Category: ARC

ARC Review – You, Again by Kate Goldbeck

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You, Again by Kate Goldbeck

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: September 12, 2023

Publisher: Dial Press

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

Can they stop hating each other long enough to fall in love?

A commitment-phobe and a hopeless romantic clash over and over again–until heartbreak and unexpected chemistry bring them together in this clever enemies-to-friends-to-lovers debut romance.

When Ari and Josh first meet, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They hate each other. Instantly.

A free-spirited, struggling comedian who likes to keep things casual, Ari sublets, takes gigs, and she never sleeps over after hooking up. Born-and-bred Manhattanite Josh has ambitious plans: Take the culinary world by storm, find The One, and make her breakfast in his spotless kitchen. They have absolutely nothing in common . . . except that they happen to be sleeping with the same woman.

Ari and Josh never expect their paths to cross again. But years later, as they’re both reeling from ego-bruising breakups, a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship. Turns out, spending time with your former nemesis is fun when you’re too sad to hate each other–and too sad for hate sex.

As friends-without-benefits, they find comfort in late-night Netflix binges, swiping through each other’s online dating profiles, and bickering across boroughs. It’s better than romance. Until one night, the unspoken boundaries of their platonic relationship begin to blur. . . .

With sharp observations and sizzling chemistry, You, Again explores the dynamics of co-ed friendship in this sparkling romantic comedy of modern love in all its forms.

REVIEW

I started You, Again without knowing too much about it. A few book friends have been raving about it on social media, so I figured I’d have to move it up on my tbr. Once I started this book I could not stop reading it!

What you can expect to find in You Again
-enemies to friends to lovers
-he’s grumpy, she’s slightly less grumpy
-bi rep
-fated mates (they run into each other every few years)
-disastrous meet cute
-swoony & angsty

When Josh discovers that his grilfriend’s roommate – Ari – is occasionally sometimes a “friend with benefit”- when he comes over to make her dinner he immediately dislikes her. They bicker and fight the entire time Josh is making dinner.

Then starts their unfortunate run-ins with one another every few years. And their run ins eventually become a tentative friendship after both Josh and Ari are coming out of serious relationships. Ari is going through a divorce after her wife dumped her for someone else and Josh feels lost without someone to call his own.

There are so many things I loved about this book. The way Kate Goldbeck can make me laugh while also making my heart race in sweet/sexy/spicy scene. The way I connected with both characters and their group of friends. The fact that I felt the hurt, anger and loneliness in both Ari and Josh and yet I was SCREAMING for them to get together!

I have literal paragraphs highlighted because they resonated with me so profoundly. Obviously I can’t put into words how much I loved this book.

If there’s one book you need to add to your fall tbr, please let it be You, Again! I can’t wait to read whatever Kate Goldbeck writes next.

ARC Review – Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

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Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: June 13, 2023

Publisher: Berkley

I received a complimentary copy of this book/audiobook from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.

Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and broody older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And that same Jack who now sits on the hiring committee at MIT, right between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?

REVIEW

What I loved about Love, Theoretically
-classic Ali Hazelwood humor
-the banter (gah the banter)
-the way I related so much to Elsie
-angsty in a way that I loved

Elsie Hannaway lives a double life…she’s an adjunct physics professor by day and offers herself as a “fake girlfriend” in the evenings. The extra gig in the evenings helps pay for some of Elsie’s bills; teaching alone definitely isn’t making all her ends meet. When Elsie’s most recent fake boyfriend ends up having a brooding older brother, Elsie doesn’t make much of it. She tries to avoid Jack Smith at all costs. Except Jack Smith ends up being on the hiring committee of a job that Elsie interviews for. Things get complicated when Elsie has to reconcile her two personalities while simultaneously trying to compete for her dream job.

Love, Theoretically was angsty, swoony, a bit taboo and messy (in the best way) and I absolutely loved this book. The romance between Jack and Elsie was slow burning, sexy and so damn sweet. I think my current boyfriend is whoever was in Ali’s most recent book and then she writes another hero who I can’t help but fall for. I loved how Jack saw through Elsie and didn’t let her be anyone but herself with him. Being vulnerable for your partner is scary and I felt all of these scary thoughts with Elsie while she slowly let go of her inhibitions with Jack.

But what I loved most about Love, Theoretically, was Elsie’s self discovery. I feel that so many of us deal with imposter syndrome. I know that I do – whether that’s in my field of work, at home or even on social media. It’s easy to fit ourselves into a slot to appease those of us around us. But what about what we want or what we truly believe. Sometimes those important parts of ourselves get pushed to the side and after that’s been happening for so long you forget about what really matters to you. I loved loved loved that Jack saw through this with Elsie. He was observant and sweet and never judging her – he only wanted to see her and want her to be her true self around him…swoon.

I also had an opportunity to listen to the audiobook of Love, Theoretically and really enjoyed it! Thérèse Plummer did an amazing job bringing Elsie’s character to life! I could always tell when she was excited, nervous, angry or happy! If you’re a fan of audiobooks I highly recommend Love, Theoretically.

Love, Theoretically definitely moved its way up there as one of my favorite Ali Hazelwood romances.

Ranking Ali Hazelwood books (they’re all 5 stars)
1. The Love Hypotehsis
2. Love, Theoretically
3. Love on the Brain

Highly recommend preordering Love, Theoretically. I can’t wait to have a physical copy for my shelf 🥰

ARC Review Reckless by Elsie Silver

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Reckless by Elsie Silver

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary/Cowboy Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥

Series: Chestnut Springs #4

Release Date: June 9, 2023

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.

SYNOPSIS

Theo Silva. Rowdy bull rider. Notorious ladies’ man. Scorching hot trouble wrapped up in a drool-worthy package.

And he’s looking at me like I might be his next meal.

But I’m almost free of my toxic marriage and have sworn off men entirely. So all I see when I look back is temptation served up with a heaping side of heartbreak.

The man is hard to trust—and even harder to resist.

Make that impossible. Because Theo is persistent. And no matter how hard I try to freeze him out, he melts my icy exterior and pulls apart all my defenses.

Over a drink in a small town bar, I blurt out my deepest, darkest secrets. Then I spend the singular hottest night of my life with him.

He worships my body. He makes me blush. I come alive beneath his hands.

Then I tell him to forget it ever happened. I want simple, and with him it all feels complicated.

It was supposed to be a one-time thing.

A secret.

But that little plus sign is going to make this secret impossible to keep.

REVIEW

In Reckless expect to find:
-grumpy/sunshine (she’s the grump)
-one night stand
-secret pregnancy
-hilarious laugh out loud moments
-🌶🌶🌶
-family/found family
-small town shenanigans

We were first introduced to Winter in Flawless when it was mentioned that she was Summer’s sister. They’ve had a strained relationship and have never really been able to mend it, despite both of them wanting each other in their lives. When Winter’s marriage is starting to crumble, she decides to start spending more time at the hospital in Chestnut Springs and thereby also giving her a chance to get closer to her sister. Winter definitely does not anticipate the force that is Theo Silva.

I’ll admit – I wasn’t the biggest fan of Winter in previous books, but I loved how her storyline developed. Her relationship with everyone from Rhett and Harvey to Sloane and especially Summer was so special. I love this group of family and friends!

And okay I totally wasn’t expecting to love Theo Silva as much as I did. He is the most cinnamon rolliest cinnamon roll (is that even a word), but totally brings all the heat! These two were so sweet and I loved their relationship.

I also had an opportunity to read an ALC of Reckless and I don’t think I’ve ever listened to an audiobook narrated by Joe Arden – but he was the perfect male narrator for Theo!! I loved how emotive his voice was. Savannah Peachwood did an amazing job portraying Winter. I switched back and forth between the audio and the ebook of Reckless but a majority of it was spent listening to the audiobook because these narrators were perfect!

If you’re looking for a romance that will make you swoon and laugh – I highly recommend Reckless by Elsie Silver!

ARC Review – Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey

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Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Series: A Vine Mess

Release Date: June 6, 2023

Publisher: Avon

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

A down-on-her-luck Napa heiress suggests a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience to a man she can’t stand… only to discover there’s a fine line between love and hate.

After losing her job and her fiancé in one fell swoop, Natalie Vos returned home to lick her wounds. A few months later, she’s sufficiently drowned her sorrows in cabernet and she’s ready to get back on her feet. She just needs her trust fund to finance her new business venture. Unfortunately, the terms require she marry before she can have the money. And well, dumped, remember? But Natalie is desperate enough to propose to a man who makes her want to kill him–and kiss him, in equal measure.

August Cates may own a vineyard, but he doesn’t know jack about making wine. He’s determined to do his late best friend proud, no matter what it takes. Except his tasting room is empty, his wine is disgusting (seriously, he once saw someone gag), and his buddy’s legacy is circling the drain. No bank will give him the loan he needs to turn the business around… and then the gorgeous, feisty heiress knocks on his door. Natalie has haunted his dreams since the moment they met, but their sizzling chemistry immediately morphed into simmering insults.

Now, a quickie marriage could help them both. A sham wedding, a few weeks living under the same roof, and then they can go their separate ways–assuming they make it out alive. How hard could it be? There’s just one thing they didn’t account for: their unfortunate, unbearable, undeniable attraction.

REVIEW

In Unfortunately Yours expect to find:
-forced proximity
-small town romance
-marriage of convenience
-“my wife” moments
-complicated family dynamics
-🔥🔥

Natalie Vos has returned to Napa after losing her job and fiancée. She’s a smart and successful business woman, but it seems like no one – including her family – wants to hear her ideas or her input. Natalie is enjoying her time in Napa, but longs for the hustle and bustle of New York. She can’t make it back unless she has enough income to back up her ideas. The only way to access money and access it quickly is through her trust fund and the only way to access that is to get married.

Ex-marine August Cates is determined to make his vineyard a success. He just doesn’t know exactly how to do this since the wine tastes like crap and no one will drink it. August has put in all of his money into his vineyard and doesn’t have anything left. When sexy Natalie makes August an offer he can’t refuse he doesn’t know what he’s gotten himself into. If Natalie and August enter a marriage of convenience solely for the purposes of getting money (Natalie’s trust & a loan for August) – they both get what they want. But what they don’t anticipate is their hearts getting in the way. Will their farce of a marriage turn into something more like an actual marriage? And the bigger question – where does that leave them if Natalie is still wanting to go to NY and August planning to stick with his winery in Napa?

I liked the previous book in the series – Secretly Yours, but Unfortunately Yours was so much better! August and Natalie had the best banter and so much tension between them. I constantly had a grin on my face reading scenes between these two.

I loved how independent Natalie was. She didn’t take shit from anyone and yet at the same time she had so many vulnerabilities. On the flip side, I loved what a goof ball August was. Yes, he was this manly man ex-marine, but he was also so cute and protective of Natalie. The way these two had each others back made me love them even more.

If you’re looking for a spicy rom-com that will make you laugh and swoon – add Unfortunately Yours to your tbr!

ARC Review – Forget Me Not by Julie Soto

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Forget Me Not by Julie Soto

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: July 11, 2023

Publisher: Forever

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.

SYNOPSIS

An ambitious wedding planner must work with her grumpy florist ex, whose heart she broke, on the most high-profile wedding of her career, in this spicy and emotional romance from popular fanfic author Julie Soto.

He loves me; he loves me not…

Ama Torres loves being a wedding planner. But with a mother who has been married more times than you can count on your fingers, Ama has decided that marriage is not the route for her. But weddings? Weddings are amazing. As a small business owner, she knows how to match her clients with the perfect vendor to give them the wedding of their dreams. Well, almost perfect…

Elliot hates being a florist, most of the time. When his father left him the flower shop, he considered it a burden, but he’s stuck with it. Just like how he’s stuck with the way he proposed to Ama, his main collaborator and girlfriend (or was she?) two years ago. But flowers have grown on him, just like Ama did. And flowers can’t run off and never speak to him again, like Ama did. 

When Ama is hired to plan a celebrity wedding that will bring her business national exposure, there’s a catch: Elliot is already contracted to design the flowers. Things are not helped by the two brides, who see the obvious chemistry between Ama and Elliot and are determined to set them up, not knowing their complicated history. Add in a meddling ex-boss, and a reality TV film crew documenting every step of the wedding prep, and Ama and Elliot’s hearts are not only in jeopardy again, but this time, their livelihoods are too.

REVIEW

In Forget Me Not expect to find:
-grumpy/sunshine
-second chance romance
-dual storyline with flashbacks + present time
-spicy scenes 🌶️
-angst & pining 🥹

Ama Torres is busy living her best life running her own wedding planner business in the greater Sacramento area. She doesn’t do long term anything and is focused on making her business better than ever. When a celebrity couple asks for Ama to plan their wedding, Ama is ecstatic! This is her chance to put her name on the map. Only one teeny tiny problem stands in her way – she’s going to have to work alongside florist Elliot Bloom – her ex boyfriend who she hasn’t talked to in years. Will these two be able to put aside their differences and work together?

I haven’t read a book in one sitting in a very long time, but as soon as I started Forget Me Not I couldn’t stop reading. The chemistry between Ama and Elliot was off the charts. I loved the subtle way Ama just inserted herself into Elliot’s life, even though he wasn’t looking for a friendship. Elliot was so grumpy and grumbly and yet he had such a soft spot for Ama. Their slow turn from friends to lovers was so sweet and their fallout was equally as devastating.

Julie Soto knows how to write spicy scenes 👀🔥. The scenes between Ama and Elliot had me melting 🫠. The intimacy between Ama and Elliot was always present and the tension and chemistry build up was perfection!

My only small gripe is that I wish that maybe there was more communication between Ama and Elliot in the present. But even still, based on feels alone and the fact that I could not put this book down – this was an easy five star romance!

I also had an opportunity to listen to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. Both Callie Dalton and Teddy Hamilton did a wonderful job brining Ama and Elliot to life! I alternated between the physical book and the audiobook and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this audiobook!

If you’re looking for an angsty, swoony, second chance romance I highly recommend Forget Me Not.

p.s. I grew up in the Sacramento area my whole life and love how many local places I recognized reading Forget Me Not. Thank you, Julie for highlighting this amazing city ❤️

ARC Review – The Nanny

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The Nanny by Lana Ferguson

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥

Release Date: April 11, 2023

Publisher: Berkley

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

A woman discovers the father of the child she is nannying may be her biggest (Only)Fan in this steamy contemporary romance by Lana Ferguson.

After losing her job and being on the brink of eviction, Cassie Evans finds herself with two choices: get a new job (and fast) or fire up her long-untouched OnlyFans account. But there are no jobs to be found, and as for OnlyFans. . . . Well, there are reasons she can’t go back. Just when all hope seems lost, an ad for a live-in nanny position seems the solution to all her problems. It’s almost too perfect—until she meets her would-be employer.

Aiden Reid, executive chef and DILF extraordinaire is far from the stuffy single dad Cassie was imagining. She is shocked when he tells her she’s the most qualified applicant he’s met in weeks, practically begging her to take the job. With hands that make her hindbrain howl and eyes that scream sex, the idea of living under the same roof as Aiden feels dangerous, but with no other option, she decides to stay with him and his adorably tenacious daughter, Sophie.

Cassie soon discovers that Aiden is not a stranger at all, but instead someone who is very familiar with her—or at least, her body. She finds herself at a loss for what to do, given that he doesn’t remember her. As their relationship heats to temperatures hotter than any kitchen Aiden has ever worked in, Cassie struggles with telling Aiden the truth, and the more terrifying possibility—losing the best chance at happiness she’s ever had.

REVIEW

Cassie needs a job and a place to stay ASAP. She’s working on her degree as an occupational therapist and just lost her job. At one point in time Cassie did have an OnlyFans account, but she deleted it after she got too attached to a client and doesn’t plan to fire it up again anytime soon. So when Cassie answers an ad for a live in nanny and manages to get the job – she’s ecstatic! So what if her boss, Aiden is hot. Cassie can manage to keep her hands and thoughts to herself while she’s strictly professional. Except the more time Aiden and Cassie start spending together, the more mutual attraction grows. And when Cassie discovers that she knew Aiden or rather A during her brief stint on OnlyFans, will she be able to keep their relationship strictly platonic or risk blowing everything up by opening up to Aiden.

Okay, first of all The Nanny was 🔥🔥🔥. I loved the flashbacks in between chapters between Cici and A (that would be Aiden and Cassie). Their interactions when they were on OnlyFans were so HOT. And when Cassie discovers that Aiden is actually A – ahhh I loved that moment. And Aiden was such a sweet cinnamon roll but oof does he know how to bring the dirty talk 🫠. Their chemistry was undeniable and I loved their sweet and flirty banter.

I loved each and every secondary character in this book. For being a person who’s not really a fan of single parent tropes, I loved the relationship that Aiden had with his daughter Sophie. Sophie was going through a lot of grief after the loss of her mother and I loved that Cassie gives her space to come around and truly wants what is best for her and Aiden. I also really enjoyed the relationship that Cassie had with her neighbor Wanda. Their interactions truly made me laugh out loud! They were funny, but also sweet and relevant to the storyline.

The Nanny completely surprised me and in the best way! Overall I would give this book between 4 and 4.5 stars! Can’t wait to read the next book by Lana Ferguson.

ARC Review – The Summer We Fell

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The Summer We Fell by Elizabeth O’Roark

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: April 6, 2023

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Valentine PR

SYNOPSIS

He was my boyfriend’s best friend—and the bane of my existence. I wanted to hate Luke Taylor. I did hate him. I just never hated him enough.

Now, a decade later, tragedy has brought us back to the place where it all happened—my best times, and my worst.

Our lives have changed, but that pull between us is just as strong as ever.

Only this time, it’s more dangerous too.

REVIEW

In The Summer We Fell expect to find:
-who did this to you
-second chance romance
-love triangle
-angsty/pining
-dual timeline

I finished this book 2 days ago and yet I still can’t stop thinking about it. I love an angsty and swoony romance and gah the angst in The Summer We Fell hurt my heart so good.

Juliet met Luke 10 years ago when she was living with her then boyfriend, Danny and his family. Luke was Danny’s best friend and immediately the disdain and dislike for Juliet was evident. These two were at each others throats more often than not. But they also understood one another better than they ever would have imagined.

Soon Luke and Juliet formed a tentative relationship that slowly blossomed into something else. But tragedy struck and these two were separated for 7 long years. Now they are reunited and don’t know where they’ll go from here. The passion is still there between these two but so is the hurt and anger that’s been festering for years now. Will they find a way to make their relationship work?

I am a *huge* fan of Elizabeth O’Roark. She writes the best angst and I feel like enemies-to-loves is her forte. So really it should come as no surprise that the enemies-to-lovers banter as well as the angst and pining was evident from the first page of this book. I started and finished The Summer We Fell in a matter of a day.

If you’re looking for an angsty, swoony, enemies-to-lovers, messy romance I would suggest you pick up The Summer We Fell by Elizabeth O’Roark. I give this book 4.5 stars.

cw: rape, domestic & verbal abuse, depression, mention of drug use

Spotlight The Neighbor Favor

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The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 28, 2023

Publisher: Berkley

Lily wants nothing more than to become an editor in children’s fiction, but she finds herself stuck in nonfiction. Lily finds solace when she ends up corresponding with her favorite fantasy author. She thinks their friendship is something special until he ghosts her.

When Lily meets her new neighbor Nick, she’s unexpectedly drawn to him. But Nick is keeping a secret from her. He’s the fantasy author she was corresponding with. He has his reasons for using a pen name and keeping people from getting to close. But how long will he hide this secret from her before it escalate out of control?

I am so excited to start reading The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest. Girl next door + friends to lovers + love interests who are in the book publishing world and they send anonymous letters to one another…swoon!

SYNOPSIS

In this heart-fluttering romance by Kristina Forest, a shy bookworm enlists her charming neighbor to help her score a date, not knowing he’s the obscure author she’s been corresponding with.

Shy, bookish, and admittedly awkward, Lily Greene has always felt inadequate compared to the rest of her accomplished family, who strive for Black excellence. She dreams of becoming an editor of children’s books but has been frustratingly stuck in the nonfiction division for years without a promotion in sight. Lily finds escapism in her correspondences with her favorite fantasy author, and what begins as two lonely people connecting over e-mail turns into a tentative friendship and possibly something else Lily won’t let herself entertain–until he ghosts her.

Months later, still crushed but determined to take charge of her life, Lily seeks a date to her sister’s wedding. And the perfect person to help her is Nick Brown, her charming, attractive new neighbor, whom she feels drawn to for unexplainable reasons. Little does she know that Nick is an author–her favorite fantasy author.

Nick, who has his reasons for using a pen name and for pushing people away, soon realizes that the beautiful, quiet woman from down the hall is the same Lily he fell in love with over e-mail months ago. Unwilling to complicate things even more between them, he agrees to set her up with someone else, though this simple favor between two neighbors is anything but–not when he can’t get her off his mind.

Review & Excerpt – Barbarian’s Prize by Ruby Dixon

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Barbarian’s Prize by Ruby Dixon

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Romance

Series: Ice Planet Barbarians #5

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: February 28, 2023 (re-issue)

Publisher: Berkley

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

It’s hard being the most popular girl on the ice planet. The alien men are falling all over themselves to impress me in the hopes that I’ll take them to my furs. But they don’t know my secrets – none of them do. And they don’t realize that behind my smile, I just wish they’d go away.

I don’t want any of them. I want someone else – someone with a gorgeous blue body, big horns, and the most intense gaze ever. He’s the only one that knows the truth. Maybe with him, I can work through my fears of the past…. but I’m pretty sure he wants more than just friendship.

He wants forever, and I’m not sure I can give it.

REVIEW

I was excited to dive back into our favorite blue aliens in Barbarian’s Prize. This book picks up right where the last book leaves us and this time we get Tiffany and Salukh’s story. Tiffany has had some trauma when the aliens abducted her before landing on Not-Hoth. She’s not keen on male attention and doesn’t really care that all of the males want to resonate with her. She doesn’t want to resonate with any of them and doesn’t want that choice taken away from her.

Salukh sees Tiffany’s hesitation and is always giving her a wide berth. He knows that she spooks easily, but he feels it in his gut that she is his mate. When Tiffany finds away to keep the other males away from her, she asks Salukh to help her practice being intimate once again. Will Salukh be able to help her even though she doesn’t want to resonate or mate with anyone, including him?

While I enjoyed Salukh and Tiffany’s story, I wasn’t prepared for the emotional trauma that Tiffany was facing after her assault/rape with the aliens on the ship. This book was definitely a lot more serious compared the previous others before. The Bachelor-ish side story wasn’t a favorite, but I still enjoyed the interactions with everyone from previous books.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

cw: rape (past/some descriptions), ptsd

EXCERPT

Excerpted from Barbarian’s Prize by Ruby Dixon Copyright © 2023 by Ruby Dixon. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

I study my rows of planted seeds, hoping for a sprig here or there. Right now, there is nothing, just an upraised row in the snow where the dirt was piled back onto them. Frustrated, I move down the row I’ve marked with a few sticks, but there’s nothing to be seen. Surely plants here can’t be that different from plants on Earth, can they? The snow is throwing me off, but it’s still water, and plants need water to grow. I shove my fingers into my glove and then kneel near one of the small mounds, digging. There has to be something. If there’s even a hint of a sprout on one of my seeds, I’ll have hope.

I dig down maybe a foot into the snow and stop when I see a hint of pink threading through the white. Sure enough, one of my seeds has sprouted and is pushing its way through the snow. It’s working! Excited, I pile the snow back on top with a pat and get to my feet. Wait until I tell Salukh!

As if my thoughts have summoned him, a familiar male silhouette appears on the ridge, burdened by a kill. He seems to be walking strangely, and I dust the snow off my hands and

surge forward. Is he hurt? He’s moving slow. For a moment I almost think it’s one of the elders, but there’s no mistaking the way Salukh’s horns curve up at the ends, or his long fluttering hair. He drags a dead dvisti behind him and cradles one arm against his chest, and my heart hammers. Does he need the healer? Maylak’s at the other cave, though, and it’s at least a half a day’s journey to get to her. “Salukh, are you all right?” I call as I push through the snow to get to his side. “Can I help?” “You can help,” he agrees, and as I get to his side, he thrusts a cloak-covered bundle into my arms. “Cursed thing

bit me all the way here.”

I blink in surprise as the bundle tries to leap from my arms and bleats angrily. I tighten my grip on it and stare at the hunter. “What is this?”

“A dvisti kit. The mother was lame and so she became fod- der for my spear. But I could not kill the young one. I brought it for you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you.” He drops the spear on the ground, letting his kill tumble into the snow, and then rotates one big arm, rub- bing sore muscles. “Ah, that feels good.”

I try not to watch as he rubs one big blue bicep, but . . . mercy. Those are big biceps. Hard, too. The creature in my hands wriggles, and my attention turns back to it. “I . . . Do you guys even do pets?”

“Sessah has a two-teeth he feeds back at the main cave.” “And no one tries to eat it for dinner?” I don’t want to get attached to something only to come home and find someone roasting my pet.”

“I will not allow them to touch it.” His words are so sure,  so bold.

I feel a weird surge of warmth and smile at him.

He reaches forward to uncover the creature’s head, and then two big, blue, khui-lit eyes are gazing at me. The head is tiny, a bit like a fawn, but covered in long, crazy fur like a sheepdog. It bleats angrily at me.

And I laugh because it’s so ridiculous looking and cute at the same time. It’s all nose and googly eyes and shaggy hair. “I love it.”

He gives a masculine grunt. “I am glad it pleases you.” “It’s sweet of you to think of me,” I admit. I’m endlessly

showered with useful things by the other guys, but this is the first time someone’s thought to give me something completely . . . frivolous. And a pet truly is frivolous in a setting like this, but I really love it, and I love that Salukh was so thoughtful. “Thank you.”

His gaze burns into mine. “I have been thinking upon your words, Tee-fah-nee.”

I shiver. The way he says my name always makes me think he’s mentally caressing each syllable, and it makes me feel things that I thought were long gone.

He steps forward and he doesn’t touch me, though he is close enough that our faces could practically press together if we were the same height. As it is, I’m staring at a lot of broad, velvety-blue pectorals. The baby dvisti in my arms snaps at a bit of fringe on his vest and begins to chew on it.

I suddenly feel flushed and overheated despite the ever- present ice. “My words?”

“You wish to practice in the furs.” His intense look pins me in place. “I wish to be the male you practice with.”

ARC Review – The True Love Experiment

~ Tej ~ Leave a comment

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: May 16, 2023

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

SYNOPSIS

Sparks fly when a romance novelist and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the perfect Hollywood love story and take both of their careers to the next level—but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script.

Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached.

Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie?

Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter. But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.

The True Love Experiment is the book fans have been waiting for ever since Fizzy’s debut in The Soulmate Equation. But when the lights come on and all eyes are on her, it turns out the happily ever after Fizzy had all but given up on might lie just behind the camera.

REVIEW

I watched so many Bachelor and Bachelorette shows growing up, that I’m kinda over them at this point. But put them in a rom-com and I am all over them! This is definitely the case with The True Love Experiment.

We first meet Fizzy in The Soulmate Equation where she hangs out a lot with her bestie Jess. She’s a super fun and bubbly character who is a romance author and has a fun social/dating life. Fast forward a bit and Fizzy is struggling with not only her romantic life, but also writing her next romance. She’s lost her muse and is having a hard time getting her words down.

Connor Prince is a documentary filmmaker and single father. He’s not big on reality types of TV shows, but his boss tells him the network needs him to come up with something big. When Connor realizes that his ex-wife’s favorite romance author is Felicity Chen aka Fizzy -a beautiful woman who Connor recently saw at a bar – Connor immediately realizes this is who he wants for the reality show. But their first encounter doesn’t exactly end on good terms. Felicity thinks Connor is a bit of a douche-bag and immediately says no to the show, unless Connor agrees to her very specific terms. When Connor says yes, Fizzy realizes this could be fun and she could potentially find her soulmate. The more these two work together, the more they realize that their chemistry seems to be flaring offset while the rest of the contestants wonder who Fizzy will end up picking.

Recent Christina Lauren books have been hit and miss for me. But The True Love Experiment was a definite YES. I loved Fizzy’s character so much, which isn’t a surprise because I also loved her in The Soulmate Equation. She’s fun, bubbly and appears to be so carefree. It’s only when we get to know her that we realize she has insecurities and vulnerabilities too. The fact that she’s a romance author is *chefs kiss*. I loved those passages when she talks about how so many people look down upon the genre, and for what? I feel her vulnerabilities so much – not only with her writing, but with her family too.

Here am I am, proven a liar again when I say I don’t like single parent romances. Because Connor is so lovely and so caring with his daughter. He’s not perfect, and I love that he owns up to his past as ugly as it might be. His relationship with his daughter and his ex-wife were honestly always so fun and added a lot to the story.

The True Love Experiment had me laughing out loud, but also pulling on my heart strings. There were some beautiful angsty moments where I had tears rolling down my eyes. I just wanted Fizzy and Connor to be happy together. If you’re looking for a rom-com with great banter, humor and a spicy romance I highly recommend The True Love Experiment.