Hanaford Prep: The Complete Series by J BreeNew Adult/ Young Adult Contemporary RomanceSelf Published Review by Jen Takes a drink. Where do I begin? Let's start with the title. I read several books, 1-4 to be exact. BUT, to say it’s complete isn’t exactly true. There are several storylines you can follow in multiple other books. There are many characters with complex backstories and you could be busy for months if you choose to be. This series was highly recommended in one 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
Melinda’s Minis: The Wreckage of My Presence by Casey Wilson and Anne of Manhattan by Brina Starler
The Wreckage of My Presence by Casey WilsonNon-Fiction May 4, 2021, by Harper Review by Melinda I’m familiar with Casey Wilson because I’m an unapologetic Real Housewives watcher, which also makes me an unapologetic Bitch Sesh listener, Casey’s podcast, alongside co-host with Dana Schneider. I listened to an audio ARC of this one, and I would highly recommend listening to it, rather than reading it. Casey obviously is a talented actress and from her time doing the podcast is Continue Reading
Melinda’s Minis: Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur & The Anatomy of Desire by L.R. Dorn
Hang the Moon by Alexandria BellefleurContemporary RomanceMay 25, 2021, by AvonAudio ARC Review by Melinda This was such a delightful book to read! Brendon was a side character in Written in the stars - the brother to the main character there. Brendon is basically a hopeless romantic, who believes in love, and is working to improve his dating app. And Annie is the best friend of the other main character, who thinks that true love is a farce and the everyone leaves, because that’s what Continue Reading
Melanie’s Minis: Happy Endings by Thien-Kim Lam & Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley
Happy Endings by Thien-Kim LamContemporary RomanceMay 18, 2021, by Avon Up until about the last 20% of this book, I really loved it and it was a solid 5-star book for me. The female main character, Trixie, is a Vietnamese American who, much to her parent's dismay, sells sex toys for a living. It was a second chance romance with her ex-boyfriend, Andre, who had dumped her via a post it note when he learned about his mother’s cancer diagnosis (this all happens way before the book begins). I Continue Reading
Review: Serving Sin by Angelina M. Lopez
Serving Sin by Angelina M. LopezFilthy Rich #3Contemporary RomanceMay 25, 2021, by Carina Press Review by Melanie Angelina M. Lopez, who burst onto the romantic fiction landscape in 2019 with her debut novel, the delightfully subversive Lush Money, returns to wrap up her Filthy Rich series with the final book in the trilogy, Serving Sin. Set in the fictional Monte del Vino Real, a tiny Spanish principality, the first book focused on Mateo, the future king of the principality and the Continue Reading
Review: The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
The Soulmate Equation by Christina LaurenContemporary RomanceMay 18, 2021, by Gallery BooksARC Review by Angela When I read the blurb for Soulmate Equation I wasn't sure what to think. I mean a romance based on genetic testing and DNA analysis just seems weird to me. Not romantic or sexy. And I wondered how this writing duo would handle all the sciencey parts and if I would even be able to understand the sciencey parts (I didn't), but in the end that didn't matter. I really enjoyed this Continue Reading
Review: Totally Engaged by Mina V. Esguerra
Totally Engaged by Mina V. EsguerraContemporary RomanceMay 14, 2021, Self PublishedARC Review by Melinda I think Mina V. Esguerra is such a talented writer and generally I pick up anything she writes. But this book is really up there with one of my favorites of hers. Rose is a fashion entrepreneur who is pretty happy with her life and what she has. However, her mother is not as happy about any of it. Rose's entire immediate family immigrated to the United States, but Rose had aged out of Continue Reading
Review: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily HenryContemporary Romance/Women's FictionMay 11, 2021, by BerkleyARCReview by Angela Favorite Quote: "You're staring at me because I'm tall?" Alex says"Very tall," I say, as if that clears things up. It's easier than saying, I have missed you, beautiful smile. It's so good to see you, strong arms and legs. Thank you, freakishly taut belly, for feeding this person I love so much. After reading last year's release by this author, Beach Read, I couldn't Continue Reading
Melinda’s Minis: The Conductors by Nicole Glover and The Hate Project by Kris Ripper
The Conductors by Nicole GloverHistorical MysteryMarch 2, 2021 by John Joseph Adams This book was really so inventive from concept to completion and I was interested in it from the second I heard about it. This is a post Civil War-set fantasy where some Black people have magic they can perform based on constellations - this magic is brought over from Africa - and white people need wands to perform magic. The book deals with incredibly difficult topics - obviously with the post Civil War Continue Reading