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: Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto
Not Another Love Song by Julie SotoContemporary RomanceJuly 16, 2024- ForeverARC Review by Angela I really enjoyed this author's debut, Forget Me Not, which released last year. I will admit that the cover and blurb for her sophomore release really caught my attention and had me hitting that request button almost immediately. And holy smokes- I'm so glad I did. Rival string players in an orchestra is not a thing that I knew I needed in my life, but apparently my romance loving soul Continue Reading
Review: The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
The Ex Vows by Jessica JoyceContemporary RomanceJuly 16, 2024- BerkleyARC Review by Angela Y'all, this book wrecked me. I mean I had high expectations after reading this author's previous release, You, With a View, but I had no idea how utterly ruined I would be after reading. This is a second chance romance, which admittedly is one of my favorite tropes. Maybe because these books have the potential to be so emotionally messy. Maybe because I love seeing people in love make their 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: Duke for the Summer by Emily Spady
Duke for the Summer by Emily SpadyLGBTQ RomanceMay 19, 2024-Self-published Review by Kate H. This book took me by surprise, in the best way. Based on the description, I had thought it was going to be a ring-around-the-tropes m/m romcom with characters that were somewhat complex but had problems that were easily resolvable. But I am a sucker for novels where an MC pulls a geographic, so I plowed ahead. Imagine my surprise to find two flawed, human characters - not archetypes, not Continue Reading
Retro Review: Mortal Ties by Eileen Wilks
Originally posted in October 2012 on Fiction Vixen by Angela. Mortal Ties by Eileen WilksWorld of the Lupi #9Urban Fantasy/Paranormal RomanceOctober 2, 2012 by Berkley Eileen Wilks’s World of the Lupi series is one of my favorites. What started out as a paranormal romance with the first couple of books has evolved into a wonderful, detailed urban fantasy world. Lily is an awesome heroine as she is smart and capable and is allowed to be those things even while she has navigated Continue Reading
Retro Review: Grim Shadows by Jenn Bennett
Review originally posted in June of 2014 on Fiction Vixen by Angela. Grim Shadows by Jenn BennettRoaring Twenties #2Paranormal Historical RomanceJune 3, 2014- Berkley After reading the first book in Jenn Bennett’s Roaring Twenties series, Bitter Spirits, my first thought was “why didn’t I pick this up sooner?” Such a great romance. Apparently when you mix bootleggers and speakeasies, ghosts and zombies, one sexy, freckled heroine and a big, scarred hero what you get is complete 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
Review: My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long
My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne LongThe Palace of Rogues #7Historical RomanceApril 23, 024- AvonARC Review by Angela Julie Anne Long is one of my favorite historical romance authors and The Palace of Rogues one of my very favorite series. I'm always thrilled at the chance to visit the beloved residents and guests of The Grand Palace on the Thames. My Season of Scandal is an age gap romance, introducing Catherine Keating, an innocent country bred young woman who has come to Continue Reading
Review: Funny Story by Emily Henry
Funny Story by Emily HenryContemporary RomanceApril 23, 2024- Berkley Review by Angela It's no secret that Emily Henry has fast become one of my favorite romance authors of contemporary romance. There is just something about her writing that clicks with me. Funny Story is a roommates to lovers, forced proximity romance and is just as delightful as you would think. Daphne is shocked when she finds out her perfect love story isn't so perfect--and her fiancé has left her for his best Continue Reading