These books are vastly different and both were terrific. First up is A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole. So, “love” may not be exactly the right word to describe my listening experience. I don’t normally gravitate to the super sad books. But Rune and Poppy’s story was addicting to me and I pushed through the tears. A Thousand Boy Kisses is a YA tearjerker that walks the line of being so saccharine that it’s almost cringey. The thousand kisses referenced in the title are a jar of Continue Reading
Review: Scarred by Emily McIntire
Scarred by Emily McIntireFairytale Romance, Historical RomanceJanuary 4, 2022 Review by Jen Scarred by Emily McIntire is a dark romance inspired by the Lion King. The author’s first book in this series (saying that lightly, as they really aren’t tied to each other) is Hooked, inspired by Peter Pan. After reading this one, Hooked is on my TBR list! We have two brothers. One, Michael Faasa II, has been freshly kinged and the other, Tristan Faasa, is the hot evil prince with the Continue Reading
Review: A Perfect Equation by Elizabeth Everett
A Perfect Equation by Elizabeth EverettThe Secret Scientists of London #2Historical RomanceFebruary 15, 2022, by Berkley Reviewed by Kate H. The Perfect Equation is a well-paced Regency-era romance that features a bluestocking heroine, a mathematician no less, as well as a bottled-up hero ready to be uncorked. The opening of the book begins with a street protest by the Guardians of Domesticity, part of the noisy and disturbing backlash against women working and Continue Reading
Audio Book Review: Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy
Good Girl Complex by Elle KennedyContemporary RomanceFebruary 1, 2022Macmillan AudioARCReview by Jen If the series Outer Banks and the book, After, had a baby…it would be Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy. Kennedy is one of my favorite authors, and this book, while predictable, hit all the right spots for me. The story takes place in a college beach town. We have the townies (Pogues for you Outer Banks fans) and the rich college kids. Mackenzie is a Continue Reading
Review: His Fresh Start Cowboy by A.M. Arthur
His Fresh Start Cowboy by A.M. ArthurWoods Ranch #1LGBTQ Contemporary RomanceJanuary 25, 2022, by Carina PressARC Review by Angela It's been a while since I've read a good cowboy romance and this cover called to me as soon as I saw it while putting together the new release list. I noticed that it was labeled as being first in a series so I decided to jump right in. Come to find out this is actually the first book in a spin-off series, with quite a few of the secondary characters making an Continue Reading
Jen’s Mini Audio Book Reviews: Books by Madeline Miller and Sarah Ready
Both of these books were winners! So very different, but excellent in their own ways. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller was on my TBR list for a long time. This book has great buzz and it absolutely lived up to the hype!! I will be recommending this to everyone I meet. I cried at the end. Right up to the last moment I thought it was going to end a certain way and it went in another direction. The writing is so beautiful and tugged at all of my emotions. The book is about one of Continue Reading
Review: On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk
Smexy has a new reviewer! Everyone welcome Iby! On a Night Like This by Lindsey KelkContemporary RomanceJanuary 18, 2022, by Harper360/ HarperCollinsARC Review by Iby I love a good contemporary British romance book… something halfway between women’s fiction and a romcom, strongly character-driven focused on a woman who needs to make changes in her life. The hero is usually in the background, and the romance is usually slow burn and clean. If you like books by Josie Silver, Mhairi Continue Reading
Review: Electric Idol by Katee Robert
Electric Idol by Katee RobertFantasy Erotica1/18/2022 by Sourcebooks CasablancaARC Reviewed by Jen I was so excited to get Electric Idol by Katee Robert. I LOVED Neon Gods and book two features the story of Psyche and Eros. Psyche is the sister of Persephone from book one, and Eros is the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Who, as an aside, is not a nice loving individual. Aphrodite uses Eros to do her dirty work, killing things and such. I continue to really love this Continue Reading
Review: The Best Men by Sarina Bowen and Lauren Blakely
The Best Men by Sarin Bowen and Lauren BlakelyThe Best Men #1LGBTQ Contemporary Romance01/18/2022 Self PublishedARC Review by Angela I've been trying to be good this year and not request every single book I see that looks interesting. But apparently, I have zero willpower because as soon as I read the blurb for this romance between two best men at a wedding and realized it's enemies to lovers AND opposites attract AND there was a touch of forced proximity, I just couldn't help myself. Continue Reading
Review: The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder
The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder (The Bone Spindle #1) January 11, 2022 by Razorbill Young Adult Fantasy The Bone Spindle is a young adult fantasy retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story, but with gender swapped main characters. Briar Rose (the Sleeping Beauty of the story) is a prince, and Filore, a treasure hunter, is the one destined to rescue him from his one hundred year sleep. Now, a fairytale retelling is enough to get me in the door, but gender swapped and with a comparison to Continue Reading