Tag: Avon Romance

My Favorite Reads of 2022

~ Tej ~ 2 Comments

2022 was a pretty fantastic reading year for me. While I do feel like I went through a few reading slumps here and there – overall I ended up reading more books than I did last year. Quite a few of those were rereads including The Wildflower Wager by Tessa Dare, You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle and The Roommate by Rosie Danan. These are romances I will always recommend and they’re still favorites, even years after I first read them.

2022 was the year for me to discover indie romances as well as read a lot of Kindle Unlimited (KU) romances. I discovered so many new favorite authors including Elsie Silver, Elizabeth O’Roark and Kate Canterbary. Longtime favorites made my list as well including Ali Hazelwood, Emily Henry and Sarah MacLean. I love reading a diverse sub-genre of romances. This year I broadened my horizon and read so many types of romances – from mafia and alien romance to historical and romantic fantasy.

I will never tire of reading romances and can’t wait to see what 2023 brings in store!

Disclosure: The links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize the purchase.

1. The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary

I ended up discovering what a gem this book is while on vacation. One of my favorite book besties literally told me I needed to download The Worst Guy and read it asap. She knows how much I love a grumpy, growly, asshole and Sebastian Stremmel fit the bill. Gah how I loved the chemistry between Sebastian and Sarah. Their relationship was so tumultuous and yet they cared about each other so much. Seriously can’t recommend this book enough.

Also available on Kindle Unlimited!

2. A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L Armentrout

Romantic fantasy is a newer to me genre. I have been reading it more lately and decided to pick up From Blood and Ash after seeing it all over social media. As soon as I finished that book I knew I had to move on to book two, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire and I honestly feel like this is one of my all time favorite fantasy rormances next to A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas. Poppy and Casteel had that type of banter and chemistry that I absolutely love, but also the angst in this book was top notch. Highly highly recommend the first two books in this series – I’m still making my way through the rest of it!

3. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

I didn’t know much about The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy before I started reading it. I kind of went in without any idea of what the book was about and this ended up being one of my favorite romances of the year. I’ve already reread it and listened to it on audio (which I highly recommend). Hart and Mercy had that perfect tension that you expect to find with an enemies to lovers romance. They truly loathe each other and yet…their anonymous penpal letters to each other are so sweet, you can’t help but want these two to meet and fall in love. The underlying threads of grief are woven beautifully through this sci-fi/thriller romance. If you’re looking for a unique twist on a sci-fi romance with You’ve Got Mail vibes – this is your book!

4. Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

Things We Never Got Over released in January and in took me until October to read this phenomenal small town romance. To be fair it has tropes that I didn’t think I really enjoyed including: single parent and small town (I usually stay away from both of those tropes). But seriously this is how you do a small town, single parent romance. I fell in love with all of the characters in this book, especially Knox and Naomi. Things We Never Got Over was the perfect balance of rom-com, angsty, suspense and small-town charm. I can’t wait for the next book in the series – Things We Hide From the Light.

Also available on Kindle Unlimited

5. Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Elizabeth O’Roark

The Devil series by Elizabeth O’Roark is a series that I saw all over my social media feed this summer. I decided to pick up the first book in the series – A Deal with the Devil and immediately fell in love with Elizabeth O’Roark’s writing. I loved that book, but when I got to book two of the series – Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, I absolutely fell in love with Josh and Drew. This book was so angsty and swoony and I could not get enough of it! If you love a good enemies to lovers romance with two strong leads I highly recommend Devil and the Deep Blue Sea!

Also available on Kindle Unlimited

6. Flawless by Elsie Silver

Cowboy romances and small towns are so not my thing. Which is why it took me so long to pick up Flawless even though friends have been raving about this book for months now! I finally decided to pick it up and literally read this book in less than a day. It has all of my favorite tropes: forced proximity, only one bed, he’s jealous (that scene had me screaming) and plenty of spicy scenes! Elsie Silver is one of my newest favorite authors and I’ve been on a reading binge of her backlist. I love the Chestnut Springs series and can’t wait for the next book in the series to be released!

Also available on Kindle Unlimited

7. A Light in the Flame by Jennifer L Armentrout

After falling in love with Poppy and Casteel from the Blood and Ash series, I couldn’t wait to start this spin off. I picked up A Shadow in the Ember and devoured it and couldn’t wait to read more about Sera and Nyktos. Without giving too much away – I highly recommend this book and this entire series if you were a fan of the Blood and Ash series. A Light in the Flame was angsty, swoony and filled with so much pining. I can’t wait for more books set in this world – Jennifer L Armentrout does romantic fantasy so well!

8. Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean

Sarah MacLean is one of my favorite historical romance writers so it’s no surprise that I loved the first book in the series and couldn’t wait for Heartbreaker to be released! This book had the best banter that I have read in some time. I loved loved loved Adelaide and Duke Clayborn. I was often laughing and swooning in equal measure! I kind of want to reread it now that I’m remembering how much I loved it! If you’re a historical romance fan I highly recommend the Hell’s Belles series and this book!

*Heartbreaker is a Harper Collins titles. The Harper Collins Union has been on strike since 11/10/22 to get a fair contract for their workers and I stand in solidarity with them.

9. Book Lovers by Emily Henry

I loved Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation, so I was excited for Book Lovers and Emily Henry did not disappoint. While I feel like this book had a slower start, it required a lot of character development and I appreciated that as the story progressed. Charlie and Nora were so perfect for one another and I adored their banter! I’ve already reread this book a few times and look forward to whatever Emily Henry writes!

10. Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

I loved loved loved The Love Hypothesis and to say that Love on the Brain was my most anticipated read would be an understatement. I adored Levi and Bee. Was this book a bit hectic and chaotic at times – yes absolutely, and yet I still couldn’t stop reading this enemies-to-lovers/it’s always been you romance! I’m a huge Ali Hazelwood fan and I’m always eager to read her next book.

11. The Bride Goes Rogue by Joanna Shupe

I only recently discovered Joanna Shupe, but I have devoured a huge chunk of her backlist. The Bride Goes Rogue was swoony, angsty and so sexy. Joanna Shupe has such a way with words and once I started reading The Bride Goes Rogue, I had a hard time putting it down. Katherine and Clarke’s relationship wasn’t always easy. These characters were never black and white – and the scenarios they found themselves in had my heart breaking on their behalf on more than one occasion. If you’re looking for a sexy, angsty and swoony historical romance I highly recommend The Bride Goes Rogue.

*The Bride Goes Rogue is a Harper Collins titles. The Harper Collins Union has been on strike since 11/10/22 to get a fair contract for their workers and I stand in solidarity with them.

12. The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

The Dead Romantics surprised me in the best way. A ghostwriter who is in a writing slump but also sees ghosts – yes! I love a good story with a paranormal aspect to it and Ashley Poston delivers with The Dead Romantics. I loved each and every character that was written throughout this book. I have so many passages highlighted throughout this book that resonated with me. I’d find myself laughing out loud one minute and then shedding tears the next. This book deals with grief – the grief of moving on, the grief of ending a relationship, the grief of having to bury a family member. But it also celebrates life and the living in the here and now.

13. Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn

I have read a few books by Kate Clayborn now and I seriously feel like every single book of hers is somehow better than the last?! And that’s saying something because they have all been five star reads for me. I have so many pages and passages highlighted from Georgie, All Along. Passages about second chances, friendships, forgiveness and of course swoony love. Kate’s writing is always so beautiful. The way she talks about relationships – whether that be romantic relationships or relationships that her characters have with friends or family – really feels like she’s speaking directly to you.

Georgie, All Along is the only book on my list that isn’t released yet! Definitely pre-order this gem for when it releases on January 24, 2023.

14. Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare

Gah! How much did I love Go Hex Yourself. I will be honest – a lot of fantasy/paranormal romance featuring witches and magic just falls flat for me. So I was a bit weary going in to Go Hex Yourself, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I adored this book and the characters in it. Ben and Reggie had so much chemistry together and I wanted more of them from their very first interaction. Ben was the grump to Reggie’s sunshine and these two were completely perfect for one another. Their relationship was slow growing and I really enjoyed the way that they begin to trust each other before deciding to move their relationship along. And YES, Jessica Clare totally brought the 🔥🔥🔥 I loved this quirky, funny and sweet romance! Once I started it I had a hard time putting it down.

15. Bloody Heart by Sophie Lark

I love a second chance romance and when I read the synopsis to Bloody Heart I knew I had to read it. I started The Brutal Birthright series in the summer and picked up the series again recently. I always read series out of order and picked up this one after reading the synopsis. Bloody Heart had all of my favorite tropes including young love, it’s always been you and a second chance romance. I absolutely fell in love with this book. You can read my review here for content warnings as there are a few of them.

Also available on Kindle Unlimited

**Honorable Mention – Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

I read an early copy of Hook, Line, and Sinker last year and fell in love with Fox and Hannah. It was already mentioned in my favorites list of 2021, but I had to mention it again in this years list because it was technically released in 2022. The angst, the slow burn and the friends to lovers aspect of Hook, Line, and Sinker was absolute perfection for me.

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ARC Review – Heartbreaker

~ Tej ~ Leave a comment

Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Historical Romance

Series: Hell’s Belles

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: August 23, 2022

Publisher: Avon

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

SYNOPSIS

New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean follows her highly acclaimed Bombshell with Heartbreaker, featuring a fierce, fearless heroine on a mission to steal a duke’s secrets…and his heart.

A Princess of Thieves

Raised among London’s most notorious criminals, a twist of fate landed Adelaide Frampton in the bright ballrooms of Mayfair, where she masquerades as a quiet wallflower—so plain and unassuming that no one realizes she’s the Matchbreaker…using her superior skills as a thief to help brides avoid the altar.

A King of Reputation

Henry, Duke of Clayborn, has spent a lifetime living in perfection. He has no time for the salacious gossip that arises every time the Matchbreaker ends another groom. His own reputation is impeccable—and the last thing he needs is a frustrating, fascinating woman discovering the truth of his past, or the secrets he holds close.

A Royal Match

When the two find themselves on a breakneck journey across Britain to stop a wedding, it’s impossible for Clayborn to resist this woman who both frustrates and fascinates him. But late-night carriage rides make for delicious danger…and soon Adelaide is uncovering Clayborn’s truths, throwing his well-laid plans into chaos…and threatening to steal his heavily guarded heart.

REVIEW

Adelaide Frampton didn’t have an easy childhood. Growing up as the daughter of a prominent gang leader – she made her escape and hasn’t looked back. Now a part of the Hell’s Belles, Adelaide is also known as the Matchbreaker – the one that London society comes to when the bride wants to avoid the alter.

Henry, Duke Clayborn is hiding a secret. Turns out secrets are worth quite a bit and none other than the Matchbreaker is in possession of his secret. Worse still is that she has some information not only on Henry, but also his brother. Henry will go to any length to protect his family. When Henry finds that his brother has eloped with a woman who Adelaide is trying to stop at the alter – they are in a race to see who will get there first. Henry knows that his brother loves his betrothed and Adelaide wants only whats best for young misses who might be pushed into marriage against their will. In this race across Britain – who will end up winning and at what cost?

Oh, how I loved Adelaide and Duke Clayborn in Heartbreaker. These two had so much sizzling chemistry and the banter was – chef’s kiss! I seriously had a silly grin on my face anytime these two were on the same page. I don’t know how Sarah MacLean manages to make me laugh in what should be a serious situation but she totally does it.

Duke Clayborn might very well be my favorite hero that Sarah MacLean has written and that says something because there are quite a few of her heroes that are favorites. He was the perfect hero to pair with badass Adelaide.

I am seriously falling in love with the Hell’s Belles. These women are so strong and don’t take anyone’s BS and I LOVE that. I loved the first book in the series – Bombshell, but Heartbreaker was even better somehow! I can’t wait to read more of the Belles!

ARC Review – The Bride Goes Rogue

~ Tej ~ 2 Comments

The Bride Goes Rogue by Joanna Shupe

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Historical Romance

Series: The Fifth Avenue Rebels #3

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥

Release Date: May 24, 2022

Publisher: Avon

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

SYNOPSIS

By beloved USA Today bestselling author Joanna Shupe, the third installment in the Fifth Avenue Rebels series about an arranged engagement destined for disaster.

A hard-hearted tycoon.

A romantic dreamer.

An engagement set up to fail.

The charismatic and vivacious Katherine Delafield should be married by now. Her father arranged an engagement to the much sought-after tycoon Preston Clarke ages ago. The only problem is Preston refuses to acknowledge it. But this isn’t going to stop Katherine from living life to the fullest as she ditches all silly notions of love and marriage and sets out to sample all the excitement New York City has to offer . . . the more scandalous the better. Because no matter what happens, she and Preston will never marry.

After a tormented childhood, Preston is done letting his father control his life–including choosing his bride. But when a mysterious lover at a masquerade turns out to be his would-be fianc�e, Preston’s resolve begins to crumble. He hadn’t expected Katherine to be so charming. Or beautiful. Or passionate. And seeing her out on the town with other men is driving him crazy.

What happens when the wrong bride turns out to be the right woman after all?

REVIEW

Katherine Delafield has been waiting a full year for her betrothed to propose marriage to her. Only problem – Preston Clarke has no intention of ever marrying a Delafield. Preston and Katherine’s fathers may have been good friends once – even going so far as proposing a marriage for their children – but Preston will have none of it.

Katherine is done waiting. Waiting for a proposal, waiting living in the shadows, waiting to live her life. She’s ready to conquer and go rogue. When Katherine agrees to go to a masquerade ball with her friend, she never imagines that the person she ends up spending the evening intimately with would be Preston.

Soon these two end up spending more and more time together. Do they still hate each other as fiercely as they once did or have their walls come crumbling down. Does Preston still hate Katherine because she’s a Delafield, or are they ready to move past that?

The Bride Goes Rogue was swoony, angsty and so sexy. Joanna Shupe has such a way with words and once I started reading The Bride Goes Rogue, I had a hard time putting it down. Katherine and Clarke’s relationship wasn’t always easy. These characters were never black and white – and the scenarios they found themselves in had my heart breaking on their behalf on more than one occasion.

If you’re looking for a sexy, angsty and swoony historical romance I highly recommend The Bride Goes Rogue.

ARC Review – The Wedding Crasher

~ Tej ~ 1 Comment

The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: April 5, 2022

Publisher: Avon

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

SYNOPSIS

The USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man is back with another hilarious rom-com about two strangers who get trapped in a lie and have to fake date their way out of it…

Just weeks away from ditching DC for greener pastures, Solange Pereira is roped into helping her wedding planner cousin on a random couple’s big day. It’s an easy gig… until she stumbles upon a situation that convinces her the pair isn’t meant to be. What’s a true-blue romantic to do? Crash the wedding, of course. And ensure the unsuspecting groom doesn’t make the biggest mistake of his life.

Dean Chapman had his future all mapped out. He was about to check off “start a family” and on track to “make partner” when his modern day marriage of convenience went up in smoke. Then he learns he might not land an assignment that could be his ticket to a promotion unless he has a significant other and, in a moment of panic, Dean claims to be in love with the woman who crashed his wedding. Oops.

Now Dean has a whole new item on his to-do list: beg Solange to be his pretend girlfriend. Solange feels a tiny bit bad about ruining Dean’s wedding, so she agrees to play along. Yet as they fake-date their way around town, what started as a performance for Dean’s colleagues turns into a connection that neither he nor Solange can deny. Their entire romance is a sham… there’s no way these polar opposites could fall in love for real, right?

REVIEW

When Solange decided to help her cousin with her wedding planning, she never expected to run into the bride declaring her love for another person on the day of the wedding. What’s a girl to do when that happens? The only right thing would be to stand up in front of everyone and say yes, she objects to the wedding.

Solange is devastated that she broke up the wedding. But groom, Dean doesn’t seem to torn up about it and an unlikely friendship forms between the two. When Dean has a huge favor to ask of Solange, she doesn’t even hesitate. Fake date for the sake of getting Dean a promotion – she’s in! But when the fake dating starts to feel real will Dean and Solange make a move to make it a real relationship or go their respective ways.

The Wedding Crasher was such a great fake dating rom-com. I truly enjoyed the interactions between Dean and Solange and was literally laughing out loud on more than one occasion. But I also enjoyed the sweet and tender moments between Dean and Solange when they were their most vulnerable and sharing their hopes and dreams.

I really enjoyed all of the secondary characters in The Wedding Crasher. Everyone from Lina and Max (the previous couple from The Worst Best Man) to the Tia’s and cousins. Their family dynamic was a huge part of the story and I enjoyed their machinations to get Dean and Solange together for real.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Wedding Crasher and hope we get Jaslene’s story soon!

Hook, Line, and Sinker ARC Review

~ Tej ~ Leave a comment

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: Bellinger Sisters #2

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: March 1, 2022

Publisher: Avon

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

SYNOPSIS

King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he’s a guaranteed good time–in bed and out–and that’s exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She’s immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his… personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.

Now, Hannah’s in town for work, crashing in Fox’s spare bedroom. She knows he’s a notorious ladies’ man, but they’re definitely just friends. In fact, she’s nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport’s resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker’s eye… yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can’t deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost.

Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she’s walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and… and… man overboard! He’s fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he’s all in, she’ll choose him instead?

In the follow-up to It Happened One Summer, Tessa Bailey delivers another deliciously fun rom-com about a former player who accidentally falls for his best friend while trying to help her land a different man…

REVIEW

Hannah and Fox have a friendship. A completely platonic friendship. They text almost daily and haven’t seen each other in a few months. They met when Hannah and her sister relocated to a small crab fishing town in the PNW for the summer. Hannah works as a production assistant on a movie set and gives the director – who she has a deep crush on – the idea to move the location to Westport. The director runs with the idea, but why is Hannah all of a sudden nervous to see Fox again.

Fox was a goner for Hannah the moment they set eyes on each other last summer. So when he finds that she’s coming to Westport and will most likely be staying in his guest bedroom – he’s excited. The bond that Hannah and Fox share is special to him. And he wouldn’t do anything to mess that up. So what if half the town thinks that he’s a manwhore, as long as Hannah believes in him – it’ll be okay. But the closer these two are in each other’s presence the more they want things that might end up hurting their friendship. Are they willing to take that chance?

Oh, how I loved Fox and Hannah. From the very first pages with their sweet back and forth text messages I was a goner. Their friendship was so sweet and vulnerable and I loved how they slowly – oh so slowly – became more than just friends. The relationship was never one sided and the way they balanced each other out was always perfect.

I felt Hannah and Fox’s insecurities. Imposter syndrome is real and most of us feel it on a day to day basis. But the support that they both got from their friends, family and most importantly from each other made them stronger and I loved the journey both of them took to get there.

Hook, Line, and Sinker is definitely one of my favorite Tessa Bailey romances. I feel like she does friends-to-lovers so well. So if you’re looking for a book that will put a silly grin on your face, make you feel some angst and have you swooning – definitely pre-order Hook, Line, and Sinker!

Top 10 Romances of 2021

~ Tej ~ 3 Comments

2021 reading was a wild ride! I didn’t read quite as many books as I have in previous years, but I’m okay with that. Life was hectic, busy, chaotic and full of ups and downs this past year. The books I did read were pretty amazing for the most part.

The books listed below are my favorite 10 books that I read this year. Narrowing down the choices was so hard! There is a mix of books that were published from previous years, this year and even a few ARCs that are releasing in 2022. These were all five star reads for me and I highly recommend each and every single one!

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

  • The Love Hypothesis had everything I love in a rom-com –
  • Funny scenes that had the perfect banter⁣
  • Fake dating/forced proximity/only one bed…need I say more?? ⁣
  • The tension and build up of a slow burn between the MC’s⁣
  • Strong willed and confident women in STEM ⁣
  • Consider this book to be a true rom-com with so much awkwardness that I had to constantly shut the book because I was laughing out loud so much!

Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan

  • Second chance romance and so much shared history and angst between the two.
  • Forced proximity situations that had me laughing out loud, yet swooning at the same time.
  • Slow burn and so much sexual tension
  • While Dear Enemy is a standalone, I definitely recommend the other book in this duology – Make it Sweet which technically takes place after Dear Enemy.
  • Highly recommend the audiobook to Dear Enemy -it was fantastic!

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

  • Friends to lovers
  • So much angst it had me swooning and tugging on my heart strings.
  • Timeline jumps that had me laughing and crying in equal measures and biting my nails at the anticipation of what was going to happen next.

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker

  • A romance featuring dueling bakers and a royal wedding⁣
  • Great British Bake Off or other baking shows vibes woven throughout thebook⁣
  • A grumpy/grumbly hero (who makes contestants cry), but might have a soft heart underneath
  • A spunky sunshiney heroine who loves glitter and all things sweet⁣

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

  • A slow burn with that steam we can expect from a Tessa Bailey book
  • Friends-to-lovers romance⁣
  • Hero and heroine who are both so vulnerable but are each others greatest support⁣
  • Angst, swooning and a book that will make you laugh and grin while reading it ⁣
  • Doesn’t release until 2022 – but I HIGHLY recommend it. Definitely read It Happened One Summer to get you ready for Hook, Line, and Sinker

The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle

  • Enemies to lovers/bodyguard romance
  • Slow burn⁣
  • Grumpy/grunty hero that is a cinnamon roll (and can make cinnamon rolls)⁣
  • Fiercely loyal and funny heroine who unapologetically loves romance ⁣
  • A romance that has wonderful mental health representation⁣

Lease on Love by Fallon Ballard

  • Forced Proximity
  • Great friendships throughout the book⁣
  • Humor mixed in with plenty of angst
  • This book was just…sigh so great. It was such a sweet and soft romance.
  • And although there was a lot of humor throughout the book, there was also a lot of discussion on grief and starting over that was written so beautifully.⁣

The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan

  • A second chance romance told over the span of years
  • Two very head strong characters who will not settle for anything less, but want only the best for each other
  • Political intrigue and issues being discussed that are still affecting us including: how indigenous people are being treated, clean energy, race, gender
  • The sweetest, swooniest and steamiest romance!

Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday

  • Friends to lovers⁣
  • Slow burn romance⁣
  • Grumpy/sunshine (she’s the grumpy one)⁣
  • The cutest puppy⁣
  • Christmas-y vibes (but never felt over the top)
  • If contemporary romance met historical romance I feel like it would be Duke, Actually. Which sounds so strange – but works so well

The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea

  • Wonderful book about the loss of friendships, new friendships and the vulnerability that comes with both.
  • Sweetest romance with great banter. I had a grin on my face every time Willa & Liam were on the same page. I was constantly laughing out loud and rooting for the two to get together!
  • A book so profound and touching that I can’t possibly do it justice with my words – highly recommend!

Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize the purchase.

ARC Review Duke, Actually

~ Tej ~ Leave a comment

Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥

Release Date: November 16, 2021

Publisher: Avon

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

SYNOPSIS

USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday follows A Princess for Christmas with another delightful contemporary Christmas romance between a playboy baron and a woman who has said goodbye to love.

Maximillian von Hansburg, Baron of Laudon and heir to the Duke of Aquilla, is trapped. Under pressure from his domineering father, he must marry a suitable bride before he inherits a title that feels like a prison sentence. In New York to meet a prospective wife, he ditches his responsibilities and appears on Dani Martinez’s doorstep. He’s been intrigued by the no-nonsense professor since he met her at the Eldovian royal wedding and is determined to befriend her.

Newly single Dani is done with love—she even has a list entitled “Things I Will Never Again Do for a Man”—which is why she hits it off with notorious rake Max. He’s trying to escape relationships, and she’s resolved to avoid them at all costs. All they want from each other is friendship and a distraction from their messy lives.

As their bond begins to deepen, so does their attraction, until they end up in bed together. Falling in love was never part of the plan—Max’s family doesn’t see Dani as a perfect match, even as his heart tells him she’s the one, and Dani isn’t sure she can make it in Max’s world. Can they find the courage to live they life they desire, even if it means risking everything?

REVIEW

After Dani’s husband leaves her for a younger woman, Dani finds herself newly single. She’s finally able to do the things that she wasn’t able to when she was married – including spending more time with her family. Dani doesn’t want to find herself in a relationship anytime soon and nothing can change that.

Maximillian von Hansburg is known as a ladies man. On the surface, Max is carefree and nothing fazes him. But Max is feeling the pressure from his parents. They want Max to find a suitable wife before he inherits the title of Duke. Max had a perfect thing going with his best friend Marie, but she ended up finding her one true love (in A Princess for Christmas) and now he’s back to square one.

When Max finds himself in New York and calls on Dani – a tender friendship forms. Max and Dani already know of each other as both of their best friends are going to marry each other. But Max insists on befriending Dani. Dani isn’t quite so sure about the Depraved Duke, but soon finds herself actually liking him. Can they keep their relationship strictly platonic? Or will sparks fly?

I read A Princess for Christmas last year and remember really enjoying Max’s character. But I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in Duke, Actually. Well, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I absolutely loved this book. I loved the slow progression of friends-to-lovers between Max and Dani. Duke, Actually had the slowest of slow burns, but I never felt like the relationship was going too slow.

Both Max and Dani were so sweet with one another and yet I found myself grinning or laughing at their antics. Their relationship felt so real and that made me love this couple even more because of that. They had their own insecurities and vulnerabilities, and yet they completely understood each other and were always there for each other – no matter what.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of Duke, Actually and really enjoyed it. The audiobook was narrated by Stacy Gonzalez and I felt like she did a great job. The narration took me a bit to get into, but once I started really getting into the story – I ended up really enjoying all of the voices Stacy narrated. I could always tell when a character was upset or happy. I was constantly grinning when Dani and Max were texting and felt all of the burden Max was shouldering when he was interacting with his parents. Overall, I feel like Stacy Gonzalez did a wonderful job narrating Duke, Actually and highly recommend the audiobook!

If you’re looking for a sweet, tender, friends-to-lovers romance with Christmas-y vibes, grab your copy of Duke, Actually!

CW: Parental neglect/abuse

**Although Duke, Actually can be read as a standalone, I think there’s a lot of backstory on Max and Dani from A Princess for Christmas and would recommend reading the books in order.

ARC Review The Lady Gets Lucky

~ Tej ~ Leave a comment

The Lady Gets Lucky by Joanna Shupe

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Historical Romance

Series: The Fifth Avenue Rebels #2

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥

Release Date: October 26, 2021

Publisher: Avon

SYNOPSIS

Following The Heiress Hunt, beloved author Joanna Shupe continues her new Fifth Avenue Rebels series with a scandalous romance about a good girl desperate to rebel and the rebel desperate to corrupt her.

A first-rate scoundrel.

A desperate wallflower.

Lessons in seduction.

The woman no one notices . . .

Shy heiress Alice Lusk is tired of being overlooked by every bachelor. Something has to change, else she’ll be forced to marry a man whose only desire is her fortune. She needs to become a siren, a woman who causes a man’s blood to run hot . . .and she’s just met the perfect rogue to help teach her.

He’s the life of every party . . .

Christopher “Kit” Ward plans to open a not-so-reputable supper club in New York City, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to hire the best chef in the city to guarantee its success. Even if it requires giving carnal lessons to a serious-minded spinster who has an in with the chef.

Their bedroom instruction grows passionate, and Alice is a much better pupil than Kit had ever anticipated. When the Society gentlemen start to take notice, Kit has to try to win Alice in other ways . . . but is he too late to win her heart? 

REVIEW

Heiress Alice Lusk needs a teacher. Specifically someone to teach her the art of seduction. Her mother thinks that Alice will have no problem finding a suitor – especially with her large dowry. But Alice wants to marry for love. So she finds the one person who she thinks would be perfect in helping her become a vixen – Kit Ward.

Christopher “Kit” Ward is a known scoundrel. He likes to keep his relationships on the surface and is definitely not the settling down sort. So when Alice comes knocking at his door with a proposal to teach her how to seduce a man… he’s at a loss for words. But Alice and Kit just happen to be at the same place at the same time – a house party thrown by Kit’s friend Maddie. And Maddie has forbidden Kit to seduce any of the young women at the soiree.

But when Alice has a proposal for Kit – he has a hard time turning her down. She will help Kit with written recipes for the opening of his supper club and he will help her with her lessons. What could possibly go wrong?

Oh how I loved The Lady Gets Lucky. Kit and Alice had so much chemistry together and I loved every single scene where they were together. Their interactions always left a grin on my face. But with the sweet and funny was also the perfect amount of angst. I wanted these two to end up together right from the beginning of the book.

I will admit, I wasn’t a fan of The Heiress Hunt, but absolutely loved the second book in the The Fifth Avenue Rebels series. I can’t wait to find out who is getting their story next!

CW: parental verbal abuse, alcoholism, death of a friend by alcoholism

ARC Review The Lady Gets Lucky

~ Tej ~ 1 Comment

The Lady Gets Lucky by Joanna Shupe

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Genre: Historical Romance

Series: The Fifth Avenue Rebels #2

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥

Release Date: October 26, 2021

Publisher: Avon

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

SYNOPSIS

USA Today Bestselling Author

Following the book called “an alluring blend of love and playfulness” (PW) The Heiress Hunt, beloved author Joanna Shupe continues her new Fifth Avenue Rebels series with a scandalous romance about a good girl desperate to rebel and the rebel desperate to corrupt her.

A first-rate scoundrel.

A desperate wallflower.

Lessons in seduction.

The woman no one notices . . .

Shy heiress Alice Lusk is tired of being overlooked by every bachelor. Something has to change, else she’ll be forced to marry a man whose only desire is her fortune. She needs to become a siren, a woman who causes a man’s blood to run hot . . .and she’s just met the perfect rogue to help teach her.

He’s the life of every party . . .

Christopher “Kit” Ward plans to open a not-so-reputable supper club in New York City, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to hire the best chef in the city to guarantee its success. Even if it requires giving carnal lessons to a serious-minded spinster who has an in with the chef.

Their bedroom instruction grows passionate, and Alice is a much better pupil than Kit had ever anticipated. When the Society gentlemen start to take notice, Kit has to try to win Alice in other ways . . . but is he too late to win her heart? 

REVIEW

Heiress Alice Lusk needs a teacher. Specifically someone to teach her the art of seduction. Her mother thinks that Alice will have no problem finding a suitor – especially with her large dowry. But Alice wants to marry for love. So she finds the one person who she thinks would be perfect in helping her become a vixen – Kit Ward.

Christopher “Kit” Ward is a known scoundrel. He likes to keep his relationships on the surface and is definitely not the settling down sort. So when Alice comes knocking at his door with a proposal to teach her how to seduce a man… he’s at a loss for words. But Alice and Kit just happen to be at the same place at the same time – a house party thrown by Kit’s friend Maddie. And Maddie has forbidden Kit to seduce any of the young women at the soiree.

But when Alice has a proposal for Kit – he has a hard time turning her down. She will help Kit with written recipes for the opening of his supper club and he will help her with her lessons. What could possibly go wrong?

Oh how I loved The Lady Gets Lucky. Kit and Alice had so much chemistry together and I loved every single scene where they were together. Their interactions always left a grin on my face. But with the sweet and funny was also the perfect amount of angst. I wanted these two to end up together right from the beginning of the book.

I will admit, I wasn’t a fan of The Heiress Hunt, but absolutely loved the second book in the The Fifth Avenue Rebels series. I can’t wait to find out who is getting their story next!

CW: parental verbal abuse, alcoholism, death of a friend by alcoholism

ARC Review A Lot Like Adios

~ Tej ~ 3 Comments

A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥

Release Date: September 14, 2021

Publisher: Avon

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

SYNOPSIS

Hi Mich. It’s Gabe.

After burning out in her corporate marketing career, Michelle Amato has built a thriving freelance business as a graphic designer. So what if her love life is nonexistent? She’s perfectly fine being the black sheep of her marriage-obsessed Puerto Rican-Italian family. Besides, the only guy who ever made her want happily-ever-after disappeared thirteen years ago.

It’s been a long time.

Gabriel Aguilar left the Bronx at eighteen to escape his parents’ demanding expectations, but it also meant saying goodbye to Michelle, his best friend and longtime crush. Now, he’s the successful co-owner of LA’s hottest celebrity gym, with an investor who insists on opening a New York City location. It’s the last place Gabe wants to go, but when Michelle is unexpectedly brought on board to spearhead the new marketing campaign, everything Gabe’s been running from catches up with him.

I’ve missed you.

Michelle is torn between holding Gabe at arm’s length or picking up right where they left off—in her bed. As they work on the campaign, old feelings resurface, and their reunion takes a sexy turn. Facing mounting pressure from their families—who think they’re dating—and growing uncertainty about their futures, can they resolve their past mistakes, or is it only a matter of time before Gabe says adiós again?

REVIEW

Gabe and Mich (Michelle) grew up literally right next door to one another. They were the best of friends – always hanging out, even going so far as writing fanfic for their favorite show. But when it came time to go to college, Gabe left to go to California for a new start. He didn’t say goodbye to anyone, not even Mich.

It’s twelve years late and fate throws Gabe and Michelle back together. Gabe is now part owner of a sports club. Michelle is a freelance graphic designer. When Gabe’s partner reaches out to Michelle (without knowing her relationship to Gabe) she agrees to take on the job. Gabe finally gets in touch with Michelle and they agree to work together. They’ve missed each other and this will be a great opportunity to get back in each others lives.

But the more time Gabe and Mich end up spending together, the complicated their relationship becomes. Not to mention the strained relationship that Gabe has with his family. Will these two be able to forgive each other and themselves and move on?

I really enjoyed A Lot Like Adios. I am a sucker for a second chance romance and these two had so many emotional memories tied to the past. I loved the back and forth being tied in with their fanfic. It was perfect in so many ways, especially when the fanfic mirrored what was happening with Gabe and Mich in the present.

A Lot Like Adios brought the heat 🔥🔥. This book was spice. What I liked most about the sexual relationship between Gabe and Michelle was how open and honest they were with one another. There was bi rep as well as trans and the use of pronouns which is so wonderful to see in a romance.

The parts of this book that were pulling on my heartsrings hard were the parts with Gabe and his parents. Nostalgia can be beautiful, but it can also be heartbreaking. I know the feeling of being in a place you feel like you know so intimately and yet you feel like you’re a stranger. Those feelings were explored so well in A Lot Like Adios.

Overall I really did enjoy this book, I think even more than You Had Me At Hola! If you love a second chance romance, a meddling but loving family – definitely grab yourself a copy of A Lot Like Adios