Contemporary: Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron - out 3/2/2021; the cover is gorgeous, the heroine was introduced in Farah's debut novel, The Chai Factor and I'm excited for her story. Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert - out 3/9/2021; I adored the first two books in this series and am eager to delve into the final book. How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole - out 5/25/2021; I mean, just look at that gorgeous cover. I'll pretty much read anything Alyssa writes and this one is Continue Reading
Melinda’s Most Anticipated of 2021
PNR/Fantasy: The Devil You Know by Kit Rocha. Release Date: 8/31/21 Big Bad Wolf by Suleikha Snyder. Release Date: 1/26/21 Wonderstruck by Allie Therin. Release Date: 2/9/21 Last Guard by Nalini Singh. Release Date: 7/20/21 Historical: The Devil Comes Courting (The Worth Saga) by Courtney Milan. Release Date: 2/9/21 Contemporary: How to be Good by Chace Verity. Release Date: 2/02/21 The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod. Release Date: 4/6/21 Twice Shy Continue Reading
Melinda’s Favorites of 2020
YA: A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow blew me away when I listened to it this summer. The worldbuilding she managed to do is astonishing considering it's about Black sirens but set in modern times. Combine that with a discussion of respectability politics and misogynoir as well as sisterly love. It's a book I wish I could re-read for the first time again, it's that good. You Should See Me In a Crown by Leah Johnson is delightful and made me so happy. The cover is just beautiful to look Continue Reading
Kate’s Favorites of 2020
Historical Romance The Duke Who Didn't by Courtney Milan: I'm not entirely sure what I can say since I feel like everybody has already read and loved this book. The Duke Who Didn't is a fluffy romance with a side of food porn. I fell in love with Chloe and her lists and board clip, her dad and his spicy food for Jeremy, and Jeremy and his endearing goofiness. I can't wait to visit Wedgeford again. The Beast of Beswick by Amalie Howard: I read The Beast of Beswick near the beginning of Continue Reading
Melanie’s Favorites of 2020
Contemporary: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert - cinnamon roll heroes were what got me through 2020 and very few authors do it as well as Talia Hibbert. When security guard Zafir Ansari's rescue of PhD candidate Dani Brown during a fire drill gone wrong goes viral (#DrRugbae 4ever), the two decide to fake a public relationship for the sake of Zaf's kids' charity with a side order of sexy times in private. I love the “lets bang to get her out of my system and surely I will not Continue Reading
Books with Ted Lasso Vibes
If you're one of the many people on my Twitter timeline who have discovered Ted Lasso over the past few months, you know that it is the perfect pandemic TV. It's an excellent combo of positivity, humor, and wholesomeness and the minute I finished watching the season, I started it at the beginning again. All of that is to say, I started to wonder where I could get similar feelings elsewhere, and of course where did I turn but romance novels? Below is a collection of romance novels (plus a Continue Reading
Review: The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan
The Duke Who Didn't by Courtney MilanWedgeford Files #1Historical RomanceSeptember 22. 2020, Self Published Review by Melinda I was destined to love this book - it has a protagonist who loves lists! How could I not love her!? Chloe lives her life by those lists...but also gets really behind on those lists. I felt like I was extremely her in basically every chapter. She’s also anxious and complex, did I mention I felt such an affinity for her?! And every time the other protagonist gives Continue Reading
Smexy Deals!
The Brothers Sinister boxed set by Courtney Milan This is the complete boxed set of Courtney Milan’s acclaimed Brothers Sinister Series – four full length books, three novellas – together, almost half a million words. The Governess Affair Miss Serena Barton intends to hold the petty, selfish duke who had her sacked responsible for his crimes. But the man who handles all the duke's dirty business has been ordered to get rid of her by fair means or foul. She’ll have to prove more than Continue Reading
Seasoned Romance #rombklove
I was in my early 30’s when my love for romance novels really developed. I spent my 20’s reading fiction with romantic elements but once I discovered romance there was so going back for me. I love the love stories. But as I’ve aged, I become more interested in reading love stories that are centered around main characters that are closer to my own age (early 40’s). I find myself having a hard time constantly connecting with main characters in their 20’s. I want to read about main Continue Reading
Review: Hamilton’s Battalion by Rose Lerner, Courtney Milan and Alyssa Cole
Hamilton’s Battalion: A Trio of Romances Released: October 17, 2017 Historical Romance Self Published Reviewed by May Hamilton’s Battalion: A trio of romances is an interesting collection of very different minorities and walks of life. From two African American woman finding a sizzling attraction to a married Jewish couple reunited – I can tell you I’ve never quite read any stories like any of these. The whole “Hamilton’s Battalion” theme that the wife of the now deceased Hamilton is Continue Reading