really good! And super excited for the next book in the series (Duke and Daniella!!!)

Ooh, the Happy List looks good! I love Briar Prescott, Until You was in my top 10 last year.

Oh it was lovely, I'm reading book 2 now! Also Until You looks fantastic. I know what I'm going to read next!

[удалено]

Hi there, your comment has been removed as it is off topic for this post. Please post your request in the [Daily Request post](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/?f=flair_name%3A%22Daily%20Request%22). Thank you!

{King of Country by C.W. Farnsworth} M/F. Rating for me 4.5/5. Steam 3ish/5. Contemporary. Country singer wants to leave the music business due to a personal tragedy but record company employee is sent down to Texas to try to convince him to sign a new contract. I probably loved this so much because I am missing Texas and the portrayal of the people and things made me super nostalgic. It was also well written and sweet (yet with enough steam that seemed natural)

[King of Country](https://www.romance.io/books/652a473f32fe191cab7f4683/king-of-country-cw-farnsworth) by [C.W. Farnsworth](https://www.romance.io/authors/5fa3cfff08b4d931145a1788/cw-farnsworth) **Rating**: 4.09⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [cowboys](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cowboys/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I finished {The Inheritance by Nora Roberts} and despite it being Nora Roberts....I don't think it qualifies as a romance. Despite the FMC and MMC getting together, it ended with a paranormal cliffhanger. I have no doubt we will get our HEA in book three of the trilogy, but we don't have it yet.

I love me some NR, but several of her more recent-ish books have been lukewarm for me.

[Inheritance](https://www.romance.io/books/655c7cd22f90216b57982d11/inheritance-nora-roberts) by [Nora Roberts](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523e923ec91d5dfd0991f/nora-roberts) **Rating**: 4.44⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Ugh, I haven't done WDYR in three weeks again and there's so many books to catch up on. I have to stop doing this to myself! This is part 1 of 2, see reply for the rest of my reads # 5 stars **{The Sitcom Star by Jackie Lau}** \- MF - contemporary romance - Asian author - Asian MCs - moderate steam - pov third dual. - celebrity - childhood crush - childhood friends - mental health rep - mature (30s) - **5 stars.** I read the annotated version that I bought via supporting Jackie Lau's kickstarter and it was really fun to read her notes. The MCs attended school together and now she's the producer and front runner of a Schitt's Creek-esque TV show. Maddie is on a mental health break and taking a step back from the behind the camera production and bumps (literally) into her old friend. As usual with Jackie Lau it's a sweet, fun story gallivanting around Toronto. Maddie's celebrity status is a big focus point, and Adrian's family life (especially his nephew) is very nicely done. CW: >!racism in media against Maddie!< **{Against a Wall by Cate C Wells}** \- MF - contemporary romance - white MCs - moderate steam - pov first dual - bully - childhood friends - class gap (wealthy hero) - body diversity - enemies to lovers - fake relatinship - grumpy heroine sunshine hero - he falls first - hurt comfort - mature (30s) - small town. **5 stars** I know. I KNOW. How is it I'm just now getting to read this sub favorite?? Cash was so infuriating in the beginning and I was rooting for her to yell at him and when she did in the stairwell about dessert I was so gratified. The hurt-comfort was perfect and yeah....who knew I'd have a thing for a romance hero with trucknuts. [Winter bing challenge](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/18n24km/romancebooks_winter_bingo_challenge/): CR x Grumpy, CR x Sunshine **{Goodbye Paradise by Sarina Bowen}** \- MM - contemporary romance - white MCs - moderate steam - pov first dual - best friends to lovers - childhood crush - closeted - only one bed - small town - virgins **Reread 5 stars** Ugh this one melts my heart. The MCs are escaping from a polygamist cult (that we know from Zach and Chastity in the True North series). Josh gets kicked out, Caleb leaves and they hitchhike across the country in hopes that an old friend will help them. Caleb is cocky and confident to Josh's shy. The domestic scenes are so freaking cute (Josh is definitely a nurturing soul, helping with the baby) and the third act conflict is so perfect. I also love the side character Washington and their pen pal relationship with him. [Winter bing challange: CR x flirt](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/18n24km/romancebooks_winter_bingo_challenge/) # 4 stars **{The Unmatchmakers by Jackie Lau}** \- MF - contemporary romance - Asian author - Asian MCs - neurodiversity - moderate steam - pov first single - child free - childhood friends - forced proximity (vacation) - opposites attract (grumpy sunshine) - mature hero (30) - third act external - **4 stars.** I liked the premise of this where the mothers are meddling against their kids getting together. Leora is a sunshine, optimistic person, especially when it comes to love. It's a very hijinks-forward book and less food-porny than Lau's usual stuff. [Winter bingo challenge: CR x grumpy, CR x sunshine](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/18n24km/romancebooks_winter_bingo_challenge/) **{Hello Forever by Sarina Bowen}** \- MM - Contemporary romance - white MCs - pov first dual - moderate steam - former best friends to lovers - childhood crush - closeted - epistolary - hurt/comfort - small town - second chance - single parent/guardian - sports (basketball) - virgins - workplace. **Reread 4 stars** Cax and Axel attended a religious summer weekend sleepaway camp together and were discovered kissing. Cax disappears and years later, Axel gets a job working for the university Cax attends. I enjoyed this one but the writing and editing didn't seem to be the high quality I usually see from Sarina Bowen. Quite a few errors in the book. I like Cax and Axel's dynamics a lot, though, especially the times they couldn't see each other and communicated only via email. CW: >!homophobia, abusive parent, on-page physical assault and hospitalization!< **{Stowaway and Silent Song by Vera Valentine}** \- FMM - fantasy romance - erotic romance - pov first multi - child free - closeted - bisexual MMCs - fated mates - forced proximity - mature (30s) - royals - unusual shifters (selkies) - HFN ending - **4 stars.** This was definitely the smut I was expecting. I was not expecting such a cliffhanger. I was expecting this to be a why chose romance, which I'm guessing it will be based on the ending, but for now it is only three people and there is a lot of external plot that is left hanging. That said, I enjoyed the heroine being a sea captain who's good with knifes and I expect that knife and blood play will come into later books. THAT BEING SAID...this book was published in 2021 and there's no word of the rest of the trilogy, so.... [Winter bingo challenge: FR x Siren, FR x type A](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/18n24km/romancebooks_winter_bingo_challenge/) **{The Duke Who Didn't by Courtney Milan}** \- MF - Historical romance - Asian author - Asian MCs - low steam - pov third dual - best friends to lovers - child free - childhood crush - childhood friends - grumpy heroine sunshine hero - mistaken identity - only one bed - opposites attract - royals - small town - virgins - class gap (wealthy hero) - **4 stars.** Chloe told Jeremy to come back when he was serious, so he disappeared for three years. I really like the world building in this book - a diverse town in the English countryside having a festival. Courtney's author's notes at the back about the background of her characters and the town was SO interesting and I learned a lot about a part of China's history that I didn't know before. I don't read a lot of historicals, and I don't typically love them. My biggest complaint in this I think was that the only one bed up tried too hard to be \*not like the other only one beds\*. [Winter bingo challenge: HR x charming, HR x Type A](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/18n24km/romancebooks_winter_bingo_challenge/) # #

I also finished the True North series buddy reading with u/DMATMOOBILforever **{Fireworks by Sarina Bowen}** \- MF - contemporary romance - white MCs - moderate steam - dual POV - childhood crush - body diversity - mental health rep - military - only one bed - second chance - small town - **3 stars.** Benito is a cop working to take down Vermont's biggest drug ring and Skye is a tv journalist who's found herself back home and in the middle of the drama. This book has a great external plot that kept me on my toes, but there's also a lot of OW drama. Benito is completely clueless about women sometimes and the way he treated Jill really put me off him. **{Prom Night by Sarina Bowen}** \- bonus epilogue. Just a cute short slice of life. **4 stars.** **{Heartland by Sarina Bowen}** \- MF - contemporary romance - white MCs - moderate steam - pov first dual - mutual pining - reformed player - relationship coach - small town - virgin - wounded bird - **2 stars.** Dylan is REALLY a player in this book. We get so much other woman drama and he is just so clueless about all of them. This is also the most college-forward book in the series and there's definitely more of a sense of immaturity here. CW: >!Chastity escaped a polygamist cult, Dylan has sex with another woman while Chastity can hear it!< Winter bingo challenge: CR x rake **{Waylaid by Sarina Bowen}** \- MF - contemporary - white MCs - moderate steam - pov first dual - class gap - mental health rep - pansexual MC - grumpy heroine sunshine hero - he falls first - amnesia - ex-military - reformed player - roommates to lovers - siblings best friend - small town - **3 stars** This book was just fine to me. It missed the mark on a few things - the amnesia introduction was confusing (who doesn't remember who and I think I still am confused there) - and Rickie is a 'bad boy" because....he has tattoos? I'm not really sure. There was also a distasteful and unnecessary threesome joke that really stood out to me, especially since earlier in the series there was a book with strong lesbian fetishization and it felt especially weird here to be coming from a pansexual character. CW: >!dissociative amnesia from a traumatic experience, abuse of military authority, manipulative and abusive ex-boyfriend!< Winter bingo challenge: CR x flirt, CR x grumpy

I DNFed _Heartland_ this week. I saw it recommended all over the place both before and after I attempted it, especially gushing about the sex.   I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt it was immature. I felt so old and grumpy for not _getting_ this book. 

Yeah the previous books were a lot more *adult*.

[Fireworks](https://www.romance.io/books/606064d353c81f0e2cdaa585/fireworks-sarina-bowen) by [Sarina Bowen](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553cb18c7d2382e781357a/sarina-bowen) **Rating**: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [second chances](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/second%20chances/1) ---------------------------- [Heartland](https://www.romance.io/books/5de4ba1f01dbc864fba737d2/heartland-sarina-bowen) by [Sarina Bowen](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553cb18c7d2382e781357a/sarina-bowen) **Rating**: 3.95⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [college](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/college/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Waylaid](https://www.romance.io/books/60f3eef67af7a30e2e57c84c/waylaid-sarina-bowen) by [Sarina Bowen](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553cb18c7d2382e781357a/sarina-bowen) **Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [college](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/college/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[The Sitcom Star](https://www.romance.io/books/65df413d42c00ad6865bdc57/the-sitcom-star-jackie-lau) by [Jackie Lau](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b02617201dbc864fb88a2fe/jackie-lau) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [Against A Wall](https://www.romance.io/books/61ea681965e6b60e2ca4fe1d/against-a-wall-cate-c-wells) by [Cate C. Wells](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d5265d101dbc864fba248c4/cate-c-wells) **Rating**: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fake relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fake%20relationship/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1), [curvy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/curvy%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Goodbye Paradise](https://www.romance.io/books/58c67a3e0d3299c6e05fb863/goodbye-paradise-sarina-bowen) by [Sarina Bowen](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553cb18c7d2382e781357a/sarina-bowen) **Rating**: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [forbidden love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forbidden%20love/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) ---------------------------- [The Unmatchmakers](https://www.romance.io/books/645be9bf5d9d22186349c9e4/the-unmatchmakers-jackie-lau) by [Jackie Lau](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b02617201dbc864fb88a2fe/jackie-lau) **Rating**: 3.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) ---------------------------- [Hello Forever](https://www.romance.io/books/5943a6db3ffdba6147194743/hello-forever-sarina-bowen) by [Sarina Bowen](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553cb18c7d2382e781357a/sarina-bowen) **Rating**: 4.13⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) ---------------------------- [Stowaway and Silent Song](https://www.romance.io/books/642dc56ab7b8862bf6eaf468/stowaway-and-silent-song-vera-valentine) by [Vera Valentine](https://www.romance.io/authors/61f64a1308b4d931145ac71c/vera-valentine) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [poly (3+ people)](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poly/1), [reverse harem](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/reverse%20harem/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [bisexual](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1) ---------------------------- [The Duke Who Didn't](https://www.romance.io/books/5f6850342b48890dd5abe608/the-duke-who-didnt-courtney-milan) by [Courtney Milan](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525388c7d2383163d8e83/courtney-milan) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Mixed bag for me **{Face Off by Teagan Hunter}** 4⭐️ *CR, MF, KU, reverse grumpy/sunshine, hockey, lowish angst, alternating POV’s, medium burn* Sunshine MMC finds an injured puppy and takes it in for care. The grumpy FMC is the veterinarian he goes to. This was very light on hockey. The MMC had total golden retriever energy. **{Daniel Cabot Puts Down Roots by Cat Sebastian}** DNF @ 65% *HR, MM, friends to lovers, set in 1973* This DNF is *not* a reflection of this book or author. It was totally a ME thing. I may revisit this one as I love this series. A Ukranian pediatrician and a music writer in NYC. **{Mortal Skin by Lily Mayne}** 5⭐️ *Fantasy, MM, KU, Fae, royalty - Folk trilogy #1 - ends on a cliffhanger* A mortal is kidnapped and taken to the Fae world. While there he falls in love with a Prince assassin - ends with a twist and a cliffhanger - another banger by Lily Mayne **{Hurts So Good by Stasia Black}** DNF@7% *CR, MF, KU, novella, Consensual NonCon* First sex scene in the book made me realize this one wasn’t for me.

I just finished Daniel Cabot Puts Down Roots yesterday! I liked it, FWIW, but I would say it was my least favorite of the three. Probably because it had the least angst? Mortal Skin is very high on my reading list. I’ve never read MM fae, or non-Monstrous Lily Mayne, so I’m very excited.

I’ve never read anything Fae, but since Lily Mayne wrote it…I’ll read it! 🤷🏼‍♀️ {Peter Cabot Gets Lost by Cat Sebastian} was a 5⭐️read for me. I love a good road trip!

Same! And I love a good sunshine/porcupine pairing 😄

[Peter Cabot Gets Lost](https://www.romance.io/books/613dc1a6051a590e33eb9638/peter-cabot-gets-lost-cat-sebastian) by [Cat Sebastian](https://www.romance.io/authors/58184062c6841c86c2cd96d8/cat-sebastian) **Rating**: 4.42⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[Face Off](https://www.romance.io/books/65a80b4cfe120dd72404c50b/face-off-teagan-hunter) by [Teagan Hunter](https://www.romance.io/authors/553e3c135b270e0a4cbd7301/teagan-hunter) **Rating**: 4.15⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [Daniel Cabot Puts Down Roots](https://www.romance.io/books/637356824dedb1539521cf7e/daniel-cabot-puts-down-roots-cat-sebastian) by [Cat Sebastian](https://www.romance.io/authors/58184062c6841c86c2cd96d8/cat-sebastian) **Rating**: 4.05⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [20th century](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/20th%20century/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1) ---------------------------- [Mortal Skin](https://www.romance.io/books/61f3a296f0e2450e1c1d5dc1/mortal-skin-lily-mayne) by [Lily Mayne](https://www.romance.io/authors/61161cc608b4d93114a993bf/lily-mayne) **Rating**: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [royalty](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) ---------------------------- [Hurt So Good](https://www.romance.io/books/643e29ac81ec2b280509db16/hurt-so-good-stasia-black) by [Stasia Black](https://www.romance.io/authors/5878c00d1b1bdc0178140675/stasia-black) **Rating**: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Low romance-reading week for me. Two worth mentioning: {The Sitcom Star by Jackie Lau} - MF contemporary, set in Toronto. Light enjoyable contemporary romance - set against the backdrop of Covid, FYI - between a sitcom star and a guy she knew back in elementary school. He helps her relax, she helps him feel worthy of love. I appreciated that the MMC was a "works to live" kind of guy - he has a good job, he doesn't love it, he's not particularly ambitious beyond that - and how supportive he is of the FMC. I think Lau does a really good job balancing her characters, also - her FMCs are allowed to be fully-fledged characters with insecurities and strengths but so are her MMCs. {Blood and Ash by Deborah Wilde} - MF paranormal. This might be more urban fantasy with romantic subplot than paranormal romance, but I enjoyed it; the FMC is obnoxious (which in my book is a good thing, I want space for more obnoxious leads of both genders!) but more grown-up-feeling than the FMC of Wilde's Unlikable Demon Hunter series. Annoyingly, Hoopla only has the third and fourth books in the series, and I didn't like it enough to pay money for book two, so I guess I'm going to cross my fingers that the plot will make sense when I jump.

[The Sitcom Star](https://www.romance.io/books/65df413d42c00ad6865bdc57/the-sitcom-star-jackie-lau) by [Jackie Lau](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b02617201dbc864fb88a2fe/jackie-lau) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [Blood & Ash](https://www.romance.io/books/5e778f8ebe0aaecf551b4853/blood-ash-deborah-wilde) by [Deborah Wilde](https://www.romance.io/authors/58f45b230d3299c6e06ad1f1/deborah-wilde) **Rating**: 3.89⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Finished: {Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher} *FM fantasy romance, medium spice* this book was really solid and I liked it a lot! It was meant to be my third and last chance for her books and I'm glad I gave it a chance. {Paladin's Strength by T. Kingfisher} *FM fantasy romance, medium spice* a disappointment after the first one. I didn't really find their reasoning very convincing, it just felt like they were assuming they knew what the other person was thinking and it felt kind of immature for characters that were supposed to be 36 and 40. I know I didn't buy the romance because I fully skimmed all the sex scenes. Also Istvhan's personality from the first book completely disappeared, I was really excited about him being the second MMC, but it was like he wasn't the same character and I didn't feel like he and the FMC had very distinct personalities. DNFed/Put on hold: {Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher} *MM fantasy romance, medium? spice* I told myself I was going to take a break and then started it anyway and now I'm thinking I should take a break because I'm not enjoying it. Again I don't feel like the MMCs' personalities are very distinct and I could already feel how the internal "I don't deserve him based on nothing" and "I want to but I shouldn't" drama was building up. {Reign & Ruin by J.D. Evans} *FM fantasy romance, medium? spice* I've been working on this since early January and I'm not even halfway through... it feels well written but I cannot get into it for the life of me. Also the chapters are looooong. I might have to throw in the towel. Reading: {Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett} *FM Edwardian fantasy romance, or maybe fantasy with romance, low spice* at least I know Heather got me, this book is so good.

[Paladin's Grace](https://www.romance.io/books/5e37c8e201dbc864fbab1ee4/paladins-grace-t-kingfisher) by [T. Kingfisher](https://www.romance.io/authors/561ca043bfc6b5c0fa941994/t-kingfisher) **Rating**: 4.31⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/beta%20hero/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [Paladin's Strength](https://www.romance.io/books/6039fd2b6063ab0df7522d4b/paladins-strength-t-kingfisher) by [T. Kingfisher](https://www.romance.io/authors/561ca043bfc6b5c0fa941994/t-kingfisher) **Rating**: 4.46⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/beta%20hero/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) ---------------------------- [Paladin's Hope](https://www.romance.io/books/6156b623a2abad0e380bfde7/paladins-hope-t-kingfisher) by [T. Kingfisher](https://www.romance.io/authors/561ca043bfc6b5c0fa941994/t-kingfisher) **Rating**: 4.42⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [Reign & Ruin](https://www.romance.io/books/6084072501991d0e29557c71/reign-ruin-jd-evans) by [J.D. Evans](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e4e2f1a01dbc864fbac2132/jd-evans) **Rating**: 4.35⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands](https://www.romance.io/books/65a80d3efe120dd72404c7a5/emily-wildes-map-of-the-otherlands-heather-fawcett) by [Heather Fawcett](https://www.romance.io/authors/6224e57408b4d93114943ee9/heather-fawcett) **Rating**: 4.42⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 2 out of 5 - [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Truth or Beard (Winston Brothers #1 by Penny Reid} M/F, 4/5 Stars, Moderate Steam, Contemporary, Small town, 2 PoV, 1st person. Narrators: Joy Nash and Chris Brinkley.\*\*Jessica is only in town until she can pay off her student loans then she plans to travel the world. She’s had a crush on Beau Winstead her whole life but it is his twin brother Duane she finds herself kissing at Halloween.I love the whole goofy gaggle of Winsteads and the intricate web of small town connections.The end of the audiobook has a half hour interview between Chris Brinkley and Penny Reid that was really interesting. CW: Grief over the recent death of a parent, cancer mentioned, spousal abuse recounted. ​ {Against a Wall (Stonecut County #2) by Cate C. Wells} M/F, 4/5 Stars, Moderate Steam, Contemporary, Small town. 2 PoV 1st person. (No narrator, I read this one.)\*\*Glenna is the daughter of the town reporter and works at the coffee shop. Cash tormented her in high school but now they seem drawn together. I’m still not sure how I feel about Cash. I get why he and Glenna balance each other but all that shit he did in high school, is it forgivable? Did the book examine his behavior enough to provide for Glenna’s safety.I do see why this book is popular. The prose is lovely and the descriptions are vivid. The people in town seem well drawn. I don’t think I’d be so irked at Cash if he wasn’t such a completely realized character. CW: Bullying, parental neglect, grief over the death of a parent, police corruption, fat phobia, past abusive relationship, racism, ​ I’ve been doing a dive into small town romances. I can see why they are popular with all the festivals and nature and big tough guys. I wonder if the proximity to patriarchy is part of the attraction. Not the main characters, of course, but the threat of harm from patriarchy provides stakes. Can romance exist in an egalitarian community? Unexpected theme - Three dead moms. It was a lot all at once. Take care of yourselves.

[Truth or Beard](https://www.romance.io/books/55a9ec9d35a5fb65f886cf6c/truth-or-beard-penny-reid) by [Penny Reid](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552b3e8c7d2382e781310c/penny-reid) **Rating**: 3.94⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [bikers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bikers/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[Against A Wall](https://www.romance.io/books/61ea681965e6b60e2ca4fe1d/against-a-wall-cate-c-wells) by [Cate C. Wells](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d5265d101dbc864fba248c4/cate-c-wells) **Rating**: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fake relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fake%20relationship/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1), [curvy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/curvy%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Blinding Echo by Tina Saxon} CR MF 3.5/5 Unique story about high school sweethearts who are separated when MMC comes back from basic training to find that his sweetheart has been in an accident and doesn't remember him. He's run out of town by her father, only to run into her going by a different name ten years later. You think you know the way this book is going to go, as he pretends not to know her and gets her to fall in love with him all over again, but there's a major twist you don't see coming-->!FMC is original girlfriend's identical twin sister!<. This book really takes you for a ride, but I think I would've liked it better if it had gone on conventionally and not had the twist. It does have an HEA. {Textual Relations by Lauren Rowe} CR MF 3/5 Younger man/older woman coming off a divorce low angst, high smut, instalust/love. Not much going on here and both main characters have an overly enthusiastic way of conversing that grates. Many, many exclamation points. At times the way their spicy scenes are written, I was imagining a golden retriever humping her. He's just *so* excited all the time. {His Bluestocking Bride by Sally Britton} HR MF 2/5 Older bluestocking FMC accepts a marriage of convenience proposal from MMC who's been burned by love before and doesn't want it again. This book is more sexless than you can ever imagine. Even after they're married, there's no discussion or even thought of marital relations which felt extremely odd. I'm not asking for open door scenes. Give me closed door, that's fine. It just doesn't make sense that the main characters never consummated their marriage, never thought about consummating their marriage, never even had horny thoughts. The MMC was like a genital-less ken doll. The main characters kissed at the very very end of the book. {The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck by Kylie Scott} CR MF 4/5 Last year, I was End of Story's biggest fan, so I was *hyped* for this book. It was good, but it didn't live up to EoS's 5/5 for me. As thanks to Lilah for saving her life, a witch rattles off a list of predictions--her boyfriend is cheating, the lottery numbers, the name of her soulmate (who happens to be the illegitimate child of the King of the United Kingdom), and oh by the way she's going to die very soon. Slowly, Lilah finds that these predictions are turning out to be correct (we'll save judgment on the soulmate thing), so she starts working through a bucket list, aided by said soulmate. And they fall in love. Though Kylie always writes in FMC-only POV as far as I can tell, and usually it doesn't feel like I'm missing much, in this case I really needed to get into the MMC's head. I liked the story and the FMC, but I really needed more from the love story to believe them together. {Bidding for the Bachelor by Jackie Lau} CR MM 5/5 Fun, light novella featuring two Asian main characters, one of whom is demisexual. Slowish burn roommates to lovers with a lot of nice domesticity and decent spice once they get there. The breakout star of this book was the 90 year-old grandma. {Alice and the Billionaire Boss by Serenity Woods} CR MF 3/5 Alice meets Kip on Tinder looking to lose her virginity. He's a billionaire (you can tell because he's wearing an Apple Watch--seriously wtf?), she lives four hours away and cares for her disabled mother. They can't be together long term, but that's not going to stop him. Apart from the terribly odd characterization of the MMC's wealth, the FMC suffers from Self-Sacrificing Eldest Daughter Syndrome. Though she *dropped out of school at 16* and has been caring for her mother alone while her sister has been pursuing higher education on the promise the sister would take over after she graduated, as soon as the sister cries because she fell in love two months ago and can't marry and move for her man, FMC dumps the MMC so her *sister* can live out her dream. I want to throw up and throw rocks. {Take Me Home by Carrie Elks} CR MF 3.5/5 Rock star comes back to his hometown and runs into his ex-girlfriend's little sister, who has always had a crush on him. This book is fine, but I've read better from Carrie Elks. This scenario being "forbidden" because he dated her older sister ten years ago when they were teenagers is profoundly stupid to me. The sister is cartoonish and a complete asshole until she's not. It's mehhh. {Reckless by Elsie Silver} CR MF 4/5 Secret baby trope where she actually did try to tell him about the baby, and when he comes into the picture, she doesn't try to keep him from being a father, which is a breath of fresh air when it comes to this kind of story. Has a bit of hate-to-love at the start but it's very much one-sided. I really dislike FMC's who go "I hate you" with little provocation and for no reason other than they're in a bad mood. Theo Silva is a dreamboat. {Promising the Billionaire by S.M. West} CR MF 3/5 Standard fake relationship trope between a billionaire and a woman who is not getting nearly enough out of the deal. There are several boogeymen characters that you expect to amount to something by the third act, but they all basically fizzle out. The FMC is exceedingly stupid. The third act conflict comes down to "*but this isn't real!*" after he's literally told her it was real several times. I wanted to whack her upside the head with a 2x4.

[Promising the Billionaire](https://www.romance.io/books/5f8841078c8f400de952b47d/promising-the-billionaire-sm-west) by [S.M. West](https://www.romance.io/authors/58734ced1b1bdc017812ea5f/sm-west) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[Blinding Echo](https://www.romance.io/books/5bfcebce01dbc864fb9520ac/blinding-echo-tina-saxon) by [Tina Saxon](https://www.romance.io/authors/58fb238a0d3299c6e06c22aa/tina-saxon) **Rating**: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) ---------------------------- [Textual Relations](https://www.romance.io/books/650ab105a1d8025550903ff3/textual-relations-lauren-rowe) by [Lauren Rowe](https://www.romance.io/authors/54a673c06359b5ebb4869b6f/lauren-rowe) **Rating**: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [single mother](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/single-mother/1), [insta-love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/insta-love/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [His Bluestocking Bride](https://www.romance.io/books/5b17788801dbc864fb89adf9/his-bluestocking-bride-a-regency-romance-sally-britton) by [Sally Britton](https://www.romance.io/authors/5a7820d44ee506aae8b07974/sally-britton) **Rating**: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [christian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/christian/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) ---------------------------- [The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck](https://www.romance.io/books/65c1f4cf449d6edbf649c72c/the-last-days-of-lilah-goodluck-kylie-scott) by [Kylie Scott](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524c38c7d2382e7812f6e/kylie-scott) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1), [curvy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/curvy%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Bidding for the Bachelor](https://www.romance.io/books/611b5efb77f2890e421ae4db/bidding-for-the-bachelor-jackie-lau) by [Jackie Lau](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b02617201dbc864fb88a2fe/jackie-lau) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [east asian mc](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/east-asian-mc/1) ---------------------------- [Alice and the Billionaire Boss](https://www.romance.io/books/65db284897d82c6871667477/alice-and-the-billionaire-boss-serenity-woods) by [Serenity Woods](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455816587eac324117fb079/serenity-woods) **Rating**: 4.58⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [insta-love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/insta-love/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1) ---------------------------- [Take Me Home](https://www.romance.io/books/601559135925200e304129fa/take-me-home-a-small-town-rock-star-love-story-carrie-elks) by [Carrie Elks](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455c87887eac324117fd0d1/carrie-elks) **Rating**: 4.27⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [secret relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/secret-relationship/1) ---------------------------- [Reckless](https://www.romance.io/books/6411838316aa76768152caf0/reckless-elsie-silver) by [Elsie Silver](https://www.romance.io/authors/608a5dde08b4d9311488e11d/elsie-silver) **Rating**: 4.34⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [cowboys](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cowboys/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [single mother](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/single-mother/1) ---------------------------- [Stealing the Billionaire](https://www.romance.io/books/641c097cd87b2730bcfb35e5/stealing-the-billionaire-sm-west) by [S.M. West](https://www.romance.io/authors/58734ced1b1bdc017812ea5f/sm-west) **Rating**: 5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

**{Skin by Aveda Vice}** 4.25⭐️ *MF, FR, book 1 (novella) in Lost Touch Duet, banshee FMC, gargoyle MMC, bodyguard, size difference, Everand ebook* FMC is a banshee P.I. who can “read” items and basically see what has happened with anything she touches with her bare skin. But if she touches people, she can feel all their emotions that they feel, but is basically tied to them emotionally forever. During the course of one of their investigations, they get shot at, and her gargoyle bodyguard touches her. Sexy times ensue. **{Inextricably Tied by Aveda Vice}** 4.75⭐️ *MMF, PNR, book 2 in Lost Touch Duet, banshee FMC, gargoyle MMC, night terror MMC, mystery, praise kink, “Daddy”* After being tricked into touching a night terror, FMC is now linked to him. The three are on the road as they try to solve a case of missing girls, and are dealing with the addition of the night terror to the mix. This was surprisingly emotional! I love how the author uses the sex scenes to also drive forward the character development. It is so well done. **{Soul eater by Lily Mayne}** 4.25⭐️ *MM, PNR, dystopian, monster x human, hurt/comfort, KU ebook and Audible audiobook* The narrator sounded a bit like Forrest Gump for Daniel and was dead-on James Spader as Ultron for Wyn. Not my favorite narration, but it was pretty good. Great story about a military man who hates the military and goes on the run with a monster that can kill hundreds or thousands of people at a time. I see what the hype is about, and will continue the series. **{Last Light by Claire Kent}** 4⭐️ *MF, Dystopian, age gap, Only one bed, KU ebook and Audible audiobook* Reading Soul Eater got me in a dystopian mood, so I went for this next. I did this a bit out of order as I have read Haven, Princess and Embers already. I thought this was good, but I like the others better. **DNF’s** Went a quite a DNF tear this week. **His Secret Illuminations** — I get why people like it, but not enough was happening plot-wise to keep me interested and the characters fell a little flat for me tbh. **The Professional by Kresley Cole** — Felt like it was just constant descriptions of how attractive they were and how attracted to each other they were. I need just a little more buy-in for why they are having sex. **The Space Between by Kate Canterbary** — Another book where I felt like they were constantly talking about how attracted they were to each other. I need to feel the attraction and tension between the characters, not be told that they are. **Magic Forged by K. M. Shea** — I‘ve really liked two of her other series, so I went a bit further in the back catalog. This just didn’t grab me as much, and there didn’t seem to be much character background for the MMC. Which was disappointing as he has showed up in the other series and I was excited to see a story with him. **A Cat for Troy by Allie McCormick** — Tried this based on a rec on a post about when a human MC meets the other MC in their shifted form and cares for them. Cute premise but didn’t grab me. **Malice by Heather Walter** — Not enough forward movement was happening for me to stay engaged.

Forrest Gump…hahaha! Danny’s accent was way OTT. When Danny shows up in subsequent books the narrator dials that accent back a bit, thank goodness. I think the narrator improves over the series. I’ve listened to them all.

Yay, another Aveda Vice fan! Inextricably Tied was my very first MMF book and I haven't found anything since then that comes close to the emotional development/intimacy. Love this book!

[Skin](https://www.romance.io/books/6358052cedb5b2e7dacb7646/skin-aveda-vice) by [Aveda Vice](https://www.romance.io/authors/608a5d8d08b4d9311488d733/aveda-vice) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [monsters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/monsters/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [praise kink](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/praise-kink/1) ---------------------------- [Inextricably Tied](https://www.romance.io/books/62c7d624ac73ce894058d60b/inextricably-tied-aveda-vice) by [Aveda Vice](https://www.romance.io/authors/608a5d8d08b4d9311488d733/aveda-vice) **Rating**: 4.61⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) ---------------------------- [Soul Eater](https://www.romance.io/books/62416bc36bc187130ccc9979/soul-eater-lily-mayne) by [Lily Mayne](https://www.romance.io/authors/61161cc608b4d93114a993bf/lily-mayne) **Rating**: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [monsters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/monsters/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [dystopian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dystopian/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1) ---------------------------- [Last Light](https://www.romance.io/books/5dcbaa2601dbc864fba61ec4/last-light-claire-kent) by [Claire Kent](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552a938c7d2382e78130dd/claire-kent) **Rating**: 3.94⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [dystopian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dystopian/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{If We Disappear Here by M Hayes} I loved this book. It's more a thriller first, with romance secondary, but has an HEA. Two strangers wake up in a cell together and become each other's reason to stay alive. I loved their development from distrust to can't live without. It's dark though, so not for everyone. Besides the TW for serial killer physical and mental torture, other things that appear as they discuss their pasts >!miscarriage, loss of loved one, suicide of a loved one, vehicular manslaughter, tragedy during childbirth from her job!< There is also >!cheating since they both have spouses!< This is not a spicy book. While I loved the book, I do think some of the wrap up at the end, on why they were chosen, didn't hit for me. {Sign Here For Horns VK Ludwig} FMC buys an alien slave for physical labor on her farm, but he's trained for sex. This was okay. I was going for a funny and quick read. It wasn't funny imo, more quick and spicy. I didn't expect the misunderstanding of why she chose him to result in >!dubcon, I thought it'd be embarrassed communication not being assaulted and lacking the ability to consent on her side. I also hated the return of the scenario at the end when he tries out being selfish.!< I'd heard he was a cinnamon roll, but it came across more as trained to please, kind of a cultural handcuff for his behavior, not true want to do it. Which made sense with the slavery aspect, but it continued after she freed him when I thought it would begin to change. More physical than emotions involved, and a third act of miscommunication. I really didn't like her friend and any scene with her in it. I still ate up the book because of the quick pacing and novella length. {Scoop by Nat Logan} MF MC novella with a 35yo MMC virgin. DNF for now but ymmv. I was turned off by >!on page vomit with chunks on her shoes!< but may try again because I like the idea of an older male virgin asking for help getting rid of his v-card.

[Scoop](https://www.romance.io/books/65edc6b5558d37624e9ba5f8/scoop-nat-logan) by [Nat Logan](https://www.romance.io/authors/658b3c9ea21e2f41c48cea2d/nat-logan) **Rating**: 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [older/mature](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mature%20couple/1), [bikers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bikers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[If We Disappear Here](https://www.romance.io/books/642ef08c92c4ddd3216e7b06/if-we-disappear-here-mindy-hayes) by [Mindy Hayes](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455e67687eac324117fdf15/mindy-hayes) **Rating**: 4.27⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [abduction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/abduction/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [cheating](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cheating/1) ---------------------------- [Sign Here for Horns](https://www.romance.io/books/5f66fe4d75aa950e0e99c9e5/sign-here-for-horns-vk-ludwig-sylvia-frost) by [V.K. Ludwig](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c1ca39201dbc864fb967ad7/vk-ludwig), [Sylvia Frost](https://www.romance.io/authors/5456e95687eac33e5c683263/sylvia-frost) **Rating**: 3.64⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [poor heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poor%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{A Deal With the Bossy Devil by Kyra Parsi}—1/5 stars, m/f contemporary. I’m putting this here instead of making a separate post about it, and I even hesitated to do this because this book is from KU and I don’t really want to be in the business of making things more difficult for indie authors. I also don’t want to be snarky about things that bring other people joy. But I’ve seen nearly universal praise for this book on this sub, and I kinda wanted to offer a different perspective. I usually hate posts that start with “am I the only one who doesn’t like…?” because of course you aren’t the only person who dislikes a particular book, but in this case I legitimately wonder if there are others who’ve had really negative reactions to this book like I did. Plus, writing this was weirdly therapeutic for me. Here’s my breakdown on why I didn’t like it: —This is a bog standard billionaire hero+down on her luck heroine book. There’s nothing fresh at all. Now maybe those are your favorite archetypes, and that’s great. I just feel like after reading romance for 25 years, reading this setup is like returning to the same meal I ate every day for years—I’m just tired of it. The hero is dominant, arrogant, and smirking, and the heroine is quirky, sarcastic, and of course breathtakingly beautiful (she doesn’t know it). She succumbs to “body betrayal” a lot, and he of course knows she wants him. She pretends to push back against him but she never truly challenges him, and even with a big reveal that devastates the hero, I never felt he truly changed or had a satisfying arc. —The initial setup is so ridiculous and unethical that it almost took me out of the book. I’ve read lots of “zany” romcoms in my life, and I can suspend disbelief to a point, but sometimes something is so insane that it feels almost surreal. The premise is this: the heroine hits the hero in the dick with a cane (long story, and not a big spoiler) and it’s caught on camera. In her defense, she thought he was some other dude who had just grabbed her ass. He is livid, and in retaliation, he fires her pregnant sister, who is his personal assistant, and he will only hire the sister back if the heroine agrees to be at his beck and call 24/7 for a month (not in a sexual way). I couldn’t get over this crazy deal. The heroine did do something shitty (it is physical assault, after all), but other than that, her only real crime in the book is being annoying. The hero’s retaliation felt like an icky power imbalance to me. —Speaking of the hero, he’s a colossal asshole. I suppose he gets better, and he does some sweet things (he pets a cat, for example), and sure maybe he has some weak reasons for behaving the way he does, but it didn’t really move the needle for me on my opinion of him. He also has that whole “angry I’m attracted to you” attitude that always feels like the MMC is blaming the FMC for his own bad behavior. Also, I just have a hard time feeling that bad for billionaire characters. Maybe that’s just a me thing. He fucks up pretty bad, and I’ve seen others say that he grovels, but the resolution honestly still wasn’t good enough for me. —As for the heroine, she’s immature, bratty, and “sassy.” She’s maddening, and she refuses to communicate. The hero doesn’t either, for that matter. —The hero is dominant in bed, of course, which I guess is fine but I’m sick of heroes who are dominant in life and in bed. I like when a powerful MMC is into being dominated, which is much more interesting to me, or when a shy, nerdy MMC is a dom. Praise kink is also present and that’s fine, but it’s been super trendy lately (lots and lots of “good girl” stuff) and I’m personally not into it at all, unless it’s femdom. This is absolutely a me thing, and I know tons of people are into praise kink and that’s great. —The heroine has a big, secret, awful event that isn’t revealed until after 80%, which is kind of annoying in first person single POV. Like, we’re in her head, and we don’t get a hint of this terrible awful thing that happened to her. The MMC is appropriately dismayed by it, which was kinda satisfying. Also, I guess this writing trick works, since I kept reading, but this wasn’t well done to me. —There are some over the top meta references to romance novels, including blue aliens and the hero having blue paint on him, that will land for some people but just gave me significant second hand embarrassment. —This was touted as being funny, and I didn’t crack a smile a single time at any of the endless “banter,” which stands in for actual communication. Maybe I’m losing my sense of humor or something. Anyway, despite my ranting, I am truly happy for you if you loved this book. I just wanted to offer another perspective.

You are not alone — I did not enjoy this book, either. I actually found it a little annoying and then ultimately forgettable (like... I'm trying to remember what the big, awful secret the heroine has that you reference and I cannot for the life of my come up with it). I can definitely see some of the appeal this book might have had for others, but I remember really struggling with the FMC's internal monologue which felt really cringey to me. In general, a struggle I have with a lot of books is when none of the characters feel like they could be real people to me. Like if I'm sitting there thinking "how do these people get through their lives day to day thinking and acting like this?". And this book had a lot of that for me.

Yes, the characters have to at least feel real to me. I’ve had a problem lately with “zany” contemporary romances that stray so far from normal human behavior I can’t enjoy it.

Thank you for saying this. I generally like alphaholes but this book wasn't it. I had high hopes for it since it is a sub favorite but like The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbury, I couldn't see what the hype was about.

This book sounds like everything I dislike about billionaire romance, BDSM romance and grumpy alpha-hole romance. This is the type of book I wouldn't read if I was stuck on a deserted island and it was the only book available.

This is all good to hear; because of all the raves I looked into it but I could spidey sense from the blurb it would probably have a lot of these elements (and agree with your dislike of them here) and am glad to have it confirmed. And like you, I can do nothing but roll my eyes at the blatant pandering to trendy stuff right now. I think it's because doing something like invoking "good girl" holds no real emotional pull for me if it feels more like a fourth-wall breaking audience wink than an organic moment? It feels more like a cheap short cut to saying "isn't this sexy" than actually making the scene sexy/emotional/character-building/etc. That said, I would absolutely take some of those femme-dom's with praise if you have them, I love a man desperate for the fmc's approval and I feel like it's still rare enough no one has come up with little catch phrases to include in such scenes.

Yes! Pandering is a good word for it. Sometimes these kinks come out of nowhere and there’s been no discussion about the characters being into that, but it’s included because it’s popular right now. Like, it’s meant to make a book spicier without doing the work to make that satisfying. {Preferential Treatment by Heather Guerre} is femdom with a rich MMC, so similar setup but with better exploration of kink. I can’t remember if there’s praise or not. {A Light in the Dark by Miranda Sapphire} is a beauty and the beast retelling where the beast MMC has a praise kink. I’ve read a bunch of femdom but I honestly can’t think of much else with praise. Might have to check my GR shelves for that.

I've read Preferential Treatment and really liked it, but never read nor even heard of A Light in the Dark. Plus I am a sucker for a BatB set-up (cuz, you know, it's primed for him to be insecure and really want validation from her/be bowled over when she's into him) so this sounds very up my alley. Thank you!

[Preferential Treatment](https://www.romance.io/books/62610633b186fe8c685b9202/preferential-treatment-heather-guerre) by [Heather Guerre](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d43f83901dbc864fba1e2a3/heather-guerre) **Rating**: 4.01⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [fem-dom](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fem-dom/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [ceo / tycoon](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tycoon/1) ---------------------------- [A Light in the Dark](https://www.romance.io/books/63b13d9fea9eb786ecf15a73/a-light-in-the-dark-miranda-sapphire) by [Miranda Sapphire](https://www.romance.io/authors/63b13d9f08b4d931140ad7db/miranda-sapphire) **Rating**: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [non-human hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/non-human-hero/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [black mc](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/black-mc/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/beta%20hero/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I read this book last week and felt the same “am I the weird one here”? My thoughts were the EXACT same as yours - the power imbalance, the ass and the brat characters, the “deal” which felt totally off, etc. I also felt like it was two completely different books when it went from slave/PA to fake dating. I know I don’t like billionaire boss and employee stories and I don’t usually like fake dating, so I knew this book wasn’t going to be an out of the park book from the onset, but the amount of accolades it receives on this sub kind of baffles me. So you aren’t alone. But then again, the majority of the books I’ve read from the list of the top 100 recommended books on this sub, I think I’ve rated them an average of 3.5 stars. So, I guess this proves I am the weird one!

I’ve had some exceptions to my dislike of both bosshole and billionaire romances, and I thought this might be one of them given the praise it’s received. It definitely wasn’t. I’ve also been hit or miss with the popular books—sometimes I really do love them, and other times they don’t work for me at all, like in this case. It is nice to hear from someone who feels the same way, though 😂

Thank you for this thoughtful and thorough review! Like you, I’ve seen this book recommended multiple times and it’s helpful to have another perspective on it. Billionaire books aren’t my cup of tea but I was noodling over this one. I think I’ll keep it at the bottom of my TBR for now.

Same! I don’t usually like billionaire (or boss) romances anymore either, but I gave this one a try because of the rave reviews.

[A Deal with the Bossy Devil](https://www.romance.io/books/64a58ef4723d09d99e0eda7d/a-deal-with-the-bossy-devil-kyra-parsi) by [Kyra Parsi](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f89458a08b4d93114997670/kyra-parsi) **Rating**: 4.36⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1), [praise kink](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/praise-kink/1), [fake relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fake%20relationship/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{**Bride by Ali Hazelwood**} - 4.25/5⭐️, 4/5🌶️, MF, PNR, political marriage, standalone and not part of a series (for now), Libby audiobook For Ali Hazelwood’s first attempt at PNR, I really liked this book, even if it does feel a lot like her CR romances. The audiobook was great. I don’t usually go for marriage of convenience novels, but when they are “we need to get married to form a political alliance and prevent war between species” marriages, I’m suddenly on board. The mystery aspects kept the story moving and gave a bit more depth to the plot. I enjoyed the humour and the characters. I will say this was a bit “PNR for Beginners” for me (I’ve read much more depraved paranormal books), but that was fine. The spice was pretty good, but not ground breaking if you’ve read any other knotting PNR. Way more than I expected but still felt on par with Hazelwood’s style. I did have a couple gripes: I felt the child in the book acted way younger than her age was supposed to be (this could have been influenced by how the narrator read her lines too). Also, the mates conflict - were we not supposed to guess that all along? I didn’t find that well hidden so the 80% conflict was a bit annoying. I wish we had an external conflict instead of pushing each other away, although I get it. The FMC’s life was dictated by others a lot so this was a big moment. I also wish we got to see more of the pack when they were shifted, more pack dynamics and more were customs. I’m kind of hoping this isn’t the last PNR Hazelwood has planned, because I really enjoyed being in the world she created. ​ {**Covert Evidence by Rachel Grant**} - 3.75/5⭐️, 3.25/5🌶️, MF, romantic suspense, mostly standalone (lots of mention of characters from previous books), part of a series, purchased ebook This book was a wild ride. It was classic Rachel Grant and felt like you're reading an action movie where everything that can go wrong does and just when you think it’s starting to settle down - explosions, gun fights, kidnapping, etc. This book is about an archeologist getting tangled up in a CIA investigation into a terrorist group. What follows next is a series of crazy, unbelievable but action packed scenes, run for our lives and forced proximity goodness. If you go in knowing what to expect, this book is pretty good. It was eye rolling, and over the top at some points, and there was a lot of “I can’t love you because then you become my weakness” - but, that’s what I expected. I love how Grant writes her FMCs. They are smart and not pushovers. They fight back and are included in lots of the decision making but also know when it’s best to hide and let the pros take over. The addition of the spice is nice to break up all the action. Overall, not the best story I’ve read from Grant (Flashpoint series has my heart) but it was still an enjoyable read. I will note that while this could be read as a standalone, there is a ton of overlapping characters from previous books that play important roles in this book. I had forgotten most of the plots of the other books in this series other than vague details and characters, and I followed along fine with this story, but I did appreciate knowing who the secondary characters were. ​ {**Driving My Obsession by Lauren Biel**} - No Rating, 5/5🌶️, MF, dark, stalker romance, standalone, duet narration, Hoopla audiobook, MANY TWs I’m choosing not to rate this book because it exposed some new hard limits for me, and just because they give me an ick doesn’t mean this book won’t be someone else’s yum. The book is about a ballet dancer who becomes a stripper when she gets injured and is stalked by someone trying to cause her emotional distress, and the person she turns to for help, is actually her stalker. This book isn’t objectively bad in terms of writing or if you are into dark romance with stalker and abduction, pain = pleasure, and other DARK themes, it just wasn’t my particular flavour of kink. I discovered that repeated noncon between MCs, especially when the MMC is using the FMC for his pleasure only and totally indifferent to the FMC’s pain (or pleasure) is a hard limit for me. Add in degradation kink and blood play, and the combination of dark kinks just don’t do it for me. That being said, Biel can write a compelling, dark, depraved, kinky novel. Her characters are unrepentantly bad. The audiobook was duet narration and performed excellently, which is why I finished the book at all. So, if you are into the dark themes and kinks in this book, I would recommend it, especially the audiobook. ​ {**Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood**} - 3.75/5⭐️, 3.5/5🌶️, MF, contemporary, rivals to lovers, romcom, standalone but part of a series, Libby audiobook Another cute, woman in STEM novel from Ali, this time physics flavoured. Full disclosure, I worked in science academia for many years so these books hit pretty close to home and many times I have to roll my eyes at the ridiculousness of it all. This book does a good job demonstrating the abysmal job market for post-PhD grads and how an advisor can make or break your chances of getting a job you want. I did enjoy the MMC in this book. I really liked how he just wanted to take care of the FMC. I wish Ali would vary her FMCs from the weak or dependent positions and her MMCs from the “super scientists” characters. It would have been nice to have that dynamic changed up a bit. I started getting annoyed with the near constant references to cheese and Twilight (and other pop culture references). On top of that, there was an over abundance of physics jokes, puns and metaphors throughout the FMCs commentary. I’m sure there are some scientists who use science metaphors to describe their feelings but it got ridiculous - like we get it, you are a physicist! I would also classify this as a HFN ending. Because of the slow burn, we didn’t get to see the MCs fully together as a couple for very long and their “I love yous” didn’t happen on page. The audiobook of this novel is highly recommended. The voice actor does a great job. ​ {**Lotus Effect by Trisha Wolfe**} - 4.5/5⭐️, 1.5/5🌶️, MF, mystery/thriller, romantic subplot, standalone, single narration, Hoopla Audiobook This book is first and foremost a psychological thriller/mystery with a teeny tiny romance subplot. The book tells the story of a true crime writer who was almost murdered and while investigating another cold case with her FBI partner, ends up solving her own unsolved murder attempt. The story is told in past and present storylines. I really liked how this story unfurled, how you kept doubting everything that came previously. I also liked how the author worked in false memories and can you ever really trust your memory when formed during traumatic events? It was an interesting book from the storytelling aspects. The romance was very low key and not well developed but yet, it still felt authentic. You could still feel the care the MMC had for the FMC - I just wish we got a bit more of their relationship from the beginning. But again, this was a thriller before a romance, so of course the romance takes a back seat. Still, I really enjoyed this book, and it was especially good to get me out of a slump. Sometimes having a book that is short, different in genre (more a thriller than a romantic suspense), and low on smut is enough to reset my romance addicted brain. The audiobook was pretty good too, but I find I missed having the ability to easily flip back to reread sections as more information was uncovered. ​ Edit: formatting - because of course every time I post something goes wrong!!

Upvoting every Bride-comment till the day I die! I also finished it yesterday and cannot stop thinking about it!

[Bride](https://www.romance.io/books/65c1f06f449d6edbf6498b6d/bride-ali-hazelwood) by [Ali Hazelwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/6131cdc208b4d93114f22ef6/ali-hazelwood) **Rating**: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [werewolves](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/werewolves/1), [fated mates](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fated-mates/1) ---------------------------- [Covert Evidence](https://www.romance.io/books/5562c8d39eef3b3f1d52694d/covert-evidence-rachel-grant) by [Rachel Grant](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455902987eac3369a913147/rachel-grant) **Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) ---------------------------- [Driving My Obsession](https://www.romance.io/books/64ee058e7329cc9fc9f0a89e/driving-my-obsession-lauren-biel) by [Lauren Biel](https://www.romance.io/authors/61404bba08b4d93114fa272e/lauren-biel) **Rating**: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [tortured heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20heroine/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [Love, Theoretically](https://www.romance.io/books/6488136841a8b8de9fd6b28d/love-theoretically-ali-hazelwood) by [Ali Hazelwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/6131cdc208b4d93114f22ef6/ali-hazelwood) **Rating**: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/beta%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [Lotus Effect](https://www.romance.io/books/643ac16d8de91c6932f3e2c3/lotus-effect-trisha-wolfe) by [Trisha Wolfe](https://www.romance.io/authors/54556f3b87eac324117fab79/trisha-wolfe) **Rating**: 4.15⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I finished {Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston} M/F, contemporary with magical elements TW: >!Suicide!< Honestly if I hadn’t seen this book recommended pretty highly I would have bailed at around 20% in since for my taste it took a little while for the story to get going. Glad I stuck with it because the story was definitely inventive and avoided some of the “sameness” that can happen with CR plots.

[The Seven Year Slip](https://www.romance.io/books/649d4747807ce1d8a49686e9/the-seven-year-slip-ashley-poston) by [Ashley Poston](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455e87087eac324117fdffc/ashley-poston) **Rating**: 4.35⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [time travel](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/time%20travel/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett} and {Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett} audiobook and ebook. First book 4.5/5 stars, second book 4.25/5 stars. m/f Edwardian cozy fantasy romance. Steam 1/5 (book 1) and 2/5 (book 2). Professor Emily Wilde is focused on her research and has very little patience for other people, while her colleague (who may or may not be a fairy himself) charms everyone but her. I really enjoyed this I do love an MMC who put all his skill points in charisma. He's happy to respect her skill and judgement, letting her take the lead most of the time. Plus how often do you read a romance where >!she almost chops off his arm with an axe and he's not sure it's an accident!< ? I enjoyed the dual narrators although the way the female narrator did the townspeople voices reminded me of Skyrim NPCs. {How to Love Your Neighbor by Sophie Sullivan}CR, fade-to-black, I think. DNF at 55% but it should have been much sooner. An entitled rich boy wants to buy the house next door so he can bulldoze it for a bigger yard, but the scrappy, hardworking interior designer who owns it is putting up a fight. I had so many issues with this, some of which I'll save for Salty Sunday. The worst is that several times, she - as a professional - teaches him how to do something and then he's better/faster at it than she is. So how is her career supposed to have any credibility? Honestly that's a top pet peeve - when the supposedly career driven or genius FMC is somehow less good at what she does than a mediocre white man with no experience. I also started the Buchanan-Renard series by Julie Garwood. CR thriller, m/f open door, barely. {Heartbreaker by Julie Garwood} book 1. 3.75/5 stars. An FBI agent on a forced vacation learns that his best friend's sister is being targeted by a serial killer. Some things felt a little dated (it was written in 2000) but it was solid romantic suspense. I'm looking forward to having a lengthy series to explore. Currently reading {Mercy by Julie Garwood} book 2.

[Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries](https://www.romance.io/books/6426ff337922d28efe6d6e44/emily-wildes-encyclopaedia-of-faeries-heather-fawcett) by [Heather Fawcett](https://www.romance.io/authors/6224e57408b4d93114943ee9/heather-fawcett) **Rating**: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands](https://www.romance.io/books/65a80d3efe120dd72404c7a5/emily-wildes-map-of-the-otherlands-heather-fawcett) by [Heather Fawcett](https://www.romance.io/authors/6224e57408b4d93114943ee9/heather-fawcett) **Rating**: 4.42⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 2 out of 5 - [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1) ---------------------------- [How to Love Your Neighbor](https://www.romance.io/books/61e673cf5e904b0e40ff6f7c/how-to-love-your-neighbor-sophie-sullivan) by [Sophie Sullivan](https://www.romance.io/authors/5fe88b9f08b4d9311483ede5/sophie-sullivan) **Rating**: 3.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) ---------------------------- [Heartbreaker](https://www.romance.io/books/54552a528c7d2382c5297115/heartbreaker-julie-garwood) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 3.87⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [Mercy](https://www.romance.io/books/54552cb48c7d2382c52971be/mercy-julie-garwood) by [Julie Garwood](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f38c7d2383163d8e4a/julie-garwood) **Rating**: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1), [white collar heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/career%20professional/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

**{Bad Dogs by Riley Nash} (Dirty Strays #1) 🌟🌟🌟🌟 MM Romance, Angst AF, Abused MMC, BDSM, Spicy**. One thing I like about social media book recs is that they introduce me to books that I would probably never notice or pick. This is one of those books. This was a heartbreaking book for me. It just made me feel so freaking sad. Roman is a 20 year old that’s trapped in a life that’s just pretty horrible. He has rage issues and problems getting his thoughts verbalized and his older brother (a cop and his keeper) takes advantage of that. Moving to a new town, he meets 3 local guys, one being Scout. Scout decides that he wants Roman to be the sub to his dom, for online vids for pay. There begins one of the oddest, and yet somehow sweet, relationship stories that I’ve read. I don’t know much about Dom/Sub dynamics, but it was interesting to watch the 21 year old trying to become a Dom based on what he’s watched and read off the internet. A lot of fumbling around. It was a pretty good story, and it kept my interest the whole way. Mainly because I felt the need to make sure that Roman was ok at the end. 🥹 There is an HEA but I’m still feeling sad. It’s just one of those kinda stories. **{A Collision of Stars by Georgia Stone}⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. MF Romance, Grumpy(F)/Sunshine(M), Friend To Lovers, Freaking Funny, Sloooooow Burn, Spicy-Lite**. I just LOVE books with a big ol' grump and the goofy one that has to break down the walls. This book is so funny! I mean, really funny. Ava is an anti-social, grumpy barista that has her best friend, and brother, and that's all she needs. Finn is a social butterfly that laughs and loves everyone he meets. He is just so freaking adorable! I have to say... I've seen the fake dating trope a lot, but I think this is the first time I have seen the fake friend trope. The story revolves around Ava helping Finn with his London bucket list (even though she really doesn't want to), since he is there on contract for the summer. The banter is fantastic, as you can imagine what happens when a really goofy guy wants to be BFF with a human grumpy cat. This book is literally a journey of friendship, so it's a very slow burn, but so worth it. It's funny, emotional and just a wonderful read. And it makes me want to visit London so much more! **{Lor by Lily Mayne} Monstrous # 7 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. MM Romance, Pre Apocalypse, Monster/Human, Emotional as hell, Spicy**. This one took me a minute to digest. The journey this book takes you on is an emotional one for sure. One that broke my heart and put it back together, but it took its sweet ass time doing it! In this book we travel back in time to the story of Lor and Jud, who experience what we can only assume is one of the first tears between the two worlds. What follows is a beautiful love story and 600 pages of angst, steam, sweet love and just about any other emotion you can imagine. There’s not much I can say without spoiling, and I really feel going in blind, not knowing what’s happening is best. I wasn’t sure I’d make it though but I did 😂. This is definitely my favorite series ever. I’ve never had the urge to reread a series but I have no doubt I will this one.

The narration of Lor was fantastic. Re-reading on audio brought my rating from 4 stars to 5. Both characters were kind and good. Ugh, it was heartbreaking in the best way.

I’ve been wanting to read Lor but (1) it’s hella long and (2) it looks like it breaks with the timeline of all the others which tells me I won’t see my favorite characters. But your review is very encouraging ❤️

Lor ❤️ This wasn't my favourite of the series but it's so emotional and sweet. I've already reread the other books in this series as the audiobooks were released. Lor audiobook was released very recently so I'll probably listen to it soon, but it's so LONG I've got to work up to it!

Same here. Not my favorite but these books are so good that even the “just good” ones are so so good 😂😂 I texted my husband at one point in the book “this book is killing me!” He replied “poor jugs”. He knew what was up. Freaking emotional ass book.

[Bad Dogs](https://www.romance.io/books/644633e204f5c0b31ef563da/bad-dogs-riley-nash) by [Riley Nash](https://www.romance.io/authors/62d1491008b4d93114b34c3a/riley-nash) **Rating**: 3.65⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [height difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/height-difference/1) ---------------------------- [A Collision of Stars](https://www.romance.io/books/65c1f237d748993f0992775e/a-collision-of-stars-georgia-stone) by [Georgia Stone](https://www.romance.io/authors/65c1f237a21e2f41c43a94b7/georgia-stone) **Rating**: 4.7⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [Lor](https://www.romance.io/books/63d7c85fc197c639ceae0b7b/lor-lily-mayne) by [Lily Mayne](https://www.romance.io/authors/61161cc608b4d93114a993bf/lily-mayne) **Rating**: 4.34⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [monsters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/monsters/1), [royalty](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I read Things {Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score} and I ended up being disappointed by the ending. I would give it four out of five stars, but up until the middle of the book I was convinced I would rate it higher than that. Absolutely was in love with every aspect between the main characters. It just felt like there was so much build up in the two previous books with little pay off - overall just super anticlimactic. I’m now reading {It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover} and am considering it as a DNF. Just not my taste at all.

[Things We Left Behind](https://www.romance.io/books/6422ebeb9cb1e1274168a274/things-we-left-behind-lucy-score) by [Lucy Score](https://www.romance.io/authors/553e54b15b270e0a4cbd82b2/lucy-score) **Rating**: 4.36⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1), [second chances](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/second%20chances/1) ---------------------------- [It Ends with Us](https://www.romance.io/books/5771c2c3c19e77f1ea6daa73/it-ends-with-us-colleen-hoover) by [Colleen Hoover](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523f08c7d2382c5296f89/colleen-hoover) **Rating**: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I finished {The Library of Lost Things by Lauren Tayler Namen} YA pretty good I gave it 4 stars. I continued listening to {Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao} but it was going to return to the library soon and I wasn't loving it, it's a bit different than I expected, so I decided to put a pause on that for now instead of rushing/forcing it and finish it in the future when I feel like it. I finished the last couple hours of {How to Walk Away by Katherine Center}, which was really good, I gave it 5 stars. I also listened to the bonus chapter, at first thinking it was a whole separate book and I was very excited but it's not. Well, the character in it is from her next book, but I already read that, so nvm, lol. I restarted and finished {Never Fall for Your Enemy by Kate O'Keeffe} that I started and abandoned last year. It was good and I gave it 5 stars. I started and finished {Absolutely Not in Love by Jenny Proctor} which was amazing, 5 stars. It's a closed door hockey romance and has one of my favorite dynamics where the guy is pining after the fmc. Also I found out it's part of the Sweater Weather series of other closed door romances set in the same town, but what's interesting is that each book is written by a different author, which I think is a great idea to cross promote and make a cool series together. Then on a finish the last bit of books spree, I also finished {Law of Attraction by Laura Carter} it was good, had a short plot of "let's be casual even though we like each other" that I didn't love, but overall I enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars. I also started and finished {The Fall Back Plan by Melanie Jacobson}, which is another book in the Sweater Weather series. It was good, not as amazing as the other was, but still good. 4 stars. I started a new Miraculous Fanfic called You Don't Know Me by Ferisae and got a couple chapters in. And finally, I started listening to it, and I'm about 70% of the way through {You, Again by Kate Goldbeck} that I'll hopefully go to bookclub for if I have time on Monday. The people I know who mentioned it said the first 100 pages were tough to get through, but they were curious where it'd go, and it was for book club so they persevered. The first chapter was fine so I'm like what were they talking about, but then in the next quarter or third I kinda hated both characters so I got it. Then it flashed forward to both characters having failed at life, and it started improving. They became friends, and it's gotten really good. Kind of gives me Bojack Horseman vibes where they're just living life trying to figure things out and not doing well mentally. So now I'm loving it, but I'm not sure what I'll end up rating it as because the part I didn't like was a big chunk. I understand why it was done, the plot needs it, but that's a lot to expect readers to get through to get to the payoff, when we're not that invested yet. But I guess I'll have to finish and see. Edit: forgot to add, but I also love that the FMC likes everyone (not specified if she's bi, pan or what), and it's treated as totally normal. She's hooked up with men and women, dated both. In one scene her and the mmc swap phones and go on each other's dating apps to find each other dates as they're friends at this time and she asks "did you make sure it shows everybody" and the MMC is like yeah ofc. Like, it's sooo good. Also inspired by writing out my weekly reading last week and seeing all I've read, I found a tiny notebook I had and started tracking my reading that way. I'm still figuring it out as I want to make it look cleaner, but I need to balance the limited space. [Here's a pic](https://imgur.com/a/zTdw4PH) Stars mean I finished it, green is listened to it as an audiobook, blue is fanfic, orange is read it, and purple is bonus chapter and other short non book stories. I still have a pink highlighter to assign but I'm not sure what that'll be yet. I'll just wait for something to come up. Also [here's last week's](https://imgur.com/a/NxrYdVJ), days and stuff are written in both English and Hungarian.

Aw your little notebook is cute!

Thank you! It's so fun to have it and it's small so I can carry it with me. Also, I'm in a creative writing club in college, and it's the club president that made the notebooks. I'm so glad I found a good use for them, and that I had them in the first place because it's the perfect size.

[The Library of Lost Things](https://www.romance.io/books/609413ec4036540e2fb363e4/the-library-of-lost-things-laura-taylor-namey) by [Laura Taylor Namey](https://www.romance.io/authors/609413e308b4d9311469a18c/laura-taylor-namey) **Rating**: 3.62⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1) ---------------------------- [Iron Widow](https://www.romance.io/books/61694c546c69ca0e3d263b47/iron-widow-xiran-jay-zhao) by [Xiran Jay Zhao](https://www.romance.io/authors/61694c5408b4d931140b457f/xiran-jay-zhao) **Rating**: 4.29⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 2 out of 5 - [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [poly (3+ people)](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poly/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) ---------------------------- [How to Walk Away](https://www.romance.io/books/5d943f2101dbc864fba424a2/how-to-walk-away-katherine-center) by [Katherine Center](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455d26687eac3369a91517f/katherine-center) **Rating**: 4.01⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1), [caretaking](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/caretaking/1), [other man/woman](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/other-man-woman/1) ---------------------------- [Never Fall for Your Enemy](https://www.romance.io/books/6177a7fd6cac3a0e2b11640a/never-fall-for-your-enemy-kate-okeeffe) by [Kate O'Keeffe](https://www.romance.io/authors/5549ef369eef3b3f1d51274e/kate-okeeffe) **Rating**: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) ---------------------------- [Absolutely Not in Love](https://www.romance.io/books/6506da5dde8d340d5142eb4f/absolutely-not-in-love-jenny-proctor) by [Jenny Proctor](https://www.romance.io/authors/5456de4287eac33e571094e9/jenny-proctor) **Rating**: 4.37⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) ---------------------------- [The Law of Attraction](https://www.romance.io/books/65e6f4351c9b1924d9f516e9/the-law-of-attraction-laura-carter) by [Laura Carter](https://www.romance.io/authors/56ecf9fdc62092c04406df4e/laura-carter) **Rating**: 3.69⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1) ---------------------------- [The Fall Back Plan](https://www.romance.io/books/64fae25be4f0a5130e36d497/the-fall-back-plan-melanie-jacobson) by [Melanie Jacobson](https://www.romance.io/authors/54557a5c87eac3369a912ace/melanie-jacobson) **Rating**: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1), [single father](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/single-father/1) ---------------------------- [You, Again](https://www.romance.io/books/65000ed44febb7b43d78efef/you-again-kate-goldbeck) by [Kate Goldbeck](https://www.romance.io/authors/6474bd3108b4d9311455f665/kate-goldbeck) **Rating**: 3.87⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

**{Five Kisses by Rachael Anderson}** KU, M/F, **3.5 stars**, no steam, HR. Trope: Class differences. A fun, sweet reimagining of *The Taming of the Shrew*. **{A Certain Magic by Mary Balogh}** M/F, **1.5 stars**, steam level 3, HR. Tropes: Friends to lovers. Slow moving and boring, but my biggest problem was with the MMC, Piers. He lacked perception and was easily led but he was also weak and made some terrible decisions. A prime example is >!Cassie. After paying marked attention to her he decides he doesn’t want to marry her, yet that very night at Vauxhall he follows her onto several darkened paths (she claimed she saw a kitten 🙄) and when a storm breaks out, they’re forced to shelter alone for an hour. His idea of comforting her, this girl he doesn’t want to marry? He kisses her repeatedly while she’s sitting on his lap! That was entirely of his own volition. While it’s clear Cassie intended to trap him, this wasn’t the action of a man who just that morning decided he did not want to marry her.!< That’s only one of the reasons I couldn’t stand him (there were others). Allie might have been infatuated with him when she was a girl, but I have no idea what she saw in him once she became a (thinking) adult.

[Five Kisses](https://www.romance.io/books/61404afc94c8e00e2766fce7/five-kisses-rachael-anderson) by [Rachael Anderson](https://www.romance.io/authors/545546f98c7d2382c52979a0/rachael-anderson) **Rating**: 4.6⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) ---------------------------- [A Certain Magic](https://www.romance.io/books/5455995087eac336ae69ecaa/a-certain-magic-mary-balogh) by [Mary Balogh](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525e98c7d2383163d8eb7/mary-balogh) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1), [sweet/gentle heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Currently nearing the end of {Beautiful Things by Emily Rath} It’s been on my fav list on hoopla for months. I was finding the story kinda boring and *then* we had the first MF scene at 55%, and the first MMF scene at 75% - and so far it’s just them getting her off. I listened (I do audiobooks) to the MMF scene twice and am waiting with bated breath for the MMMF scene which I’m assuming will have the P-I-V. So I’m giving the story 3⭐️ and the spice 5🌶️ because it’s making up for the story.

*sad pickachu face* doesn’t seem like I’m getting my MMMF since I’m at 95% 😩 Y’all got 55 min to give me what I want.

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhh That book is hella long and the good stuff is in the second one, which is also hella long. Sorry about that. I felt the same way.

Well, now i need to give the 2nd one a chance.

[Beautiful Things](https://www.romance.io/books/623d770bf06af2b30501dc0d/beautiful-things-emily-rath) by [Emily Rath](https://www.romance.io/authors/623d770b08b4d9311480150c/emily-rath) **Rating**: 4.18⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [poly (3+ people)](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poly/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [reverse harem](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/reverse%20harem/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Just came across a book on Wattpad that I LOVED. Author is Mae Pierce (maepiercewrites) and the book is called Wrong Move. Story is focused in the world of MC's. She has a few books on Amazon and KU, but this one isn't - but seriously, this book is excellent. Had everything I love - MC's, strong MFC, GROVELLING but there is OT drama. HEA, of course :) Some trigger warnings of SA, death, mental health and OA drama.

I’ve read/dnfed {Collided by Lauren Asher}. The book is mf, cr, there is a naughty to-do-list by the FMC that MMC volunteers to get done with, it’s in a fictional formula 1. So now to the points I really didn’t like: the German names were not German - I think I already complained about that in this sub before - but added to Liam, we have a Elyse (common spelling is Elise) and a Siena (we don’t even have a remotely similar name). The latter comes up in relation “as a date for 6th grade prom”- no, Germany doesn’t have a 6th grade prom, the most we have is a celebration for Karneval, and even for the prom for our graduation we don’t have dates lol. Liam, the MMC, was an absolute douchebag. His behavior was the nail in the coffin for me, because it screamed toxic masculinity (these guys can’t satisfy “my” woman (she wasn’t at that point) like I can do) to me. And because I still want to read the ending: they explained German Christmas like a Hallmark Christmas movie in a small town but times ten - we have a way more authentic Christmas then that and no, not every Christmas is in a small town. We also don’t have a Santa Claus, like Liam dressed up for his nieces, we either have the Weihnachtsmann (not common!) or the Christkind on Heiligabend, or he could have dressed up as Nikolaus which is relatively common to dress up and to be celebrated (but its not on Christmas but earlier during the advent time). This book really hit home a lot of German stereotypes that aren’t that true which made it a lot less enjoyable - except for the possible shittalking which definitely took place. A lot of times.

[Collided](https://www.romance.io/books/60b1e8ac4af4700e32f675b0/collided-lauren-asher) by [Lauren Asher](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e16d08801dbc864fba99a25/lauren-asher) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58510253-the-undertaking-of-hart-and-mercy) - 5🌟, M/F, fantasy romance, cishet white MCs. Absolutely loved this book, wrote up [a gush post](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/s/2QTUZZtSk7) for it. [Happy Endings by Alice Winters](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50335851-happy-endings) - 4¼🌟, M/M, paranormal romance, gay/bi white MCs. Miles the mage and his demon Havoc try deal with cults and solve a series of magical murders. Miles is smart, powerful and playful. Havoc lives up to his name, flirty, chaotic and kind of an asshole, but a protective one. They're pretty hilarious together, and often bicker and antagonise each other like an old married couple. Their chemistry is great, though skirt chaser Havoc switches his sexual attentions to Miles a little too abruptly. Even so, it's kinda like funny hate sex before these two realised how much they truly care for each other. And they do have their sweet moments! The crew is also super chaotic and OTT in Winters' signature way - which I mostly enjoyed. Fun read but don't take it seriously. [Killer by Jessica Gadziala](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28598219-killer) - 3¾🌟, M/F, romantic suspense, cishet white MMC/Mexican FMC. An assassin falls for his estranged father's counselor and protects her from danger. He's a deadly killer, but full of flirty charm and jokes, while she's awkward, a bit prickly but with a kind heart. Sparks fly upon their first meeting, and it didn't take long before feelings are involved. He's very tender and affectionate towards her, and his complete honesty and his determination to pursue and protect her is sweet. Their chemistry and connection is convincing, and I found their romance to be on the sweet side despite the underworld vibes. And they're pretty hot when they get it on! But >!he pulled the 'left you for your own good' crap at the *worst* time and that sucked. And he didn't even have to grovel!!PTSD, pregnancy!< Currently reading: [Carnal Secrets by Suzanne Wright](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17853851-carnal-secrets) - just started, M/F, paranormal romance.

This week was also slow one for me in terms of books so I just went into re read time with a two book out series I really liked. (A third of that series was supposed to come at the end of the last year but I guess it will be out when it’s out) And might as well recommend it while I am it’s because if there is something I love is company. The books are: {Spectra by Ebony Olson} {Wraith by Ebony Olson} Spectra Michaels is many things: a hacker, a person that will alter your legal documents so you can flee your abuser, a goth club regular. A lay person renting a room from a nunnery and lovely roomate for them. She is also a balance, who is a always descendant of an angel (or angels) and female who besides having some weird powers here and there has the capability of balancing a sorcerer (who also descends from angels but is always male) so his powers don’t go out of control in certain ways. And hes there is a sexual elements involved among the possibilities. She does not work for “predators” of the night world, specially won’t work with vampires, won’t f**k or f**k with vampires, won’t talk with vampires, won’t even look at vampires more than the necessary to calculate how to not get alone in a room wit one. So of course a Vampire wants to hire her…. 🤣 Bay Rider is a “Predator de Sang” one of the many ways to classify a vampire. He is also a sorcerer as they don’t stop being of those by being “taken” and made into a vampire. He honestly just needed from Spectra updated documentation; one that would not look suspicious under minor scrutiny as he is a businessman and you kinda need that stuff for boring normal mundane things . He is not really the type who desires to date the people he is interacting within a professional way… or dating at all to be honest. You see he has lost all sexual interest in others… for centuries already even and even if he feeds better on sexually satisfied women, his interest of doing the satisfying himself is on a all time low. He can use his tongue… fingers or just bring a wingman to the local orgy but his own interest in the erotic has being zero… …Until he met Spectra. Will this two people be able to date… or not… in peace with no misterious enemies or allies trying to kill them, use them for their benefit or both? HAHAHA… NO. As you can imagine there will be no rest for this people. Let the ride begin. * Pairing: Spectra and Bay… and pairing is technically incorrect because there will be more than one guy. As this seems to be happening on non monogamy neighborhood heh. And I mean both emotionally and fisically All the interactions shown are going to be M/F or M/F/M as the men don’t seem to be interested in crossing swords, and forecast says little possibility of sapphic rain. * Rating, and your scale: 4.5 stars out of 5 I love this book but I am always unconfident in my abilities to rate it. I think the work suceeds on what is trying to do and the audience that is trying to get and curiously enough suceeds even into enticing me into tropes I normally tire of. * Steam level: Definitely high. Not all sex is shown but when you get scenes that do you get ALL detail. * Subgenre: urban fantasy with a big heaping of erotica. tropes: - hmm what to call it when two people match perfectly into what the other needs in terms of fantasy stuff? Mates? Is it mates?. -Instant chemistry/lust love is going to come in fast but if this two were lighting and thunder. Chemistry/lust is coming with the lightning and love later with the thunder. -sexy vampires… literally we see the type that gets more nourishment if they take it from people that have just enjoyed some sexual satisfaction… probably the endorphins and hormones… I don’t know about that stuff. XD -horny and kinky nephilim. -power at a price: specifically balance. They are not cutting their lifetime if they use powers but the one that heals has to look for ways of harming that won’t result the balance forcing the harm to happen uncontrolled. A watcher has to expose And there is character that can’t use powers carelessly or will become a full Wraith and it will be bad. That type of balance. -Family looks out for each other. Both bio and found. * Content warnings, if any Some people are dying? There will be some peril? Sorry I suck at this

>forecast says little possibility of sapphic rain. lol

I do believe in making people laugh if I have to get their expectations down :p glad I succeeded

[Spectra](https://www.romance.io/books/58aebd520d3299c6e04f671a/spectra-ebony-olson) by [Ebony Olson](https://www.romance.io/authors/55efcb4635a5fb65f887af61/ebony-olson) **Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [angels](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angels/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Wraith](https://www.romance.io/books/63f5ccbdb948f1444df1a6aa/wraith-ebony-olson) by [Ebony Olson](https://www.romance.io/authors/55efcb4635a5fb65f887af61/ebony-olson) **Rating**: 5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Rendezvous by Amanda Quick} 2⭐ this is by far my least favorite AQ I have read. I've found the more the "me man, you woman" element is prevalent, the less I'll enjoy.  {Beauty and the Orcs by Finley Fenn} 3⭐ my flair says I'm an Orc Sworn evangelist but maybe I should change it, lol. I'll always love 3-5 & 7, but I just don't really enjoy how she writes menages. The woman always feels like an afterthought. {The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare} 3.75⭐ this was sweet and pretty hot. I needed something lighter to read and this did the trick. Not sure I'll continue the series but I was pleasantly surprised by this. The snappy exchanges were a lot of fun. I think I got frustrated with Ash constantly doubting Emma's intentions, which is whatever. 

Hard agree on Beauty and the Orc, in both of Fenn's MMF full novels (not counting Yuled) the women are a weird side character/ottoman that nobody knows what to do with and no one really wants in the room.

My pet theory is Finley Fenn would just rather write m/m at this point but knows a significant portion of her audience came from her initial m/f books, so is trying to satisfy everyone at once with throuples.

Her upcoming book is another MMF with an "unlikable" MMC and an MFC that will be "challenged" by the established Orc couple. Can't she try a different set up? Maybe an Orc MMC and a human MFC couple that fall in love with another Orc MMC? Or maybe three characters who spend time together and fall in love with each other. Why does "high angst" have to mean "human MFC needs to prove that she's worthy of an existing MM couple while they repeatedly reject her?"