Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen CallendarLGBTQ+, Contemporary RomanceOct 10, 2023Forever Books Review by Kate H. The contours of Stars in Your Eyes will be a bit familiar if you read a lot of Hollywood (or rock star or celebrity) romances. Fake dating goes with this territory like butter on bread. And recently, several romances have spilled ink on the darker side of being a celebrity: the exploitation of minors by their parents or predatory directors/producers/agents; blackmail, rape, Continue Reading
Review: Her Claim by Rebecca Grace Allen
Her Claim by Rebecca Grace Allen (Legally Bound #2) Released: April 23, 2018 Erotic BDSM Self Published Reviewed by Mandi Favorite Quote: "What a thing it must be," he'd murmured. "To be under your fierce protection." "I look after the people I care about." "I know. It's one of the things I admire most about you." Favorite Quote #2: "I really don't like you." "Same here." Cassie grabbed him by the collar and closed her fist around his shirt. "Good," she said, and Continue Reading
Review: Tempted by the Billionaire Next Door by Therese Beharrie
Tempted by the Billionaire Next Door by Therese Beharrie Released: May 1, 2018 Contemporary Romance Harlequin Reviewed by Mandi I've read two of Therese Beharrie's books recently United by Their Royal Baby and Falling for his Convenient Queen, and I really enjoyed them. This one didn't quite live up to the others I've read, but I found the premise interesting. Set in Cape Town, South Africa, Jess is having a good time while staying at Anja's house - her best friend, and boss. Her Continue Reading
Review: Falling for His Convenient Queen by Therese Beharrie
Falling for His Convenient Queen (Royally Bound #2) Released: February 1, 2018 Contemporary Romance Harlequin Reviewed by Mandi This is the second book set in same world of three kingdoms trying to keep an alliance so their people stay safe and feel secure, but the politics of marriage and power create some chaos. I enjoyed United by Their Royal Baby - both marriage of convenience tropes - but I think I liked this one even more. It has such a sweet romance. Zacchaeus has become the Continue Reading
Review: A Distant Heart by Sonali Dev
A Distant Heart by Sonali Dev Released: December 26, 2017 Contemporary Romance Kensington Reviewed by Mandi I have a love affair with Sonali Dev's books. She writes such good words. Words that usually completely break my heart (it's still broken after reading A Change of Heart) but she repairs it and gives us a shiny HEA at the end with all the smiles. The heroine in this book, Kimi, literally has a broken heart. A lifelong heart condition that keeps her sick most of her youth in Continue Reading
Review: United by Their Royal Baby by Therese Beharrie
United by Their Royal Baby by Therese Beharrie Contemporary Romance Released: December 18, 2017 Bills Moon Forever Romance Reviewed by Mandi Yes, the title wooed me. I love a marriage of convenience book and I liked the blurb: When Queen Leyna of Aidara took the throne, she walked away from her first love, King Xavier of Mattan, putting duty first. Now their kingdoms are under threat, and the only way to bring stability is with a royal union. Leyna knows the man she loved has Continue Reading
Review: West Coast Love by Tif Marcelo
West Coast Love by Tif Marcelo (Journey to the Heart #3) Released: December 11, 2017 Contemporary Romance Pocket Star Reviewed by Mandi This series has been fun because it usually centers around food. I like food. I tend to start craving whatever food the protagonists are eating. I've been known to rush to the kitchen to make biscuits and tea. In this book, it's all about BBQ. And all I wanted to do was eat meat! Damn it. Victoria, or Vic, (the sister of the heroine in book two), Continue Reading
Review: Wrong to Need You by Alisha Rai
Wrong to Need You by Alisha Rai (Forbidden Hearts #2) Released: November 28, 2017 Contemporary Romance Avon Reviewed by Mandi Sadia pressed her hand over her heart, hating the swirl of emotion in there. I think I did the same thing, while reading this book, Sadia. Alisa Rai has definitely tuned into the angsty market. If you like forbidden love, some guilt thrown in and overall fretting about choices you have made in your life, this is the book for you. Blurb: He wasn’t supposed to Continue Reading
Review: His Convenient Husband by Robin Covington
His Convenient Husband by Robin Covington (Love and Sports #1) Released: October 9, 2017 M/M Contemporary Romance Entangled Reviewed by Mandi A contemporary, male/male, marriage of convenience book?? It's my candy! Isaiah is a NFL football player, who lost his husband three years prior to the book starting. His late husband was quiet, and serious and together they never made any drama - which is how the big guns at the top of the NFL chain like to keep it when it comes to handling gay Continue Reading
Review: Ride It Out by Cara McKenna
Ride it Out by Cara McKeena (Desert Dogs #4) Romantic Suspense Released: September 19, 2017 Intermix Reviewed by Mandi This has been an up and down series for me. I liked book one and two quite a bit, I didn't care for book three and this one ended up being just okay. It starts strong. Jeremiah Church, who goes by Miah is still reeling from his father's murder. His father was killed, and then the barn he was in was set on fire, to make it look like an arson. The druggie hired to kill Continue Reading