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
Review: It Takes a Thief by Sloane Steele
It Takes a Thief (Counterfeit Capers #1) By Sloan Steele Contemporary Romance April 27, 2021 by Carina Press Reviewed by Kate It Takes a Thief is a fun, sexy, enjoyable read. I do have a few quibbles with it, but overall, it was exactly what I wanted - a heist book with romance! Overall, the book feels very light. There is a subplot with Audrey's grandmother being in a nursing home and having dementia, but otherwise it never dwells on anything too difficult. There's a lot of quippy back Continue Reading
Review: The Road to Rose Bend by Naima Simone
The Road to Rose Bend by Naima SimoneContemporary RomanceApril 27, 2021, by HQN Books Review by Melanie You might suspect, upon glancing at this rather bucolic cover, that this is a quiet, peaceful, drama-free romance...and you’d be wrong. This series starter introduces us to the town of Rose Bend, a charming little town nestled in the Berkshires that has all of the small-town coziness of a Hallmark Channel movie. But that’s really where the similarities end. Unlike the aforementioned Continue Reading
Audio Review: Sweet Talk by Cara Bastone
Sweet Talk by Cara BastoneApril 22, 2021 by Audible OriginalsContemporary Reviewed by Melinda Sweet Talk is the follow up to Call Me Maybe, which was also an Audible Original by Cara Bastone. I’m not sure if there are other series that have been originals like this in the romance area because I haven’t followed many beyond Alyssa Cole and now Bastone. I know Alyssa has mentioned The A.I Who Love Me will be a series as well but I can’t think of any others. As an audible Continue Reading
Series Review: Irons and Works by EM Lindsey
Irons & Works series by EM Lindsey Contemporary Romance Self Published Reviewed by Melinda There is almost nothing better than finding a new author to you and then loving their writing. The only thing better is when there is a whole series to binge! One of my favorite tropes in romance is found family, I gravitate to books and series that have even a hint in them, and The Irons and Works series is just teeming with found family. This series starts with Free Hand, where we're introduced Continue Reading
Melinda’s Minis: Sun of a Beach by Mia Sosa and Abel by Katee Robert
Sun of a Beach by Mia SosaContemporaryApril 8, 2021, by AudibleARC This is another audible original, which seems to be more and more of a trend with romance authors. Donovan and Naomi are given an assignment for the swimsuit edition of the magazine they work on and things are interesting since they dislike each other. Naomi began the novella in an ‘I would never date a co-worker’ frame of mind and changed to ‘I am in love’ mindset in the length of 24 hours basically. Donovan changes from Continue Reading
Review: Hot Copy by Ruby Barrett
Hot Copy by Ruby BarrettContemporary RomanceApril 13, 2021, by Carina Press Review by Melanie I genuinely did not know how to start this review, to be honest. I’d heard so many things going into it, I was fully expecting to absolutely love this book and much to my dismay...I did not. First of all, the blurb and the cover do this book no favors. Both give off a lighthearted rom-com vibe but there is a whole heck of a lot of issues addressed in this book that could trigger a lot of Continue Reading