Title: His Second Chance FiancéeSeries: Walkins, Wyoming #1Author: Juliette HylandGenre: Contemporary RomanceTropes: Small Town/Reunion/Coming HomeFormer High School Sweethearts/Tech HeroRelease Date: March 17, 2025 BLURBFailure is a bitter pill. When Finn Matus left home a decade ago, he vowed never to taste it again. His new life, and successful tech company, are in San Francisco. He's only in Walkins, Wyoming, to settle his uncle's estate and find the widow who took advantage of the man who 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: Rustler Mountain by Maisey Yates
Rustler Mountain by Maisey YatesContemporary RomanceFebruary 25, 2025 by Kensington Review by Angela I feel like contemporary romance hasn't really been my thing lately, but I saw a Threads post for this release, and it mentioned things like "bad boy hero who likes the library" and "good girl librarian" and also hinted at sexy library loving and I realized that maybe I should jump back on the contemporary wagon again with this opposites attract, enemies to lovers, small town romance. Continue Reading
Review: In a Rush by Kate Canterbary
In a Rush by Kate CanterbaryContemporary RomanceFebruary 4, 2025- Self PublishedARC Review by Angela Revenge husband for the win! It's always a good day when a new Kate Canterbary romance hits your Kindle. Stepping back into the world of Friendship, RI? Even better. This is a friends to lovers, he fell first, marriage of convenience, fake marriage romance, and while that seems like a lot of tropes- believe me, it works. This is the story of Emme Ahlborg, elementary school 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: Only One Bed by Kati Wilde
Only One Bed by Kati WildeContemporary RomanceJanuary 15, 2025- Self PublishedKindle Unlimited Review by Angela My first thought when I saw that a new Kati Wilde book was coming for the new year was...YAY! An enemies to lovers, forced proximity, only one bed romance was just what I needed. For the most part this book starts out just as expected- with the FMC, Abbie Walker, taking some time for herself, away from her suffocating family, celebrating Christmas alone in an isolated Continue Reading
DNF Audio Review: Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer
Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca KinzerContemporary RomancePublished January 31, 2023 by Tyndale Fiction Reviewed by Kate I picked up Dear Henry, Love Edith during a 2 for 1 Audible sale recently, and was looking for a cute book a la The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary. Unfortunately, for a combination of factors, this just wasn’t it, and I decided not to finish it. But I did get 3 hours into the 8 hour audiobook, so I feel like I can make some informed criticisms. As I said, I was Continue Reading
Review: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally CarterContemporary Romance/Mystery RomanceSeptember 24, 202424- Avon Review by Angela I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, my first by Ally Carter, but I fell in love with the blurb and the idea of a Knives Out murder mystery, locked room romance and decided to grab it when it came up for review. Maggie Chase is a best-selling author of cozy mysteries who doesn't care for the Christmas season. Ethan Wyatt's recently penned 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
Retro Review: Thank You for Riding by Cara McKenna
Review originally posted in April of 2013 by Angela at Fiction Vixen. Thank You for Riding by Cara McKenna (Meg Maguire)Contemporary Short StoryFirst published April 2, 2013 by SamhainReissued December 14, 2017 by Cara McKenna The first time Caitlin met Mark they were both sitting in the Red Cross donating platelets. They share a brief flirtation from across the room, mouthing words to each other, sharing a laugh and admiring the other’s ability to squeeze their stress balls. Continue Reading