Last Guard by Nalini SinghParanormal RomanceJuly 20, 2021, by BerkleyARCReview by Melanie and Melinda Melinda: We've been so excited for this book - and we're going to try to do this review without spoilers! Going into this book right away we know we’re getting a ton of new aspects in the Psy/Changing world because we’ve not only rarely seen much of the Mercant family, we’ve never seen the Rao family before. We’ve also never seen the Anchor designation in so much detail, and then on top of Continue Reading
The Psy/Changeling Channel: Novellas Part 1
This month, we bring you not one but TWO Psy/Changeling deep dives. This first one will focus on a few of the Psy/Changeling novellas. We’re trying to schedule them so that the novellas don’t spoil anything we haven’t covered in any of the regular deep dives yet. This deep dive will cover 3 novellas: Beat of Temptation, Whispers of Sin, and Stroke of Enticement, which all focus on DarkRiver Changelings. Later in the month, we’ll resume our usual Psy/Changeling deep dive with Psy/Changeling book Continue Reading
Audible Original: The Stand-in by Lily Chu
The Stand-in by Lily Chu July 15, 2021 by Audible Originals Contemporary Romance Reviewed by Melinda I wanted to listen to this audiobook as soon as I heard that Phillipa Soo was narrating this, because I’m a big fan of hers. She did a wonderful job infusing the story with nuance and context. The book opens with Gracie working in a job she hates, but that she needs to save money to support her elderly mother, who lives in a Residential care facility. Gracie’s been wanting to move Continue Reading
Review: Sing Anyway by Anita Kelly
Sing Anyway by Anita KellyContemporary June 1, 2021, Self PublishedPurchased Review by Melinda This is a powerhouse of a novella from what I think is a debut author. Discovering an author at the beginning of their career can be so fun to follow them on their path and I hope to do so with Anita Kelly. I love a good fluffy romance which I define as one that is soft and without heavy conflict. I need those kinds of romance constantly and I alternate often between angsty or Continue Reading
Review: What if You & Me by Roni Loren
What If You & Me by Roni LorenContemporary RomanceJuly 6, 2021, by Sourcebooks CasablancaAudio ARC Review by Melinda I really love parts of this book so much. This continues the Say Everything series and examines mental health, trauma, and disability in really interesting, yet romantic, ways, and I love all of that. I love that both Andi and Hill felt like real characters, they were fully fleshed out with realistic issues and flaws. Messy characters are my favorites, and these two Continue Reading
Audible Original Review: What the Hex by Alexis Daria
What the Hex by Alexis DariaContemporary PNRJuly 1, 2021, by AudibleAudio ARC Review by Melinda Another well-done Audible Original with a fantastic narrator, Jacqueline Grace Lopez. Basically audiobooks can live or die entirely on who narrates them, and Jacqueline added so much to this experience. It’s even more impressive that when I looked her up to see what else I could find that she narrated this was her debut! Her Spanish added a lot to the context of the book. This is a Continue Reading
Backlist Review: You First by J.C. Lillis
You First by J.C. LillisLGBT Contemporary PNRMay 23rd, 2019 - Self-PublishedPurchased Reviewer: Melinda You First by J.C. Lillis is not exactly a genre Romance in my opinion because it doesn’t exactly have the typical HEA. But I still really enjoyed and recommend this book but I always want readers to know what they’re getting into! The blurb uses the word bittersweet and I think there isn’t a more perfect word to describe both the romance and the book. Levon Ludlow is a D-level Continue Reading
Audiobook Review: Reel by Kennedy Ryan
Reel by Kennedy RyanContemporary06/08/2021 Self PublishedARC Review by Melinda Reel is a story that at first I had difficulty putting my finger on what time period it was taking place in, and I think that was because the story felt timeless, something that I loved about this book. When Neevah is cast as the star in a new biopic that Canon Holt is directing, everything changes for her. We can tell from the beginning that both Neevah and Canon are passionate people. Canon is a famous Continue Reading
Pride Giveaway!
Happy Pride everyone! Smexy wanted to celebrate by giving away a fun pack of prizes. You could win: Rainbow notebook with lined pagesebook of Learned Behaviors by Jayce Ellisebook of Get It Right by Skye Kilaen1000 piece Pride themed puzzle by Cobble Hill, the puzzle has various queer history facts along with various Pride flags sprinkled throughout * Please comment with your favorite LGBT romance for a chance to win. Contest will be open from today, Monday June 7, 2021, and will run Continue Reading
Review: One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
One Last Stop by Casey McQuistonLGBTQ Contemporary RomanceJune 1, 2021, by St. Martin's Review by Melinda I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It’s delightfully queer and set in New York, which combined was just one of the best experiences to listen to, although since I can’t travel right now did leave me feeling a little melancholy. August has just moved to NYC, and the atmosphere felt incredibly accurate. While I don't live there, I have visited yearly for about 10 years, and the descriptions Continue Reading