The Love Study by Kris RipperContemporarySeptember 9, 2020 by CarinaHoopla Audio Kris Ripper has such a unique voice so I was looking forward to this book and wasn't disappointed at all. The Love Study is filled with awkwardness and I'm such a sucker for that in romance. This book explores so much about what does a romantic relationship *need* to look like to actually still be a romance? I loved so much how Declan and Sidney begin the story trying to find someone for Dec to date and have Continue Reading
Review: Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Written in the Stars by Alexandria BellefleurContemporary LBBT RomanceNovember 10, 2020 by Avon Review by Melinda This was apparently a Pride and Prejudice retelling but those kinds of retellings completely miss me because I have no idea when they’re being done. However, I still enjoyed this bisexual contemporary love story. What worked for me was the opposite attracts personality types of Darcy, who is a reserved actuary, and Elle, who is a social media astrologist. I truly loved how Continue Reading
Review: The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan
The Duke Who Didn't by Courtney MilanWedgeford Files #1Historical RomanceSeptember 22. 2020, Self Published Review by Melinda I was destined to love this book - it has a protagonist who loves lists! How could I not love her!? Chloe lives her life by those lists...but also gets really behind on those lists. I felt like I was extremely her in basically every chapter. She’s also anxious and complex, did I mention I felt such an affinity for her?! And every time the other protagonist gives Continue Reading
Review: If the Boot Fits by Rebekah Weatherspoon
If the Boot Fits by Rebekah WeatherspoonCowboys of California #2Contemporary RomanceOctober 27, 2020, by Dafina Review by Melinda: One of the things I loved is that this book opens with a one night stand on the night Sam wins an Oscar. They have a great time and Amanda sneaks away...with his Oscar on accident, but still! This cracked me up to no end that she wanted nothing to do with him OR his Oscar beyond the one night. I really enjoyed this book for a variety of reasons, and one of Continue Reading
Audio Review: A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday
A Princess for Christmas by Jenny HolidayContemporary Holiday RomanceOctober 13, 2020, by AvonARC Review by Melinda This book was the definition of aggressively fine for me and part of it has to do with my own issues I bring with me but part of it was definitely the book. My issue is around that once again breast cancer is in the background for these characters. Admittedly, it plays a small part but it looms large over the entire book as it’s what killed one of the protagonist’s mothers. Continue Reading
Review: Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
Just a caveat that I don’t know if I can be completely unbiased when it comes to Olivia Dade’s books anymore because I’ve grown to genuinely like her as a person. I *think* I can separate the author from the art, but who really knows? However, Spoiler Alert really impacted me from start to finish and I loved it so much, and honestly it took me by surprise! The concept is a great one, but one I wasn’t sure would appeal to me specifically. April writes fan fic and is one of the top fic Continue Reading
Review: When No One Is Watching: A Thriller by Alyssa Cole
My love for Alyssa Cole is well established and I truly think she can write anything but this book blew me away! I know people are going to say wow this book is so timely…and yes; it’s so timely - but not because of the massive protests happening this summer, or the micro and macro aggressions that are being filmed and rightly passed around, or the horrors of police brutality, but because racial injustice and inequality has always been timely in America. What made this Continue Reading
Review: Better Than People by Roan Parrish
Roan Parrish writes some of the best mental health rep there is in all of romance and Better Than People is no exception. The meet cute in this book is super cute as Jack has an accident in the beginning of this and needs to find someone to exercise is sizable dog pack - and one cat - for him. He finds Simon on an app where people are seeking pets to walk or cuddle because they can't have them for one reason or another. I liked this take on the app hookup idea. One of my only quibbles with Continue Reading
Review: You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
This book was seriously exactly what I needed. Reading diversely is important, and reading more than just trauma porn when you read diversely is even more important imo. And this book is exactly that. You Should See Me in a Crown is a YA book with a Black lesbian MC and it’s not traumatic or painful, it’s a typical YA. And truly the book was a joy to read. Liz Lighty is such a relatable character as the girl who doesn’t want to stick out too much – with anxiety when people stare too much at Continue Reading
The Chicks Gaslighter Album but make it Romance
Melinda and I have been DMing not stop about the new Chicks album since it debuted. We both love it. When Melinda pitched this list to me for a post on Smexy, I couldn't say yes fast enough. In the comments, tell us your favorite song from this album and what romance novel you would match it up with. Huge thank you to Melinda (@MelindaEdits) for this post. The Chicks released their 8th studio album on July 17th and I’ve probably listened to it at least 300 times since then. I can’t Continue Reading