Review: Free Falling by Jill Shalvis

Free Falling by Jill Shalvis
Series: Colburn Brothers, Book 2
E-Book Publisher: That’s What She Said Publishing, Inc.
Print Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9781464243929
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Source: Author
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Audible
Jill Shalvis Reading Order

These rivals are stuck with each other…

Retired hockey player Caleb Colburn needs this new construction project to go smoothly to prove he’s earned his place in the family business. There’s only one problem. The architect liaison assigned to the project is Emma Sumner. As in, the woman who made his life a living hell in college. Now, she’s back in town and already breathing down his neck on the job. Worse? She’s only gotten more beautiful.

Emma’s in love with the beautiful historic building they’re renovating. But her feelings toward project manager Caleb definitely lean more toward hate. Not only is the man making her job harder than it needs to be, he’s the one who took everything from her when she was at her most desperate. Not that she’d ever admit it out loud, but she’s never recovered.

Neither is willing to forgive and forget. But forced proximity and surprising common ground have these enemies starting to wonder just how fine the line between love and hate is. A burning mutual attraction adds complications for them both. Will anything be left standing when their secrets are finally revealed?

It’s middle brother Caleb Colburn’s turn to fall in love in Free Falling. And who better for him to fall for than his prickly college rival, Emma Sumner? Both have something to prove but neither can look away from the sparks flying left and right whenever they’re in the same room.

Caleb and Emma have an easy chemistry that is fun to read about. Their rivalry is more one-sided on Emma’s part due, but given her situation it’s easy to understand why she feels the way she does at first. Emma has had it hard. Her talent is there, but one bad thing after another has happened to her. Caleb hasn’t led quite the charmed life Emma thinks, but he’s got his family at his back at least. Caleb is a wonderful hero; sensitive, caring, handsome, and kind. The two of them fit each other well with shared interests and a growing bond that feels organic. That being said, I sat with Free Falling for quite some time, as I had some lingering misgivings that kept me from fully enjoying Emma and Caleb’s romance. While the story is overall light in tone, it touches on heavier subject matter, and for me the balance between the two didn’t always quite come together. Emma is living out of her car, and as someone who works in a location with a high population of people experiencing homelessness, aspects of how her situation was portrayed felt slightly off to me. I appreciated Jill Shalvis’s clear kindness toward Emma as a character, and I recognize that every experience is different (and that this is ultimately a work of fiction). Still, there was something about the portrayal that pulled me out of the story at times. Even after mulling it over for a few weeks, I can’t quite put my finger on it so your mileage may vary.

As with almost every Shalvis novel, there are big personalities outside the main characters to fill in the story. Caleb and Emma’s family and friends are supportive, nosey, and interfering as one might expect. They add fun and chaos to the story and, of course, make me look forward to the next book in the series. Even though I had some misgivings about the story, I still liked Free Falling overall and very much enjoyed Caleb and Emma as a couple.



Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: He Falls First by Jill Shalvis

He Falls First by Jill Shalvis
Series: Colburn Brothers, Book 1
E-Book Publisher: That’s What She Said Publishing, Inc.
Print Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9781464243899
Release Date: August 5, 2025
Source: Author
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Audible
Jill Shalvis Reading Order

No one is going to convince her to fall in love again…

Ryder Colburn has his hands full running the family business and caring for the ailing father who’s a virtual stranger from the cold, heavy-handed man he used to be. He’s got zero free time for hobbies or women. Or so he thinks until one walks into his life… and the path of an oncoming car.

Ryder doesn’t mind playing the hero for the skittish, scarred chef Penny. Maybe it’s the secrets in her eyes or the scar on her chin. Whatever the reason, he’s compelled to get closer.

Penny’s learned her lesson and now she’s paying the price. That’s why she’s sharing a dilapidated house in a tiny California town with her feisty grandmother and tween brother living off the leftovers from her catering job. It’s a far cry from her dream life. But who needs dreams… or love… or sex when there’s amateur plumbing projects to tackle and breakfast casseroles to bake?

One thing’s for sure, she’s never falling in love again. Not even with the sexy, snarky contractor who keeps testing the walls she’s built.

A caring hero who’s good with his hands, a sassy heroine who has been burned in the past, a cast of quirky characters, and a bird with tons of personality make He Falls First a sweet and charming story. Jill Shalvis kicks off her Colburn Brothers series with Ryder Colburn, the eldest of said brothers, and Penny Rose, a talented chef who is determined not to fall for his charm.

Both Ryder and Penny know what it means to be responsible for their family. Ryder grew up in an abusive household and now cares for his ailing father. He’s also running a business, keeping an eye on his siblings, and mourning the death of his best friend. Ryder has a lot of weight to carry but he’s got strong shoulders and an even bigger heart. Penny is working herself to the bone to keep her family afloat and she has scars of her own that are still fresh. She can be sassy and sweet, but don’t let that fool you – she’s got a strong spine underneath it. She and Ryder fit like lock and key and their romance was easy to fall into. I liked that Ryder was patient and understanding, seeing not just Penny’s skittishness but her strength. They learn to lean on each other, which I really loved.

It wouldn’t be a Jill Shalvis novel if there weren’t a significant cast of big personalities and He Falls First is no exception. Penny and Ryder’s family and friends are there to support, interfere, and generally stick their noses into our protagonists’ story. It’s fun without being overbearing, the bounciness balancing with the seriousness. Familial love is just as important as romantic love in this story which was sweet. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed He Falls First and I’m very much looking forward to Caleb and Tucker Colburn’s books.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles

A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles
Series: The Doomsday Books, Book 2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Male/Male Historical Romance 

ISBN: 9781728255880
Release Date: September 19, 2023
Source: Publisher
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Major Rufus d’Aumesty has unexpectedly become the Earl of Oxney, master of a remote Norman manor on the edge of the infamous Romney Marsh. There he's beset on all sides, his position contested both by his greedy uncle and by Luke Doomsday, son of a notorious smuggling clan.

The earl and the smuggler should be natural enemies, but cocksure, enragingly competent Luke is a trained secretary and expert schemer—exactly the sort of man Rufus needs by his side. Before long, Luke becomes an unexpected ally...and the lover Rufus had never hoped to find.

But Luke came to Stone Manor with an ulterior motive, one he's desperate to keep hidden even from the lord he can't resist. As the lies accumulate and family secrets threaten to destroy everything they hold dear, master and man find themselves forced to decide whose side they're really on…and what they're willing to do for love.

Major Rufus d’Aumesty knows battle but he is wholly unprepared for the war within his own family when he unexpectedly inherits an earldom. The d’Aumestys are disasters, to put it kindly, and his uncle is constantly challenging his right to the title. His uncle’s latest scheme involves Luke Doomsday, a member of the famous Romney Marsh Doomsday clan. Except Luke becomes the ally Rufus didn’t know he needed. His secretarial skills are top-notch and Rufus begins to believe that with Luke’s help, Stone Manor may just become what it needs to be. That would be enough, but then there’s also the mutual attraction that drives both men wild. The one fly in the ointment? Luke came to Stone Manor for reasons of his own, and when the truth is revealed it could destroy everything…

Return to the gothic moors of KJ Charles’s Doomsday books, where danger lurks around every corner and love can be found if you’re willing to risk opening your heart. A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel is an entertaining adventure with secrets, danger, love, and hope.

Rufus is unprepared to become the Earl of Oxney but he steps up to do his duty nonetheless. Rufus is easy to adore; for all that he’s brash and has a temper he is genuinely caring and kind. He’s got a big heart and a heavy sense of responsibility which makes it hard for him to not give multiple chances to people who don’t deserve it. I loved Rufus and wanted him to be able to claim his place and take care of those around him. Luke is key to that, but he’s also potentially the key to destroying everything. Luke was a bit harder for me to warm up to. He comes to Stone Manor for reasons of his own (though if you’ve read the first Doomsday book you can likely guess) and he has a lot of built up anxiety, resentment, and pain to work through. He frustrates himself at times, which I thought was relatable and interesting.

Luke and Rufus are instantly attracted to one another and it’s easy to see why. They have great chemistry and complement one another perfectly, in bed and out. But Luke’s secrets are of course going to come out. I won’t spoil what happens but I did like how Charles handled it, making her characters confront what Luke did and the cost of it. The happily ever after felt more earned with this obstacle rather than it being there for false drama.

A host of secondary characters fill out the pages of A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel. Some of said characters are dastardly to the extreme and some had the chance to learn and grow. I liked watching some of the relationships develop between characters over the course of the story. If you enjoyed The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen then you’ll like the glimpse into the lives of Joss and Giles thirteen years later. You don’t have to have read that book to enjoy this one, so long as you don’t mind spoilers. But to skip it would be a shame because it is so good.

I really enjoyed A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel and hated to put it down. Charles’s writing drew me in, the characters were compelling, and the plot fast-paced. I waffled a bit on how to rate this for a few reasons (and forgive the vagueness as I avoid spoiling the story). There were some twists this story took near the end that felt unwarranted and took away slightly from the ending (for me). All in all, I didn’t love Rufus and Luke’s story like I did Giles and Joss’s, but I was still highly entertained from beginning to end.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper

Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper
Series: Starfall Point, Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Paranormal Romance 

ISBN: 9781728276793
Release Date: September 5, 2023
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Juggling newfound witchy powers, a house full of ghosts, and verbal battles with the handsome local librarian is almost too much for a new witch to manage. But falling in love with said librarian wasn't on her to-do list…

From the moment Riley Everett set foot in Starfall Point, magic bubbled inside of her. But with only her late aunt's journals and a cantankerous live-in ghost butler to instruct her on all things witchy—including her newly inherited Victorian haunted house—Riley seeks out a coven for sisterhood and support. The last person she expects to be drawn to is the town's frustrating, yet ridiculously attractive head librarian.

Edison Held knows almost everything there is to know about Starfall Point, but Shaddow House was always off-limits, thanks to its elusive owner. If he can convince the new owner, Riley, to let him take a peek inside, there's so much he could learn. But as he gets closer to Riley, he's fascinated by her dazzling wit and fiery spirit. Edison will do whatever he can to help Riley keep her family legacy alive, especially if it means spending more time with the captivating new witch in town.

Welcome to Starfall Point, where the houses are picturesque, the smell of fudge is piped out into the streets, and the house on the hill is very, very haunted. Riley Everett knows nothing about this when she travels to Starfall to meet the aunt she never knew existed. Then – BAM! – on the ferry ride over the magic hits and Riley learns she’s got an inheritance like nothing she could ever have imagined: Riley is now the caretaker of Shaddow House and its ghostly residents.

Witches Get Stuff Done is a cozy paranormal rom com with magic, mayhem, friendship, and found families. Molly Harper’s first Starfall Point is entertaining, fast-paced, and good fun.

Riley’s inheritance is a lot for one person to take, so what’s a witch to do? Form a coven, of course. The two women Riley is drawn to, Alice and Caroline, are delightful. I liked how the three of them clicked immediately and slid into the business of helping ghosts with ease. But her new friends aren’t the only ones Riley is drawn to. After a slightly gross non-meet cute, Riley can’t help but be captivated by Edison Held, town librarian. The two of them don’t get off to the best start, but it’s not long before they’re irresistibly drawn to one another. Like the friendships Riley makes, her romance with Edison is sweet and charming.

I struggled with rating Witches Get Stuff Done because on the one hand, I really enjoyed it. The story entertained me, I loved learning about the ghosts and the lore of Shaddow House, and I’m eager to read the next Starfell Point book. That being said, I cannot deny that the book and its characters are shallow. If you want depth of character, this isn’t the story for you. But if you want light and cozy entertainment with witchy vibes? Then you’re in for a treat.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: Curves for Days by Laura Moher

Curves for Days by Laura Moher
Series: Big Love from Galway, Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9781728278056
Release Date: August 22, 2023
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

How is Rose Barnes supposed to build the home (and life) of her dreams when her big, burly contractor keeps scowling at her?

Rose Barnes has got curves for days—and to Angus Drummond, the big, bearded contractor working on her new house, she's the perfect thorn in his side. Little does she know Angus is perturbed on a daily basis by his attraction to this cheery, smart-ass woman with her sunshiny enthusiasm, her kindness, and her beautiful body.

Angus feels he has a debt to pay to the world and doesn't deserve love until he pays it. Best to keep his mind on his work and his hands to himself. But the more Rose sees of Angus's gruff, honorable thoughtfulness, and the more rusty laughter she surprises from him, the more she wants him too.

As their unlikely friendship becomes love, antagonism turns to partnership, and Rose's house becomes a home. But Rose is keeping a secret that could blow up everything with Angus, and sure enough, it comes to light at the worst possible time…

After winning the lottery, Rose Barnes has set out to finally live her life. Through a twist of fate (or rather, a twist of bad weather) she ends up in Galway, North Carolina. The welcoming town feels like the home she’s always wanted and the cute little Victorian fixer-upper is the house of her dreams. Or at least, it can be with the help of a good contractor.

Angus Drummond is a veteran who is always looking to give back. When he’s not helping vets, he’s a contractor. He’s big, bearded, and grumpy, and has no chance against the sunshiny Rose. Her curves make his mouth water and she constantly surprises him. But for a man who always feels like has to give more than he takes, what will happen when he learns her secret?

Curves for Days is sweet, fun, and tugs on the heartstrings at unexpected moments. Laura Moher’s debut romance packs a lot of heart and has me hoping she’s got plenty of stories planned in her Big Love from Galway series.

It was easy for me to love Rose. She absolutely broke my heart at the beginning with how lonely she was. She was hurt badly in the past and has struggled for so long that I wanted to see nothing but good things in her life. Winning the lottery gives her a shot to live a life and give back to others, which she grabs with both hands. I loved watching her try and find ways to do good wherever she could. I also loved watching her become confident in her body. She’s sweet, kind, and never stops learning. She’s easy to root for because she’s the kind of person you’d want in your life if she were real. Angus, in turn, is a veteran who carries scars both internal and external. He can be set in his ways and Rose shakes things up. I loved that he couldn’t stop himself from falling for her and the two of them just slide into love so sweetly.

Curves for Days is fast-paced for the most part and I liked watching Angus and Rose build a life together, sometimes without them realizing it. The story did feel like it was spinning its wheels a bit in the middle, but everything came together in the end. I loved the town of Galway and the friends Rose makes along the way. Almost everyone is warm and welcoming and those who are not have a story of their own to tell. It’s a lovely story with good people and a kind heart. I finished it looking forward to more Big Love from Galway books.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles
Series: The Doomsday Books, Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Male/Male Historical Romance 

ISBN: 9781728255859
Release Date: March 7, 2023
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Abandoned by his father, Gareth Inglis grew up lonely, prickly, and well-used to disappointment. Still, he longs for a connection. When he meets a charming stranger, he falls head over heels—until everything goes wrong and he's left alone again. Then Gareth's father dies, turning the shabby London clerk into Sir Gareth, with a grand house on the remote Romney Marsh and a family he doesn't know.

The Marsh is another world, a strange, empty place notorious for its ruthless gangs of smugglers. And one of them is dangerously familiar…

Joss Doomsday has run the Doomsday smuggling clan since he was a boy. When the new baronet—his old lover—agrees to testify against Joss's sister, Joss acts fast to stop him. Their reunion is anything but happy, yet after the dust settles, neither can stay away. Soon, all Joss and Gareth want is the chance to be together. But the bleak, bare Marsh holds deadly secrets. And when Gareth finds himself threatened from every side, the gentleman and the smuggler must trust one another not just with their hearts, but with their lives.

After an affair with an anonymous lover ends poorly, a heartbroken Giles Inglis learns of the death of his father. With nothing for him in London, the lonely Giles travels to his new home in Romney Marsh to take up the baronetcy. His new home comes with family members he’s never met and digging through his father’s papers piques his interest in the local habitat. But his new life isn’t all family bonding and beetles for Giles. Romney Marsh’s chief industry is smuggling and the Doomsday family rules. When Giles agrees to give testimony against a captured smuggler, he’s thrown for a loop when he’s thwarted by Joss Doomsday…the lover he can’t get over. The sparks between them are still there, but there’s more at stake now. For Romney Marsh is full of secrets that can get the two men killed.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is a truly wonderful romance. I adored Giles and Joss from the start and I loved watching the two, one unsure, the other charming, fall in love.

Joss is the head of the Doomsday clan and though he loves his family, the infighting is tearing at him. He’s got pressure on all sides, so many people relying on him, and nothing is left for himself. Nothing except Giles, that is. Giles is lonely and awkward, feeling unwanted and just trying to find his place in the world when he comes across smugglers. Giles broke my heart but I loved seeing him grow, to find joy and a life that made him happy. On the outside, Joss and Giles couldn’t be more different. Joss is the head of a smuggling clan surrounded by family and Giles is a budding naturalist whose been so lonely for most of his life. The two fit like lock and key and I loved watching them lean on each other, be there for one another. It isn’t always easy for them and there are a lot of bumps in the road, but KJ Charles made every up and down worth it for a supremely satisfying happily ever after.

Danger lurks in the background of The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, threatening our heroes. Charles twines mystery, threats, family drama, and more through the story. I won’t spoil what happens because the fun of the book is learning what the heroes must face, but everything winds together perfectly. Charles perfectly blends the action with the quieter, character-driven moments. The result is a wonderfully entertaining story I hated to put down and one I cannot wait to revisit. I loved this story from beginning to end and I’m very much looking forward to the next Doomsday book.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: Chasing Your Tail by Kate McMurray

Chasing Your Tail by Kate McMurray
Series: Whitman Street Cat Café, Book 3
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9781728214603
Release Date: December 6, 2022
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Head to Brooklyn’s Whitman Street Cat Café: the coffee is strong, the desserts are delicious, kitten cuddles are never out of stock—and finding love is guaranteed.

Pastry chef Brad Marks is the new hot thing at the Whitman Street Cat Café; he makes tasty treats for both the human and feline guests at the café. All the patrons love him, and freelance writer Lindsay Somers understands why; five years ago, she was smitten by his charms too—until Brad broke her heart. Lindsay is happy with her new gig at a trendy weekly magazine, but when her boss assigns her to do a story on the cat café, she's thrown back into Brad's orbit yet again…

Return to the Whitman Street Cat Café, where the cats are cute and the new pastry chef even cuter in Chasing Your Tail. Brad Marks is tired of cooking what others want, so when the opportunity arises to have creative control of his own kitchen, he takes it. Cooking treats for both humans and felines may not be what Brad had in mind when he went to culinary school, but the café is a fun place to be. And then Brad runs into his ex. Lindsay Somers is none to happy when her friend hires Brad to be the café’s new pastry chef. Brad broke Lindsay’s heart and she has no interest in opening herself up to that kind of hurt again. But now that she can’t avoid him, it’s hard for Lindsay not to fall under Brad’s spell again. The question is, will she be able to trust him in a way she never could before?

I love a good second chance romance, but I had mixed feelings about Brad and Lindsay’s. I loved Brad. He’s a sweetheart with boatloads of charm and a talent for choux that will make you drool. I was incredibly invested in him, particularly in the question of whether he’d adopt the adorable cat who clearly adored him. Brad never got over Lindsay and she over him, but the romance was a bit frustrating, mostly because of Lindsay. Lindsay’s parents’ acrimonious divorce did a number on her and though she fell hard for Brad in culinary school, she was quick to accuse him of cheating and cut ties. To say Lindsay has a hard time trusting would be a massive understatement. Kate McMurray showed why Brad and Lindsay worked as a couple but the push-pull from Lindsay grew tiresome as the book went on. It went on for so long I really felt bad for Brad and can’t imagine why he didn’t cut his losses. The happily ever after did come and it was cute, but I wish more effort had been put into it on Lindsay’s part.

As always with the Whitman Street Cat Café books, the feline characters are sure to grab your heart. McMurray definitely made me wish I could visit the café for both the treats and the cats. I also really enjoyed the friendships between the various characters. These two things, more than the romance, are what kept me reading Chasing Your Tail. So even though I struggled with Lindsay’s character, I still liked quite a few things about this book and would enjoy another visit to the cutest fictional café in Brooklyn.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster

Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster
Series: London Steampunk, Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Steampunk Romance 

ISBN: 9781402270277
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Honoria Todd has more secrets than most people and she's hiding them in Whitechapel. Blade is the master of the rookeries and agrees to protect her, but at what price?

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven as she hides from the Blue Blood aristocracy that rules London through power and fear.

Blade rules the rookeries-no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single–handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood–craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.

When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel-or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

Kiss of Steel is a luscious, dark, evocative romance. Bec McMaster’s alternate universe steampunk London is fascinating and the characters are unique and well-drawn. I was sucked into Honoria and Blade’s story from the first page and by the time I was done I was craving more of this world.

Honoria Todd was raised on the edge of Echelon society, where blue bloods rule. Six months after the murder of her father, Honoria is barely scraping by trying to keep herself and her siblings alive. Their home now is in the dangerous rookeries of Whitechapel, where rogue blue blood Blade is king. Dark and dangerous, Blade is no fool and he knows Honoria is hiding something from him. No one lives in the rookeries without his protection, and she has it – but the cost may be more than either are willing to pay.

Honoria is stubborn, smart, and willing to do almost anything to save her brother and sister. She doesn’t want to accept Blade’s help, but she has no choice. Blade was born in the gutter and infected with the craving against his will. He’s a rogue blue blood the Echelon would love to see stamped out. The two of them should have nothing in common, but they click from the start. There’s serious chemistry between Blade and Honoria that heated up the page and I loved the tension between them. All Blade wants to do is protect his people and live his life with the family he’s made, but there is no peace in this version of London. Blade is dangerous, near the edge of a violence he can’t control, but he’s got a good heart and cares deeply for people. I loved peeling back the layers of his character. Honoria has secrets of her own that have put a target on her back and I liked seeing her learn that she could count on Blade. She learns to accept help but that doesn’t mean she isn’t ready to stand and fight. They have powerful enemies hunting them and I liked that McMaster kept me guessing as to how things would work out.

Kiss of Steel is the first book in McMaster’s London Steampunk series and it definitely made me eager to read the rest of the series. I don’t want to say too much about the plot because part of the joy for me in reading was in the discovery. The world Honoria and Blade live in is dark, bloody, and they have to fight to survive. It’s also a world of tight bonds that melted my heart. Interwoven through it all is the world McMaster created which was interesting and unique. I loved learning about the craving, blue bloods, thralls, and more. I thoroughly enjoyed Honoria and Blade’s book; the romance was steamy and satisfying, the action intense, and the world engaging.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: When Life Gives You Vampires by Gloria Duke

When Life Gives You Vampires by Gloria Duke
Series: Slaying It, Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Paranormal Romance 

ISBN: 9781728257440
Release Date: October 4, 2022
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Single (plus size) vampire, desperately in search of a life.

Twenty-five year old Lily Baines is used to waking up hungover, overweight, and underemployed. Waking up with fangs? Not so much. But when a little light necking has more serious consequences than she ever imagined, Lily's determined to get to the bottom of it, or die (again) trying.

Tristan hadn't meant to turn Lily―it's against vampire law―but now that she's here, they need to team up to save both their hides. They strike an uneasy truce, fending off other vampires, Lily's work-rival-turned-slayer, and her mother's tone-deaf romance and fitness advice...all while Lily faces down her insecurities about the fact that she lives in a diet-obsessed world with a body that will never age, never die, and never change.

Falling for her maddeningly gorgeous sire? Easy. Surviving an ancient vampire Master determined to see her twice-dead? Piece of cake. But can Lily ever truly learn to love the woman she'll be forever more?

When Life Gives You Vampires is a paranormal romcom that has all the elements of a good read. Lily is a plus-size journalist who unexpectedly finds herself undead, Tristan is a centuries-old vampire who writes romance novels, dangers and sass abound. But though the elements were there, the execution left me with mixed feelings.

Lily is twenty-five and has some serious body image issues (to anyone who may be triggered by talk of extreme diets and/or negative body image talk: this may not be the book for you). Lily’s struggle with body acceptance is hard, often damaging, and author Gloria Duke doesn’t shy away from the fact that Lily hurts more than herself. It’s more serious and given more page time than you might expect of a romcom, but for me this was the part of the book that had the most depth and consideration. It’s not pretty, it’s not fun, but it’s relatable and realistic in a lot of ways and I was all in on Lily’s personal journey.

Unfortunately, the rest of the story is where I had issues with When Life Gives You Vampires. Tristan is an uninspiring hero. He has issues with being stuck in the past and he’s overprotective because of it, but it all falls flat. I wanted to dig deeper into his character, to see him come (un)alive on the page. And the romance…just isn’t there. Attraction? Absolutely. But the love story wasn’t believable and needed more time and attention to feel organic to the characters. As for the threats to Lily that come from her being turned into a vampire without approval, those didn’t wholly work for me. The villain of the story was a bit cartoonish and the resolution was so quick that it made me wonder what all the threats and buildup were about. I wanted more from the worldbuilding and more from the characters. There were many missed opportunities in this book but the way Gloria Duke wrote Lily’s personal journey had enough promise that I’d try her work again in the future.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert

Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert
Series: Dark Olympus, Book 3
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Polyamorous Romance 

ISBN: 9781728231792
Release Date: June 7, 2022
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

She was the face that launched a thousand ships, the fierce beauty at the heart of Olympus...and she was never ours to claim.

In Olympus, you either have the power to rule...or you are ruled. Achilles Kallis may have been born with nothing, but as a child he vowed he would claw his way into the poisonous city's inner circle. Now that a coveted role has opened to anyone with the strength to claim it, he and his partner, Patroclus Fotos, plan to compete and double their odds of winning.

Neither expect infamous beauty Helen Kasios to be part of the prize...or for the complicated fire that burns the moment she looks their way.

Zeus may have decided Helen is his to give to away, but she has her own plans. She enters into the competition as a middle finger to the meddling Thirteen rulers, effectively vying for her own hand in marriage. Unfortunately, there are those who would rather see her dead than lead the city. The only people she can trust are the ones she can't keep her hands off—Achilles and Patroclus. But can she really believe they have her best interests at heart when every stolen kiss is a battlefield?

Helen Kasios may be stunningly gorgeous and come from a powerful family, but that isn’t the shield many think it is. Her father was abusive, her siblings – the new Zeus and Aphrodite – are too wrapped up in the politics of Olympus to put family first, and she has also survived an abusive relationship. Helen is not content to be someone’s pawn; she wants to claim her own destiny, to be seen as an equal to the power around her. To do that, she needs to claim the title of Ares. But she’s not the only one vying for the title – and no one, not even those who know her best, believe she can take it. A host of competitors and three trials stand between her and the position she wants more than anything. Two of those competitors are Achilles Kallis and Patroclus Fotos, partners who are determined to see Achilles win the competition. Achilles is as frustrating as Patroclus is kind, but both tempt her in different ways…and she them. How can she fall for two men when they’re bound to be pitted against each other on the battlefield? Then again, how can she not when they are the first two to see the real her?

Wicked Beauty is ferociously hot, fast-paced polyamorous romance. It features two hotheads determined to grasp their destiny and one more cautious member of the triad to balance them out. Helen is smart, determined, and possesses hidden vulnerabilities. She’s trying to drown out the voices in her head telling her she’s not good enough and grasp the title she desperately wants. For her, being Ares is freedom and equality. For Achilles, an orphan who grew up powerless, the title is everything. It’s the only thing he’s ever wanted besides Patroclus. There’s hurt and vulnerability in Achilles that’s masked by strength and confidence. He can be boorish, but Katee Robert hints at more beneath the surface, though unfortunately we only get glimpses of it. He and Patroclus have been together in an open relationship for a decade but even though they love each other their relationship is on shaky ground. From the start it’s clear neither expects the other to stay forever and they’re both trying to savor every moment. Helen rocks their already shaky foundation by bringing jealousy into the mix. It takes a while for the three to find their footing, to realize they make a good team in bed and out. Unlike the other two, Patroclus grew up in a loving household. He’s good at strategizing, which is fortunate since both Achilles and Helen are reactionary – they need someone who will stop and think. In turn, they keep Patroclus from getting too in his head. Like Achilles, Patroclus is an interesting character, but I would have loved to dive deeper into him (for example, seeing why he’s so brilliant rather than constantly being told).

Lust comes easy to our three heroes but they have a rocky beginning. Still, once they settle in they are a seriously hot triad. I can see why they work, but I had some trouble with the romance. Robert develops Helen well and I can see how she suits both men. And I really did like Patroclus and Achilles together and with her. They see the real Helen and fall for her just as she is, respecting her strength, intelligence, and ambition. However, the aforementioned rocky foundation to Patroclus and Achilles’s relationship is not satisfyingly addressed. We start to get there at the end but I wish there had much more to make me feel like the entire throuple was solid.

The competition to determine the next Ares is the second most fraught battleground (after the bedroom) in Wicked Beauty. I liked the trials and would have enjoyed seeing even more of it and the interactions between our characters and their competition. Robert gives extra nods to Greek mythology in the trials which is entertaining. As for who becomes the newest member of the Thirteen, I won’t spoil what happens but I am torn. I can see why Robert wrote it the way she did but there’s something not quite satisfying about it. Perhaps had more attention been paid to the aftermath instead of rushing and wrapping up the ending it would have been more satisfactory. Another chapter or two would have made the ending as a whole feel more complete. I wanted just a bit more – even an epilogue – to feel satisfied with the story and the romance.

I have a hard time rating Wicked Beauty because Robert’s writing is addictive and the book is sexy as hell. It’s enjoyable but also frustrating at times because with more depth it could have been great. Helen is a well-crafted heroine and I enjoyed her journey, but I wanted some more from her men. Taking Wicked Beauty as it is, I did enjoy the ride and read almost all of it in one sitting. I’m very much looking forward to what Katee Robert has in store for future Dark Olympus books. There are characters here (Callisto, Atalanta, and Athena in particular) who I am desperate to read more about and Robert throws out some information at the end that has me curious what the future of Olympus will look like.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: Electric Idol by Katee Robert

Electric Idol by Katee Robert
Series: Dark Olympus, Book 2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9781728231761
Release Date: January 18, 2022
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

In the ultra-modern city of Olympus, there's always a price to pay. Psyche Dimitriou knew she'd have to face Aphrodite's jealous rage eventually, but she never expected her literal heart to be at stake...or for Aphrodite's gorgeous son to be the one ordered to strike the killing blow.

Eros has no problem shedding blood. Raised to be his mother's knife in the dark, he's been conditioned to accept that he's more monster than man. But when it comes time to take out his latest target...he can't do it. Confused by his reaction to Psyche's unexpected kindness, he does the only thing he can think of to keep her safe: he binds her to him, body and soul.

Psyche didn't expect to find herself married to the glittering city's most dangerous killer, but something about Eros wakens a fire inside her she's never felt before. As lines blur and loyalties shift, Psyche realizes Eros might take her heart after all...and she's not sure she can survive the loss.

In the city of Olympus, you play the game well or you’re crushed. And if you cross one of the Thirteen, well, may the gods have mercy on you. Psyche Dimitriou, daughter of the current Demeter, knows how to play a role and navigate the politics and society of Olympus. The beautiful influencer has never made a misstep…until one act of kindness makes her Aphrodite’s target. And Aphrodite’s weapon is the devastatingly handsome Eros.

Eros is, by his own admission, a monster. His mother raised him from childhood to be her blade in the night, the man who does her dirty work. He feels like his soul has been crushed; then he meets Psyche. Aphrodite wants Psyche killed, but rather than comply, Eros marries her, setting off a chain of events neither could have expected.

The Eros and Psyche myth is reimagined in the fast-paced, compelling Electric Idol. Katee Robert captivated me from the first with this sexy and imaginative take on the classic tale.

All of Olympus knows Psyche to be kind and sweet; the kind of woman who would never put a toe out of line. But Psyche is so much more than what people see. She’s smart, clever, skilled at image-craft, and wields social media with incredible skill. She’s also fiercely protective of those she loves and is a bit lonely, knowing that there is no one she can trust outside her family. Eros sees himself as the darkness to her light. He’s been raised to be a monster and has blood on his hands. He’s cold and ruthless because that’s what Aphrodite raised him to be. But she hasn’t killed his soul completely. Psyche brings out the man within, letting him be his true self around her. They have an unconventional beginning, to say the least, but I was rooting for these two every step of the way. Their chemistry is electric and the two of them burn up the sheets (and make great use of mirrors), but there’s no lack of heart to match the heat.

The threat of Aphrodite’s revenge adds danger to Electric Idol and allows a deeper look into the politics of Olympus. It’s an interesting world, one I look forward to learning more about as the series goes on. It’s also a deeply poisonous world, especially the closer you get to the Thirteen. I was captivated by Psyche and Eros’s romance and definitely kept turning the pages because I wanted to see them carve out their own slice of happiness.

For all the fun to be had with mirrors in this story, Eros and Psyche have a romance that you can believe in because they each see beyond the image the other presents. I loved how gone over Psyche Eros was and how she saw past the monster and fell for the man. Electric Idol is entertaining from start to finish and I cannot wait to see where Robert takes the Dark Olympus series next.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: What the Cat Dragged In by Kate McMurray

What the Cat Dragged In by Kate McMurray
Series: Whitman Street Cat Café, Book 2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9781728214573
Release Date: December 7, 2021
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

When Paige Danvers isn't managing events for the Whitman Street Cat Café, she is busy navigating dating disasters as a single woman in Brooklyn. Urged by her boss and best friend Lauren to find a distraction from ineffectual dating apps, Paige volunteers with a cat rescue organization, where she actually meets a guy with some real relationship potential.

Recent law school grad Josh Harlow is putting in long hours at a Manhattan law firm as he gets over a messy breakup. When his boss requires him to do some volunteer work, Josh's sister sets him up to help capture feral cats. Partnered with Paige, Josh is insistently drawn to the dynamic event planner and sparks between them fly.

One problem: after a steamy night together, Paige discovers Josh is Lauren's brother and dating him would be a spectacularly awful idea. Particularly considering Paige's track record. They're both in too deep to walk away—but if they let the cat out of the bag, it's going to wreak havoc with friends, family, and jobs alike.

What the Cat Dragged In is a fast-paced, enjoyable romance with four-legged supporting cast members who threaten to steal the show. I adored the world of Kate McMurray’s Whitman Street Cat Café and though I threatened to be sidetracked by the too-cute-for-words felines in the book, the humans at the center of this story were just as endearing.

Paige loves her job as an events manager for the Whitman Street Cat Café. On the surface, she has it all together between her job, friends, and life. The only problem is her dating life is a disaster. Then when volunteering with a cat rescue organization she meets a guy who could be her perfect match. There’s just one problem: he’s her boss’s brother. Having gone through a bad breakup and now drowning in work as a first year associate in a big Manhattan law firm, Josh isn’t in the best place for a relationship. But Paige knocks him off his feet from the first. The two of them just fit and I absolutely adored their easy chemistry together.

Josh and Paige work as friends and lovers which makes it easy to be charmed by their romance. The conflict stems from the fact that Josh is Lauren’s brother and Lauren is Paige’s boss, friend, and the one who brought her into the friend group who is now her family. Lauren (heroine of the first Whitman Street Cat Café book, Like Cats and Dogs) didn’t come off as likeable or understanding for a lot of this story, which was a pity. But the blame for Paige and Josh’s drama can’t all be placed on her: both of them (Paige most of all) get in their own way sometimes. While I was a bit frustrated by the obstacles in the way of Paige and Josh’s happily ever after, they did make sense. The problems seem small from a reader’s perspective but they’re ones I can easily see people causing themselves in real life. Overall, I really enjoyed What the Cat Dragged In. I liked Paige and Josh, they had a fun, easy chemistry, and the cats in the book stole my heart. How is that not a recipe for a good time?



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: Neon Gods by Katee Robert

Neon Gods by Katee Robert
Series: Dark Olympus, Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance with D/s and Paranormal Elements 

ISBN: 9781728231730
Release Date: June 1, 2021
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that's ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city's dark facade.

With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil's bargain with a man she once believed a myth...a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed.

Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he's spent years craving, it's all the excuse he needs to help her—for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he'll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close…

A woman desperate to escape. A man who is only supposed to be a myth. A bargain that will become more than either could have imagined. Welcome to the world of Neon Gods, an insanely hot and surprisingly fun retelling of the Hades/Persephone myth. Katee Robert swept me off my feet with this decadent romance filled with seriously hot love scenes and a romance that is so sweet it made me melt.

Hades has spent his life in the shadows but Persephone brings light into his life. She’s not the biddable, sunshiny socialite she portrays in public. Beneath the mask is a bright, energetic woman whose passions match his own. And while Hades may have the image of being the fearsome king of the lower city, beneath all that lies a generous, marshmallow heart that made me melt. He’s growly and protective, she’s not one to take any shit from him, and the two of them have crackling chemistry. Their banter made me smile and the way Hades cared for Persephone made me swoon. I loved their romance so much I absolutely hated to put Neon Gods down.

Persephone ran to the lower city to escape an engagement to Zeus she knows would be deadly. Hades has been out for revenge ever since Zeus murdered his parents thirty years ago. The two of them come up with a plan: Zeus likes the pretense that Persephone is untouched so Hades will “tarnish” her. What follows is actually an exploration of her desires and it was sizzling hot. Hades enjoys public escapades but no matter what they’re doing he always makes absolutely sure that it’s what she wants. Their kinks align and consent is at the forefront so everything about the erotic scenes is incredibly hot. It’s the heart of the Hades/Persephone romance that grabbed me, but damn the sex scenes were utterly delicious.

I adored Neon Gods from beginning to end. Hades is definitely up there on my list of favorite heroes. The fact that the dark and sexy lord of the Underworld has got the gooiest center imaginable just knocked my socks off. And Persephone, who sees beneath masks and who has an honest and caring heart that has survived the politics of the upper city, is his perfect match – the queen to his king. Their romance is one of equals and it made Neon Gods incredibly addictive. I also loved the world Robert created for the Dark Olympus series. While there’s a certain paranormal element to the isolation of Olympus, overall it’s set in a human realm. The Thirteen are not gods, but rather humans who possess a title and inhabit a role. It’s a fascinating world and I cannot wait to learn more about it in the next Dark Olympus book, Electric Idol.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: Like Cats and Dogs by Kate McMurray

Like Cats and Dogs by Kate McMurray
Series: Whitman Street Cat Café, Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9781728214542
Release Date: May 4, 2021
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Can you fight like cats and dogs, and still be perfect for each other?

Things are getting ruff in this Brooklyn neighborhood when new veterinarian Caleb Fitch moves in next door to the Whitman Street Cat Café and gets on the wrong side of café owner Lauren Harlow. Lauren has a few things to teach the new vet on the block, and rescuing kittens is only the start…

Lauren can't ignore the fact that she is instantly attracted to Caleb, but he gets her even more riled up when he argues with her about how best to treat the cats in her care. Determined to smooth things over, Caleb comes to the rescue when a new litter of abandoned kittens is left on Lauren's doorstep, and they confront the fiery attraction that's been building between them from the start. But saving the baby kittens is only the first challenge Lauren and Caleb have to face, and when a real estate developer comes sniffing around their block, they'll have to work together, or risk losing everything…

Between the adorable cover and the promise of a romance set at a cat café, there was no way I could resist picking up Like Cats and Dogs. Kate McMurray delivered on her premise of an enemies-to-lovers romance with adorable furry friends as sidekicks, but the overall result was a bit of a mixed bag.

Lauren and Caleb rub each other the wrong way except when…well, I’m sure you can guess. I’m not the biggest fan of enemies-to-lovers but it can work when done well. Only at the beginning the sexual tension that came from Lauren and Caleb’s bickering really fell flat. Caleb is recovering from a divorce and he’s cold and extremely wary of getting hurt again. Lauren is a bit off her stride from her ex getting married and she and Caleb get off on the wrong foot. They’re hot and cold with each other and it goes on for so long that it made the love story a bit hard to believe. There’s potential there, but I grew frustrated with both of them at various points in the story. Caleb and Lauren are flawed characters and there’s a core of truth to their flaws that kept me reading. I wanted a bit more from the romance to make the ending believable but overall it was OK.

My favorite parts of Like Cats and Dogs involved the non-human characters. As someone with a rescue cat of her own it was a guarantee that the Whitman Street Cat Café cats would steal my heart. They’re adorable with their own unique personalities and I wanted to see each and every one of them adopted to a loving home. The characters’ love of animals gave Like Cats and Dogs its heart and definitely boosted my rating of this book when the romance and the side story of the evil real estate developers left me wanting more. Overall, I had mixed feelings about Caleb and Lauren’s romance but the series setting ensures I will definitely be back for more Whitman Street Cat Café books.



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: Bad Bachelor by Stefanie London

Bad Bachelor by Stefanie London
Series: Bad Bachelors, Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance

ISBN: 9781728213774
Paperback Reissue Date: March 3, 2020
Source: Publisher/Purchased by Reviewer
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Everybody's talking about the hot new app reviewing New York's most eligible bachelors. But why focus on prince charming when you can read the latest dirt on the lowest-ranked "Bad Bachelors"—NYC's most notorious bad boys.

If one more person mentions Bad Bachelors to Reed McMahon, someone's gonna get hurt. A PR whiz, Reed is known as an 'image fixer' but his womanizing ways have caught up with him. What he needs is a PR miracle of his own.

When Reed strolls into Darcy Greer's workplace offering to help save the struggling library, she isn't buying it. The prickly Brooklynite knows Reed is exactly the kind of guy she should avoid. But the library does need his help. But as she reluctantly works with Reed, she realizes there's more to a man than his reputation. Maybe, just maybe Bad Bachelor #1 is THE one for her.

Bad Bachelor is the kind of book I hate to stick a rating on. I absolutely loved the main characters, the romance, and Stefanie London’s writing. But the story also had some big drawbacks that kept me from falling in love with the book overall.

Let’s start with the good, shall we? I adored Reed and Darcy. Darcy is a librarian and the black sheep of her family. She’s hardworking and cares so much, which I absolutely loved. She’s also incredibly vulnerable between the contentious relationship with her mother and the way her engagement ended the day before she was supposed to be married. She has walls a mile high, but that’s nothing compared the walls Reed has around his heart. Reed is rich, polished, and a PR whiz. But no one sees the man beneath the glossy exterior…until Darcy. Reed has seriously deep old wounds he doesn’t allow anyone to see and they make him unwilling to open his heart and trust any woman. He’s dedicated to his job and being the best, not because of ego, but because the money allows him to care for his ailing father. Aside from wanting to push people away, Reed’s pretty much the perfect hero. He and Darcy are dynamite together and I loved watching them put together a fundraiser for her library. They’re a perfect match even though on the surface they seem nothing alike. The fact that they outwardly seem so different but inwardly have a lot in common is what makes them such an appealing couple. Their love story is easy to fall into and Ms. London makes it impossible not to root for them.

I adored Darcy and Reed so much that I hate to say anything bad about Bad Bachelor. However…the Bad Bachelors app plot was beyond aggravating. The Bad Bachelors app is – in essence – a Yelp review site of New York City’s bachelors. In a place as big as NYC, the number one “Bad Bachelor” isn’t a predator, criminal, abuser, liar, user, addict, cheater, or even someone who doesn’t tip well. No, it’s – brace yourself for the horror – a man who doesn’t want to commit. It’s necessary to roll with this premise or the entire book falls apart, so I knowingly went into this willing to suspend disbelief. The problem is, the more I saw Reed’s hard work being torn apart, his personal and professional reputation being shredded by this popular app, the more sour the taste in my mouth. The more the popularity of the app grew, the more it was like watching a good person be repeatedly kicked in the face not just by bitter and shallow exes, but workplace rivals and possibly internet trolls. The last bit is not altogether implausible, which makes it all the more depressing.

Bad Bachelor has good characters, an engaging and sexy romance, and a background plot that just left a bad taste in my mouth. Darcy’s two best friends, Remi and Annie, are featured in the next two Bad Bachelors books. I loathed Annie and will likely pass on her story, but I adored Remi and I love Ms. London’s writing so I will definitely be reading the next book in the Bad Bachelors series, Bad Reputation.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: All I Want for Halloween by Marie Harte

All I Want for Halloween by Marie Harte
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance

ISBN: 9781492656531
Release Date: September 26, 2017
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

TONIGHT, SHE PLANS TO LET GO.

Dressed up and anonymous, Sadie Liberato feels powerful, sexy and free. Where better to lose herself than a masked party?

Gear Blackstone's cheating ex and scheming best friend have managed to spin his life into a serious downward spiral. At least with a mask on he can cut loose for one night. And cut loose he does—with the sexiest, snarkiest chick he's ever met.

After a scorching-hot encounter, Sadie and Gear are desperate to find each other in real life. But can the heat last when the masks come off?

All I Want for Halloween is anything but ordinary thanks to its unique characters. I love heroines in particular who break the mold and Marie Harte definitely delivered with Sadie. Sadie is a breath of fresh air. She’s blunt, often cranky, has no patience for BS, and isn’t exactly what you’d call a people person. I loved that she is confident and outspoken and I honestly just plain liked her. She was hurt in the past pretty badly and I was rooting for those walls around her heart to come down. Gear is her perfect match. He’s equally blunt and grouchy and has also been burned in the past by people he trusted. Nevertheless, he falls fast and hard for Sadie and doesn’t give up even when she’s wary of trusting him with her heart. I loved that these two wonderfully flawed characters actually like things about one another that others might not. Their romance is not only seriously hot, it’s fun.

The road to happily ever after isn’t always a smooth ride for Sadie and Gear, but luckily for them they both have family on hand to support them when the going gets tough. Neither the Liberato nor the Blackstone clan is your average family, and I adored that about them. The entire cast (discounting evil exes and backstabbing former best friends) is irreverent, good-hearted, and charmed the heck out of me. I liked them all so much that I hated to say good-bye at the end of the book; I really hope Ms. Harte has stories in store for Sadie and Gear’s siblings (especially if the attraction between their brothers turns into something more). All I Want for Halloween is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Harte and it’s a total treat. I can’t wait to read more of her work.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: A Gift for Guile by Alissa Johnson

A Gift for Guile by Alissa Johnson
Series: The Thief-takers, Book 2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical Romance

ISBN: 9781492620532
Release Date: July 5, 2016
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

Never Trust a Thief

Once a famous officer of Scotland Yard and now a renowned private detective, Sir Samuel Brass has better things to do than shadow a reckless hellion in her misguided quest for atonement. But when the daughter of a notorious criminal–and a former thief herself–returns to London to right an old wrong, Samuel is drawn back into the dangerously exciting world of Esther Walker-Bales.

Beautiful and conniving, maddening and brilliant, Esther is everything he shouldn’t want. She’s a liar. She’s a con. She’s a thief. And God help him, but he’d do anything to keep her safe.

Esther knows she’s put herself in terrible danger, but nothing will stop her from making amends that are long past due–not her family’s enemies, not old fears, and certainly not the domineering, interfering and undeniably handsome Sir Samuel Brass. Yet whenever he’s near, Samuel makes her long for a life that can never be hers...and wish she were worthy of being saved.

A former thief steals the heart of a famous private detective in A Gift for Guile. I’m not an easy sell when it comes to opposites attracting, but Alissa Johnson won me over with this enchanting second installment of the Thief-takers series.

Esther is a former thief determined to make amends. She was used as an accomplice by her father when she was younger, manipulated by him because she was so desperate for his love. Her past brings her shame and she’s desperate to be a better person, but at the same time doesn’t believe she can be one. No one has ever put her first, has ever seen her as anything more than a filler until someone better comes along. She’s used to playing roles, slips into them so easily in order to win others over, but it broke my heart how badly Esther simply wanted to be seen and loved for her true self, though she doesn’t wholly know who that is. It’s delightful that Samuel, a somewhat-staid former police officer turned private investigator, is the person who sees Esther the most clearly.

Samuel is an honorable man with a soul-deep need to protect others. It drives him mad that the woman he falls for isn’t one who will sit quietly and let him guard her when she’s in trouble. Of course, that’s what makes A Gift for Guile so much fun. Esther is perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but she’s not superhuman and can see that Samuel has talents that complement her own. Whether they’re investigating a mysterious potential threat to Esther’s family or falling head over heels in love with one another, Samuel and Esther are great together. The energy between them crackles and I can’t count the number of times they made me smile. Of course, being perfect for each other doesn’t make things easy. Esther is quick to take offense because she’s scared of opening herself up to more hurt, and Samuel is adorably terrible with words. Esther has to accept her past in order to risk her heart for a chance at love, and Samuel has to be patient and temper his need to protect by acknowledging Esther’s abilities. They banter, they bicker, and they fall in love in the most charming, romantic way. I absolutely adored these two together, simple as that.

Ms. Johnson weaves in a mystery involving Esther’s past and a potential new threat into the story of Samuel and Esther’s burgeoning romance. The added element of danger enhances the story and keeps A Gift for Guile moving at a quick clip. There’s simply nothing I didn’t enjoy about Esther, Samuel, and their lovely romance. Like the first Thief-takers book, A Talent for Trickery, A Gift for Guile is engaging and the sparks that fly between the leads make the pages of the story fly by. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Johnson has in store for readers with the next Thief-takers book!


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: How to Wed a Warrior by Christy English

How to Wed a Warrior by Christy English
Series: Broadswords and Ballrooms, Book 2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical Romance

ISBN: 9781492612902
Release Date: February 2, 2016
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

He's the scourge of the Season…

Reasons to quit London:
1. It’s not the Highlands.
2. It will never be the Highlands.
3. It’s full of the bloody English.

When his wild spitfire of a sister makes a scene by drawing a claymore in Hyde Park, Highlander Robert Waters knows something must be done. To forestall the inevitable scandal, he hires widowed Prudence Whittaker to teach his sister how to be a lady-never expecting to find unbridled passion beneath the clever Englishwoman's prim exterior.

Mrs. Whittaker is a fraud. Born Lady Prudence Farthington, daughter of the ruined earl of Lynwood, she's never even been married. In order to make her way in the world, she has to rely on her wits and a web of lies...lies a sexy Highlander is all too close to unraveling.

He swears he will possess her; she vows he will do nothing of the sort. Yet as passions heat, Prudence comes to realize the illicit pleasure that can be had in going toe-to-toe with a Scot.

The irrepressible Waters family is back in How to Wed a Warrior. The second Broadswords and Ballrooms story is even better than the first as ladies’ man Robert Waters falls fast and hard for a “widow” who is more than she seems.

Prudence was born and raised a lady, but after the death of her parents a scandal that tears her family’s reputation to pieces, she dons a disguise and hires herself out as a companion. Pru has got her work cut out for her with Mary Elizabeth Waters, a spirited Highland lass whose unladylike manner makes her an outcast among society. But Pru can handle a spitfire Scottish lady; it’s Mary Elizabeth’s brother, Robert, who throws Pru off her stride. It’s clear from the start that Robert wants her, and to Pru’s own surprise she’s equally attracted to him. The sexual tension between them is excellent, but between Pru’s deception and her concern over dragging the Waters family down if her secrets are revealed, the road to happily ever after isn’t an easy one for her and Robert.

Author Christy English makes it easy to root for Pru and Robert. They have solid chemistry, are both incredibly likeable characters, and their romance is both sweet and sensual. The “I love yous” do come a bit too fast to be believable, but otherwise the love story is perfectly charming. A bit of a mystery involving Pru’s family adds excitement, and (though it’s a bit predictable) helps the story move at a quick clip. That being said, while I liked Robert and Pru, and their romance was sweet, they were clearly outshone by the more vivacious Mary Elizabeth. As she did with the previous Broadswords and Ballrooms book, Mary Elizabeth steals every scene she’s in. She’s exuberant, definitely unusual for a lady, speaks her mind, and has different ideas about what’s important. She’s a strong, interesting character who’s also quietly vulnerable and I wanted desperately to learn more about her. This in and of itself is fantastic, but since it’s not Mary Elizabeth’s book it did highlight the fact that neither Robert nor Pru were as complex and engaging. Still, I enjoyed How to Wed a Warrior and I finished it incredibly excited to read the next Broadswords and Ballrooms story, which I hope will be Mary Elizabeth’s book.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: How to Seduce a Scot by Christy English

How to Seduce a Scot by Christy English
Series: Broadswords and Ballrooms, Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical Romance

ISBN: 9781492612872
Release Date: December 1, 2015
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

He's the terror of the ton…

The plan is simple:
1. Descend from the Highlands to face the aggravation of a London Season;
2. Foist his wild sister off on some gullible English lord;
3. Retreat before the ladies of the scandalized ton can get any ideas.

Determined to see his hellion of a sister wed, Highlander Alexander Waters is willing to face anything-even the English. He just didn't expect his own rough manners to cause such a riot...or for a blooming English rose to catch his eye.

Gently bred Catherine Middlebrook must find a respectable man to marry or her family will be ruined. She won’t allow herself to be distracted by Highland barbarians…no matter how her body may thrill whenever Alex is near.

Catherine wasn't part of the plan, but as their battle of wills escalates, Alex comes to realize this “proper” English girl is as wild as the Highlands themselves…and nothing will stop him from having her.

How to Seduce a Scot is a sweet romance from beginning to end. Christy English’s first Broadswords and Ballrooms book is filled with nice, likeable characters, but the overall story may have been better served if it were novella-length.

Alexander Waters is a proud Scotsman who yearns to be at sea…or in the Highlands…or pretty much anywhere but a London ballroom. But he’s promised his mother he’d see his wild sister married to an Englishman, so Alex is stuck among the foppish members of the ton until Mary Elizabeth finds a husband. The last thing Alex expects is to fall in love at first sight when he spies Mary Elizabeth talking to an angel, better known as the very proper Catherine Middlebrook. Catherine is gentle, sweet, and perfect – everything Alex didn’t know he wanted. But he’s determined to return to sea and is not ready to take a wife. For her part, Catherine needs to marry – fast. In the wake of her father’s death and her mother’s uncontrollable spending, Catherine knows she needs to marry a wealthy man who will take care of her family before they lose everything. She can’t afford to be tempted by her new friend’s brother, especially since he makes it clear he has no plans to wed. Only putting Alex out of her mind is impossible when the man seems to be everywhere she looks...

Aside from the hero and heroine’s stubbornness leading to a number of push-pull situations, there are very few obstacles in How to Seduce a Scot. Alex and Catherine fall in love in a heartbeat, but their romance is slow to build because they both have a picture in their head of their futures and neither of them planned for a sudden tumble into love. I liked Alex and Catherine, but she was a bit too perfect and he was a bit too indecisive, and both of them were overshadowed by the more energetic personalities around them. And as much as I wanted to be swept away by their love story, I never was. There wasn’t enough “meat” to the plot or the characters (neither of whom really changed over the course of the story) to keep the book moving at a decent pace, which is why I think the story may have been better served being trimmed down to novella size.

How to Seduce a Scot isn’t the most memorable story, but it’s light, sweet, and enjoyable. I finished Catherine and Alex’s story wishing it had a bit more depth to it, but at the same time I liked it well enough to be looking forward to the next Broadswords and Ballrooms book, How to Wed a Warrior.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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