First Comes Like by Alisha RaiContemporary RomanceFebruary 16, 2021, by Avon Review by Melinda I'm a big fan of Alisha Rai's Forbidden Hearts series but was so torn on First Comes Like. What I loved was having a Muslim hijabi protagonist who was not having sex for religious reasons. Jia Ahmed has a story I'd been waiting to hear as she was a beauty influencer, which isn't something I'm exactly interested in IRL, but I wanted to see how she dealt with her Muslim family's expectations. And Continue Reading
The Psy/Changeling Channel: Visions of Heat
Melinda: Phew, right out of the gate there is so much to talk about with this one and consent because touch and lack of consent is intrinsic to Faith's story. But I don't know that it could be told differently and still be the same story? Melanie: Wow, what a difference 2 years makes! I read this book for the first time almost exactly 2 years ago and while I didn’t love it as much as I loved the first book of the series even back then, I definitely think rereading it for a second time raised Continue Reading
Melinda’s Minis: Learned Behaviors by Jayce Ellis & We Could be Heroes by Mike Chen
Learned Behaviors by Jayce EllisHigher Education #1LBGT Contemporary RomanceNovember 9, 2020 by Carina Press I’m generally not a reader who gravitates to single father stories but this cover drew me in because it’s gorgeous. This story has so much going on, but all of it works together. Two single men, with families, both with heavy work loads, working together and fighting their growing attraction. I really enjoyed the subplot there is with their two daughters also being in love Continue Reading
Melinda’s Minis: This is Not the End by Sidney Bell & How to be Good by Chace Verity
Thi is Not the End by Sidney BellContemporary Romance/Menage/PolyamoryJanuary 11, 2021, by Carina Press I am always looking for more polyam books, especially ones with heat and emotion. This one delivers on both sides. Anya and Zac are married and have a son, and what works for them in their marriage is for them to have sex - together - with other men. Other people may not understand this but it works for them. Zac’s bandmate, Cal, definitely cannot understand this but both the emotion and Continue Reading
The Psy/Changeling Channel: Slave to Sensation
Before we delve right into Slave to Sensation, a bit of housekeeping. We just want to take a moment to clarify, these aren't traditional reviews. We've both read this series from beginning to end and this is our second reread. We doing a deep dive of the series which means, spoilers abound. If you've never read the series or a particular book in the series, just keep in mind that it's impossible for us to really get into the books and talk about what works and what maybe doesn't by being Continue Reading
Review: Cry Wolf by Charlie Adhara
Cry Wolf by Charlie AdharaBig Bad Wolf #5PNRJanuary 18, 2021 by Carina Press Review by Melinda This is probably one of the most underrated paranormal romances I can think of that I want more people to read. At first glance, it may be any wolf shifter paranormal, but there are so many Adhara layers in this world. I know not everyone loves following the same couple throughout a series and I'm not always a fan of it either. But I just love Cooper Dayton and Oliver Park so much. This Continue Reading
The Psy/Changeling Channel
Melinda: I discovered Nalini Singh's books back in 2012 but was overwhelmed at the idea of her long series. At that time I was reading more literary fiction and general fiction with romantic elements but have always loved paranormal stories, having grown up reading Christopher Pike's series. But my library had the entire Psy/Changeling series and once I read Slave to Sensation, I was so hooked! I tore through the first 5 books and then started buying the rest and binged Guild Hunter as well. 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
Melinda’s Minis: Starcrossed by Allie Therin and The Duke Effect by Sophie Jordan
Starcrossed by Allie TherinMagic in Manhattan Book 2Paranormal Historical RomanceMay 18, 2020 by Carina Press Starcrossed by Allie Therin is book 2 in a 1920s set PNR with a bunch of different magical abilities. I absolutely love PNR set in different time periods so this completely worked for me. I only with there was a bit more explanation in this one to tie it to book one as there were parts where I was confused as to what was going on. I definitely did not feel that it stood on its Continue Reading