The Make-Up Test by Jenny L. HoweContemporary RomanceSeptember 13, 2022 by St. Martin's Griffin Review by Melanie Let me just state for the record, that I will die on the hill that romance novels need to end with a HEA (or a HFN, at the very least). I will also state that I love a second chance romance, especially when it comes with a side of grovel novel. This is why it pains me to say I really did not like this book, despite it being second chance romance, and when the end of the book Continue Reading
Review: Partner Track by Cat Wynn
Partner Track by Cat WynnContemporary Romance April 26, 2022, by Carina Press Review by Melanie I’m going to be perfectly honest here, when I finished this book, I was really torn as to how I felt about it and wasn’t sure I could actually write a proper review about it. After spending some time thinking about it, I’ve come to some conclusions regarding my feelings toward this book. The reason I was initially so torn about this book is that for the first 88% of the book, I really Continue Reading
Review: Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare
Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare Contemporary Paranormal Romance Published April 19, 2022 by Berkley Reviewed by Kate I have been enjoying the influx of witchy romances onto the romance market right now, but Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare fell short for me. To illustrate just how much, I will share that when it came down to finishing my taxes, or finishing this book, my taxes were done first. The main issue that I had with Go Hex Yourself is the inconsistent pacing. The first Continue Reading
Review: The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary Contemporary Romance June 1, 2021 by Berkley Reviewed by Kate Having read The Flatshare and The Switch by Beth O’Leary, I had an expectation going into The Road Trip. The expectation was that The Road Trip would be lighter on the romance arc, but funny and heartwarming and sweet regardless. However, The Road Trip didn’t really fit those expectations. The Road Trip is a book with a reader’s guide at the back, and a content warning list that feels like it could Continue Reading
Review: Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall
Rosaline Palmer Takes the CakeContemporary RomanceMay 18, 2021, by Forever Review by Melinda Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake is the start of a new series for Alexis Hall with Forever. The setup is one pretty much designed with me in mind because I love reality television and don’t mind saying it out loud. And my favorite category is competition reality shows, and even better are the soft ones. Give me GBBO, Pottery showdown, the Great Sewing Bee, Project Runway...you name it, I’m watching Continue Reading
Angela’s Minis- The Duke Heist by Erica Ridley and Hit Me With Your Best Scot by Suzanne Enoch
Hit Me With Your Best Scot by Suzanne EnochWild Wicked Highlanders #3Historical RomanceFebruary 9, 2021, by St. Martin's Press This is the third book in the Wild Wicked Highlanders series and I'm sure readers will be happy to FINALLY get Coll's book. Coll is the wildest of the three MacTaggert brothers and the least enthused about taking an English bride in order to preserve his mother's financing of their family estate in Scotland. But both of his brothers have already wed and he only Continue Reading
Review: Well Played by Jen DeLuca
I read Well Met when it was released and I liked it but didn’t love it. I do LOVE the Ren Faire setting in this series. Plus they take place in Maryland, where I live and I love to see how it is depicted. I was intrigued by the secondary characters from Well Met so I was excited to see that Stacey was getting her story told in Well Played (out 9/22). I mistakenly thought Stacey was going to be paired with Mitch, so shame on me for jumping to conclusions. Once I refreshed myself on the Continue Reading
Angela’s Minis- The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson and Mr. Malcolm’s List by Suzanne Allain
The Year of the Witching by Alexis HendersonFantasy/HorrorJuly 21, 2020 by AceARC I've never hidden the fact that I make a lot of my book buying decisions based first off the cover and then by reading the blurb. The Year of the Witching caught my eye in a Twitter thread about up and coming, new authors of color and as soon as I clicked on the link I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. This is kind of a mash up of all the dystopian, religious cult like horror stories you've read... yet Continue Reading
Review: The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel
Before I even talk about the story, I want to talk about the content warnings. The author’s note at the beginning of the book mentions “non-graphic references to sexual assault, death, and trauma.” And while I applaud the author and publisher for putting that in there, I don’t think it is enough. There is also emotional abuse and extreme slut shaming. There are at least two scenes that were incredibly upsetting and I think that other readers may have a hard time as well. In my opinion the scenes Continue Reading
Kini’s Friday Kisses- Mini reviews for books by Corinne Michaels and Allison Ashley
All I Ask by Corinne Michaels- I picked this up at the recommendation of my good friend Estelle, publicist at Forever Romance. She told me it was a second chance romance between single parents who are 35 ish. I felt like I needed to read this and then had really high expectations. (CW: widower hero, grief, ailing parent) The heroine, Teagan, is struggling to get by. She runs her parents antique store. She is raising her teenage daughter alone. One day the school calls and Teagan’s Continue Reading