My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna LevineContemporary Paranormal RomancePublished on August 29, 2023 by Berkley Reviewed by Kate I was so excited to read My Roommate is a Vampire. The premise, the Chicago location, the comp to Flatshare?? I was ON BOARD. Unfortunately, the execution left something to be desired, and I was seriously disappointed with the book. I will be honest - if I had not been reading this for a review, I would likely not have finished it. My biggest problem with Continue Reading
Review: Codename Charming by Lucy Parker
Codename Charming by Lucy ParkerPalace Insiders #2Contemporary RomancePublished on August 15, 2023 by Avon Reviewed by Kate Codename Charming is the second in Lucy Parker’s Palace Insiders. I was intrigued by the royal-adjacent romance that didn’t star any royals, even though I skipped the first in the series, Battle Royal. I was excited by the grumpy/sunshine premise and the fake dating and this book did not disappoint. I am going to mention first off, however, that while Continue Reading
Review: To Have and to Heist by Sara Desai
To Have and to Heist by Sara DesaiContemporary RomancePublished on July 18, 2023- Berkley Reviewed by Kate I think there are very valid reasons to be wary of a certain type of book, with a certain type of cover, at this point, but I have enjoyed Sara Desai’s romances before, so I was willing to give To Have and to Heist a chance. And I was so happy I did! To Have and to Heist was the kind of book that I didn’t read straight through because I wanted it to last longer. It was Continue Reading
Review: Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman
Scarlet by Genevieve CogmanScarlet #1Historical FantasyPublished by Ace on May 9, 2023Reviewed by: Kate I picked up Scarlet on the strength of the pitch alone - a Scarlet Pimpernel retelling with vampires? Color me intrigued. Additionally, I do love Genevieve Cogman’s first series, The Invisible Library, and was interested to see her take on something more historically based than that one. I enjoyed Scarlet. I will admit - and maybe it was my mental state - but it was hard to get Continue Reading
Review: The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead
The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley WinsteadPublished May 9, 2023 by Graydon HouseContemporary RomanceReviewed by Kate The Boyfriend Candidate is a very cute, enjoyable contemporary romance. I feel like it hits many of the right notes - a fun meet cute, a ridiculous reason to get the characters together again, and a really lovely and fun dating/courtship, with a little more than a sprinkle of drama. While I was reading The Boyfriend Candidate, I was having a great time. It’s fun, and Continue Reading
Review: The Gorgon Agenda by Lisa Shearin
The Gorgon Agenda (SPI Files #8) by Lisa ShearinUrban FantasyReleased January 24, 2023 Reviewed by Kate The Gorgon Agenda is the eighth installment in Lisa Shearin’s SPI Files. There are very few urban fantasy series that I have stuck with as long as this one, and it continues to deliver an enjoyable read each time I pick up the latest installment, including this one. It is hard in a longer running series to keep things fresh, but The Gorgon Agenda expands on the mythology of Continue Reading
Review: Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni
Sorry, Bro by Taleen VoskuniLGBTQ Contemporary RomancePublished by Berkley on January 31, 2023Reviewed by Kate As an Armenian-American (and a bisexual one, at that), I both feel super qualified and yet totally unprepared to review Taleen Voskuni’s debut novel Sorry, Bro. I’m coming from a place where I unabashedly loved this book before I even read it, and I don’t know that I am the most fair and unbiased reader. Armenian-Americans have very little representation in the general media, Continue Reading
Review: Once Upon a December by Amy Reichert
Once Upon a December by Amy ReichertContemporary Romance/Magical RealismPublished on October 4, 2022 by Berkley Reviewed by Kate Once Upon a December is a Christmas-themed romance novel with a magical twist. Astra and Jack met years ago at the Julemarked, a magical Christmas market Jack lives in, but Astra doesn’t remember. Over the years, she continues to run into Jack, but she’s married. As the book opens, she’s divorced, she meets Jack again, he tells her about the Julemarked, and they Continue Reading
Review: You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky
You're a Mean One, Matthew PrinceTimothy JanovskyLGBT Contemporary RomancePublished October 4, 2022, by Sourcebooks Casablanca Reviewed by Kate You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince is a perfectly acceptable Christmas romance novel. It’s a combo of It Happened One Summer and Boyfriend Material, with a splash of Hallmark movie. Luckily, unlike Hallmark Christmas movies, Matthew and his love interest, Hector, do kiss earlier than the last page, for those of you who care about that kind of Continue Reading
Review: Husband Material by Alexis Hall
Husband Material by Alexis HallLondon Calling #2LGBT Contemporary RomancePublished August 2, 2022, by Sourcebooks CasablancaReviewed by Kate I’ll admit to being a little wary about Husband Material, being that it is the sequel to Boyfriend Material, which in my opinion is a self-contained romance novel. Husband Material doesn’t feel like what one might expect from a romance novel, but it is still strongly focused on the relationship arc of the characters and ends with a happily ever Continue Reading