Passion Project by London SperryContemporary Romance April 8, 2025, by Penguin Books Review by Melanie Let me be very upfront before I get into the real bones of this book that this book may not be for everyone. It is, as some would term it, a Sad Girl Romance ™. (I don’t know who coined that phrase, it certainly wasn’t me). It is also a CAPITAL S Slow Burn romance - there is an open door sex scene but the first kiss doesn’t even occur until 70% in so again, if all that is not your Continue Reading
Review: The Love Simulation by Etta Easton
The Love Simulation by Etta EastonContemporary RomanceMarch 4, 2025, by Berkley Review by Melanie One of my favorite tropes in contemporary romance is forced proximity and The Love Simulation employs that trope with such an unique premise that really charmed me. Brianna, the FMC, is a middle school vice-principal. Dedicated to her students and to her job, her main goal is to upgrade the library at her school so that her students have access to more current books. Unfortunately Continue Reading
Review: Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen
Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreenContemporary RomanceJanuary 28, 2025, by Berkley Review by Melanie There’s an ongoing conversation happening in Romancelandia these days about tropes and the over usage of them to write and sell a book. In reality, tropes can be quite gimmicky and an easy way to market a book. Put up a cute little Instagram ready graphic, surround it with a half dozen tropes contained within the book and there you have it, easy-peasy lemon squeezy! It’s quick and fun Continue Reading
Review: Bad Reputation by Emma Barry
Bad Reputation Contemporary RomanceOctober 1, 2024, by Montlake Review by Melanie One of the reasons I’ve taken to gorging on historical romances lately is that it’s giving me something I’ve been finding lacking in contemporaries. The pining, the longing, the actual romance, the tenderness and yes, the steam, it all seems to have dissipated to some degree in contemporaries with a few notable exceptions. One such exception is Emma Barry’s latest, Bad Reputation, which has all Continue Reading
Review: The Finest Print by Erin Langston
The Finest Print by Erin LangstonHistorical RomanceARCSeptember 24, 2024Self-Published Review by Melanie I am nothing if not consistent so it should really come as no surprise to anyone that I absolutely adored The Finest Print, the latest from Erin Langston. I wanted to devour it the second the ARC landed in my ereader but, and this might surprise those who know me well, instead, I savored it, parsing it out in small bite sized nibbles over the course of five days, luxuriating in the Continue Reading
Review: Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle
Just Some Stupid Love StoryContemporary RomanceJune 4, 2024Flatiron Books Review by Melanie Whew, I have so many thoughts about this book, I barely know where to begin. I gave this book two stars on Goodreads and those two stars are by and large for the excellent narration that really elevated this book. That is not to say this author (known primary for her historical romances written under the name Scarlett Peckham) is not a talented writer, she very much is but despite her undeniable Continue Reading
Review: Fret Me Not by Sarah Estep
Fret Me Not by Sarah EstepContemporary RomanceAugust 29, 2024 Self-published Review by Melanie Sarah Estep continues to be one of my favorite author discoveries of 2023 and it should surprise no one that the third installment of her Brunch Bros series manages to capture the tenderness and heat of her first two books and while still making it feel fun and new and completely its own thing. If you’ve read the first two books (and I highly recommend you do, per my reviews of Keyed Up and So Continue Reading
Review: Primal Mirror (Psy-Changeling Trinity #8) by Nalini Singh
Primal Mirror by Nalini SinghParanormal RomanceJuly 23, 2024, by Berkley Review by Melanie A personal note before I start this review: the entire reason I ever picked up a Psy-Changeling book to begin with is because of my friend and former Smexy reviewer, Melinda, who sadly passed away earlier this year. She adored Nalini’s books and was rightfully convinced that I would love the Psy-Changeling series despite my claims that I just didn’t think PNR was for me. To appease her, I picked up Continue Reading
Review: Isabel and the Rogue by Liana De la Rosa
Isabel and the Rogue by Liana De la RosaHistorical RomanceJune 4, 2024 by Berkley Review by Melanie The first book in the Luna Sisters trilogy was such a delight last year (you can find my review of it here) that I was eagerly anticipating the 2nd book in the series and let me just say, it did not disappoint. Isabel and the Rogue is the story of Isabel Luna, the middle sister, quiet and slightly awkward and overlooked in favor of her much more vicious younger sister. But Continue Reading
Review: Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur
Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria BellefleurContemporary RomanceApril 30, 2024 by Avon Review by Melanie It is no secret that when a romance novel touts itself as a romantic comedy these days, I immediately give it massive side eye. Having been burned way too many times by rom coms that were neither romantic nor comedic, that particular pairing of words automatically makes me back away. However, Alexandria Bellefleur’s Truly, Madly, Deeply is one banger of a rom com, both Continue Reading