Sasha Fountain
Just polished off “Mistletoe & Mishigas” by the fab @mawardellauthor! It's a knockout 5-star read with a 4-chili pepper spicy kick. Catch it on Kindle from the 10th, or snag the paperback today!
Me and my pal Natalia from @inside2brains thought we'd pace ourselves, but we ended up gobbling it down in a week.
This book is an emotional whirlwind - fiery, gentle, tender, and feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket.
Theo and Sheldon are such lovable dudes. Theo's grumpy side really hit home for me (even though most folks reckon I'm always chipper).
The author nailed the hurt/comfort theme. Sheldon deserved all the love after what his folks put him through. His sunny outlook was his armor against his dark past. Seeing him fit right into Theo's family was pure joy.
The romance is top-drawer, and body positivity shines out beautifully here. Theo's body hang-ups felt really close to home for me, and watching both characters grow was amazing.
This series is fast becoming one of my must-reads! Can't shout about it enough!
Heads up: this book tackles PTSD, panic attacks, the death of a loved one (in the past), homophobia, and parental rejection.
Shoutout to M.A. Wardell for hooking me up with the ARC!
Just finished “Wild Ride,” the kick-off to Leslie North's Wildhorse Ranch Brothers series. Our main guy, Trevor Wild, is trying to keep his horse ranch afloat and comes up with a cool idea - glamping! Enter Sabrina Hearthstone, the woman he hires to help him pull it off. They're as different as chalk and cheese, but when they finally let their walls down, they make one heck of a team. I wish we got to know them a bit more though. It's a quick read that leaves you wanting more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Just finished my first book by Elise Kennedy, “Wallflower in Bloom” and boy, did I love it! It's the second book in the Love in Fairwick Falls series - each one is its own little story but they're all linked together. This one's got that small-town charm with a side of sizzle.
The main character, Violet, runs a plant shop called Bloom with her sisters in Fairwick Falls. She's also totally obsessed with the TV show “Beyond the Manor Walls” and has a major crush on Lord Eagleton, one of the characters.
Then, by a twist of fate, Jack - who plays Lord Eagleton - tumbles into Violet's life. They start pretend-dating to save Jack's image (and job). And despite its adorable cover, this book has got some serious heat!
Big thanks to Elise Kennedy for letting me have an early look at this gem. Just sharing my thoughts here!
Just wrapped up ‘Heartless', a captivating MMM romance! At first, Ashton didn't really get my vote, but hey, he won me over as the tale unfolded. There were some sudden shifts that could've been ironed out if the book was a tad longer. But boy oh boy, it had its share of heart-tugging moments that got me all teary-eyed. The real MVP of this triad is Jax - absolutely loved him! The read was a delightful mix of fun, eccentricity and sizzle. It's my first time diving into this author's work and I'm pretty stoked to explore more of her books.
Got this book for free from Gay Romance Reviews and thought I'd drop an honest review.
Just finished the last book of Season 1 in the Perfect Match Agency series, and oh boy, it's a roller coaster of emotions! It's all about Renn and Topher who are some quirky characters from the series.
Renn's this sweet Alpha dude and Topher's an Omega dealing with social anxiety. They start off as email pals, then phone buddies, until they're finally paired by the agency's love algorithm. But here's the catch - their love is off-limits due to company rules! The story is filled with adorable moments, less drama but a good sprinkle of work and family issues that they tackle like champs. And their happy ending? Simply heartwarming!
Just so you know, I got this book for free from Gay Romance Reviews and Booksprout but all thoughts are my own.
Thank you to Sunny Babe PR for this ARC!
I enjoyed Maeve's journey throughout this novel. She struggled with the grief of losing her mother and best friend. She found a family in an unexpected place, and they stood by her, which was beautiful. This book had me teary-eyed at the end. If you're in the mood for a good fantasy book, check this out!
This story was sweet, and I loved how the main MCs fit together. Interestingly, Mikey turned out to be Bricker, Dave's online crush and Dave's reaction to that news was confusing. I liked their honest communication, and the story was really cozy. I'm interested in reading some other stories in the Dahlia Springs-based series.
I received a free copy of this book via GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved Jared, Alex, and Aiden! Endeavor is book four in Ava Olsen's Voyagers series, and the romance has been teased in previous books. It is a sexy and swoony MMM romance that made me laugh and tear up throughout the story.
Jared is a sweetheart American actor turned director who had to retain Alex and Aiden's services due to a lawsuit against a studio exec who SA-ed him years ago. Alex is a no-nonsense British ex-military bodyguard who is stoic, protective, and observant. Aiden is a snarky, bold British barrister who is always quick with his barbs.
It's been shown previously that Jared was interested in both Aiden and Alex. Dylan, whose romance was featured in book two of the series, has caught on to Jared and teases him about it at the beginning of the book. Dylan mentions that Now, Voyager, the yacht they are staying on, is known for bringing couples together.
Jared, Alex, and Aiden have known each other for months, but they begin to cross the lines when they are in Thailand on Now, Voyager. The romance is really sweet, and the build-up and chemistry are top-tier! The relationship is low-angst, and they have mature conversations. I liked how they all came together to take care of each other.
The harassment of Jared was handled realistically, and there was a great resolution to that conflict. I loved their HEA, and this book has solidified Ava Olsen as an auto-buy author for me.
Thank you to Ava Olsen for the ARC copy.
This was a really sweet and great addition to the Dragon Veil Universe. This book focuses on Puck and Austin, who are the brothers of the mated couple from Mist Dragon. When I finished Mist Dragon, I was interested to see Puck and Austin's dynamic because of the way they interacted in that book. I'm not big on angst so while the angst could have been explored more, I liked it the way it is. They had some misunderstandings which get cleared up fairly quickly. I liked their HEA and I enjoyed the setup for the final book in the trilogy that will focus on Jules the remaining brother.
I received a free copy of this book via GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a low-angst romance with the tropes of an age gap and a best friend's dad. Both Ben and Jasper were sweet and deserved the HEA they got. There were some misunderstandings throughout the story, but they made an effort to communicate. The age gap was addressed well, and it's great that it was not a major complication for them.
The ending was rushed, and I wish we had gotten a smoother conclusion. I'm looking forward to the setup for Finn's romance.
I received a free copy of this book via GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4 stars
This was an MMM friends-to-lovers, and opposites attract romance. This story was cute and sweet, and I smiled while reading. This story dealt with the theme of self-discovery, and the development of the relationship was well written. While the story is MMM, one aspect of the relationship is solely romantic, while two of the MCs are sexually involved with each other. This slow burn made sense for this throuple because it took all three MCs time to adjust to their relationship. I enjoyed getting to know Auggie, Emory, and Casey, and the choice of multiple POVs in the first person made sense for this story.
All the characters had layers to explore past the stereotypes Emory loved to use to refer to each of them. Emory's love of American teen movies had him frequently comparing all of them to the stereotypes of nerd, jock, and cool guy.
I liked the way that Casey's asexuality is portrayed because following his thoughts was really engaging and helped me understand his character. Emory and Auggie supported Casey, which was amazing to read. They had open and honest conversations, no pressure, and no one's boundaries were violated, which was sweet.
I received a free copy of this book via GBP and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is an opposites-attract romance with a billionaire hero and a hardworking heroine caught up in a pretend relationship that quickly becomes something more. When Max finds herself dozing off on one of her billionaire client's yachts, the brooding billionaire Theo finds her and offers an interesting proposition. A whirlwind adventure and rollercoaster of emotions follow as Max becomes Theo's pretend girlfriend.
Both characters are well-rounded and relatable. Their banter and interactions are witty and engaging which kept me hooked until the end. This was a great addition to the Billionaire Bossholes series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I've followed Jessica Cage for a while, so when the opportunity to review this ARC, I jumped on it. We got a pronunciation guide initially, which helped me enter this new world. The female MC is a strong character which I loved about this story. The concept of the Eldritch trials and the shared world by multiple authors is really interesting.
Jessica did a great job describing the characters, so I could clearly visualize them and the world they inhabit. I'm excited to read the rest of the books in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
After reading about Morgan in a previous book in the Perfect Match Agency series, I was excited to find out that he would get his perfect match.
We meet Riley, a young omega whose family and the cult have ostracized him due to his UV allergy. They consider him a demon, his parents have treated him horribly, and he does not have a great relationship with his siblings. Unbeknownst to him, his parents have signed him up for the Perfect Match Agency to find a mate to marry him before his first heat. In their cult, omegas must be married before their first heat. It was sad to see Riley's treatment by his family and the religious figure who wanted to mate him.
Morgan is hesitant to use the Perfect Match Agency after his previous experience during Chance Match. He is a sweetheart and a hopeless romantic whose heart has been taken advantage of many times. When he gets his match email, he hesitates to open it, and his best friend/assistant Storm encourages him to go for it. He is surprised to read the stipulations attached to Riley's profile but intrigued enough to set up a meeting.
When Morgan and Riley meet, they are instantly attracted and yearn to be with each other. Morgan is determined to get Riley out of the confining life he has lived up until now. Riley is eager to leave with Morgan to escape the community he was raised in and the lecherous religious figure who wanted to mate him.
I loved that Morgan accepted Riley and adjusted his whole home to accommodate him with lights that did not use UV. I love that they got their HEA, and I look forward to reading the final book in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a YA Horror Comedy novel following Filipino-American teen Cordelia Scott. Cordelia is focused on her role as stage manager of the school play while neglecting her grades. Her teachers stage an intervention by the new guidance counselor Fred. Cordelia doesn't know that Fred is the demon who sent her father to hell seven years ago. Fred tells Cordelia that when they made the deal to send her father to hell, it also sent a part of Cordelia's soul to hell. She must complete her end of the deal to get the missing piece back, performing a favor for Fred. Fred wants her to help him trap the demon who created the town in a Maleficent figurine to prevent demon capitalism.
I enjoyed this book! I'm not a horror girly, so I was hesitant to read this ARC, but once I started reading, I could not put this novel down. Cordelia's pining for Veronica and her struggle with her perception of herself as a monster like her father for sending him to hell created an interesting tension throughout the plot. I liked the elements of Filipino folklore that were included. Cordelia's motley crew of friends was also interesting, and it would be cool to see what happens next. I would love to see Cordelia and her crew tackle the issue of Veronica being able to transform into an aswang.
I received a free copy of this book via Turn the Page Tours and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a beautiful story about family, friends, self-discovery, unconditional love, and forgiveness. Rhonda McKnight expertly wove the two narratives of Casey and her great-grandmother Odessa, bringing together modern elements with family traditions with deep roots. It was well-paced, and I tore through the book in two days.
Casey Black, social media influencer with millions of followers, had planned an elaborate vow renewal for her seventh wedding anniversary. She had eloped with her husband, Drew, and never got a big wedding. It seemed like the perfect day, but things went off the rails when Drew told her he was not renewing his vows and wanted a divorce. Casey was shocked and humiliated. She escaped the church, went home, and decided to face her followers after drinking some wine. The live video went viral for the wrong reasons, and Casey escaped from New York to the South Carolina Lowcountry to meet her long-lost family.
She packs her car and heads south in her Mercedes. She is seeking her father's family. Her father died before she was born, and her mother had never introduced her to that side of her family. Her mother barely spoke about them, and Casey had not thought of reaching out before her decision to escape New York. Her father was from Georgetown, South Carolina, so she heads there hoping to get in touch with some of her relatives. While ordering lunch, she meets an attractive man and starts a conversation. Before she leaves the restaurant, she asks him if he knows any Blacks, and he says he does not, and then she asks for directions to the tax offices. At the office, she learns that there are Blacks in the area, and they own a 300-acre farm.
When she arrives at the farm, she meets her grandmother Ida Black who she had been denied knowing all her life. Quickly Casey begins to refer to her grandmother as Granna, and she comes to love her very much. Through her grandmother and the rest of her extended family, she learned the history that her mother had denied by not letting her get to know her father's family. She finds out the man she met at the restaurant is Nigel Evanston, the farm manager who thought he was protecting the family by denying that he knew the Black family. As the story progresses, Casey feels at home in South Carolina until a tragic event causes her to run from South Carolina back to New York. Eventually, Casey and Nigel get their HEA after some healing and growth on Casey's part.
I loved this book; the epilogue was the perfect way to end the novel. The story had drama, a bit of mystery, and a true sense of self-discovery and belonging. Casey found a way to be true to herself by discovering her roots and her family. I loved the characters in this book, and Nigel is in the running for my favorite book boyfriend. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Hear Our Voices Tours and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I also received an ALC from LIbro.fm and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Loved it! Yinka Ladeinde really brings Rhonda McKnight's novel to life. I listened to this after reading a paperback copy of this novel. This audiobook immersed me in a story that I have already come to love.
This is the first book in the BrewBiz series centered around a deaf coffee shop. It is truly a grumpy/sunshine romance.
Bodhi was the sweetest character and definitely fell into the category of protecting at all costs, even though he wouldn't like that. Caleb crossed the line from grumpy to asshole, so it took me a while to warm up to him. Caleb did strive to make up for his mistakes and behavior, so I appreciated that. Their relationship is not smooth, but I love how they don't give up on each other.
Women of the Post focuses on the contributions of black women during World War II, which was fascinating. The story alternates between the perspectives of three women in the all-Black battalion of the Women's Army Corps. Their job was to sort through millions of pieces of backlogged mail, so soldiers and their families could communicate. This was also a story about female friendship, love, and belonging. The three narratives were woven very well.
I received a free copy of this book via Hear Our Voices Tours and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was worried that the fact that I had not read the first book in the series would affect my understanding of this book, but it did not. I enjoyed both MCs and their connection. Triska was strong and confident without being characterized as bullheaded. Juri was a fierce cinnamon roll which was interesting. This is the first book I've read about werewolves that did not include shifting, and it was an interesting take on werewolves.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This story was cute, interesting, and funny. This story revolves around a romance between Eden and Finn, who are coworkers. Their chemistry and banter were soo cute. Eden is a strong, intelligent, and snarky heroine. Finn is a sexy, thoughtful, and protective hero. They were well-matched, and I enjoyed the development of their relationship.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was an interesting romcom about a hyper-independent heroine and the man who shows her that falling in love does not mean losing herself or her independence.
Karina has had bad experiences with love due to the treatment her mother gave her when she fell in love and gave up on everything that she had ingrained in Karina. She kicked Karina out at 17 after she fell in love, got married, and got pregnant.
The prose was witty, and Karina initially got on my nerves. As we learned more about her and her relationship with Ian developed, she grew on me. Ian had to work hard to earn her affection beyond their physical attraction.
Ian was extremely patient with Karina, knowing she was worth the work. The dynamics between the coworkers were cute, and they were a found family of sorts.
I received a free copy of this book via Hear Our Voices Tours and am voluntarily leaving a review.