Basil Scheuring
Graydon St. John has a problem — his bad attitude has made him the league’s least likable player, and his team is desperate to fix his image. Their solution? Mandatory volunteer work at the local zoo. That’s where he meets Maple, the spirited flamingo keeper who has no patience for his grumpy attitude.
What starts as mutual annoyance quickly turns viral when the two start an Instagram account to promote the zoo’s flamingos and Graydon’s PR makeover. Soon Maple finds herself at his football camp, trying to learn the sport while navigating their growing chemistry. Their pretend relationship for the cameras starts feeling a little too real, and before long, sparks truly fly.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the side characters — full of sass, charm, and hilarious commentary, except Slutty Glasses, screw Mr. Slutty Glasses — as well as the delightful cameos from characters from previous series. Meghan’s writing shines here; her characters are deeply relatable, and the witty banter between them is *chef’s kiss.*
This story is a fun, flirty, feel-good romance with heart, humor, and just the right amount of slow-burn tension - trust me, when it burns, it burns bright.
I was incredibly lucky to receive an ARC copy of Scrooged for the Holidays by Kayla Grosse — and wow, what a ride!
This spicy MMMF small-town romance was something I didn’t know I needed until I dove in. The story follows Greer, a self-proclaimed scrooge who's closed off emotionally due to deep-rooted family trauma. Branded "The Ice Queen" by her image-obsessed parents (who were more interested in appearances than affection), Greer has absolutely no love for the holidays. When her job sends her to a small ski resort town to serve an eviction notice to a beloved family-run restaurant — just before Christmas — she’s all business and no holiday cheer.
That’s when we meet Remiel — the first of three Nephilim who are on a divine mission to help people rediscover their holiday spirit. Alongside him are Malachi and Samael. Each of them plays a unique role: Malachi reveals the past, Remiel embodies the present, and Samael offers glimpses of the future. Think A Christmas Carol, but a lot steamier.
Greer accidentally stumbles upon the trio in an intimate moment, and from there, things get very spicy. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the connection between the three men — already a strong, loving throuple — becomes something even more powerful with Greer in the mix.
I absolutely loved this book. It made me reflect on my own grinchy attitude toward the holidays and the reasons behind it. Like Greer, I’ve often felt disconnected from the winter festivities, so her journey really resonated with me.
The Nephilim men are not only steamy and supportive, but their bond is also genuine and touching. When Greer joins them, the emotional and physical chemistry becomes positively explosive.
If you're looking for a spicy, heartfelt, and slightly supernatural holiday romance with a meaningful message, Scrooged for the Holidays is a must-read!
What a wild ride! Meghan Quinn never disappoints and this book was an adventure!
I was extremely fortunate to get an advanced audio version of this book and it was amazing - I finished it in a day and a half! It's a full cast with Teddy Hamilton (❤), Samantha Brentmoor, Shane East, Vanessa Edwin, JF Harding, and Robert Hatchet!
Shane and Samantha brought Atlas and Betty to life and Shane East as the story narrator was perfection! The breaking of the wall between Atlas and the Narrator was great!
Atlas was a spaz and Betty was the perfect amount of sass to bring Atlas down! The chemistry between them was electric and when they finally intertwined, it was magical!
TROPES He Falls First and Hard Small Town Romance Holiday Romance Enemies to lovers He Pines for Her Cinnamon Roll MMC
This was my first book by Ellie Wilde, and I found it to be an enjoyable read! Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised.
The story didn’t require intense focus, which made it a light and easy read. While some parts felt a bit lackluster, the romance between Zac and Melody "Clover" was the highlight for me.
Zac, Clover, and her twin brother Parker were inseparable growing up. Zac and Clover clearly had feelings for each other, but Parker’s overprotectiveness made it impossible for Zac to act on his feelings. Parker’s threat to anyone showing interest in his sister kept Zac at a distance, even when Clover attempted to take their relationship further at 18. Instead of reciprocating, Zac ran—putting 15 years and a lot of emotional distance between them.
Fast forward 15 years, and Melody is recovering from an emotionally abusive relationship. She moves back to her hometown and in with her brother, Parker. When Parker sends her on a camping trip with Zac in his place, the trip is filled with intense sexual tension.
Once back home, Zac and Melody finally begin dating, but they’re forced to keep their relationship a secret from Parker.
Melody was a relatable character for me, especially because her experiences mirrored some of my own. Her journey felt authentic and grounded. Zac, however, was harder for me to connect with. While I do love a die-hard romantic, he reminded me a lot of Niles Crane from Frasier—his character lacked depth beyond his obsession with Melody, and I wish we had gotten to know him better.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and its focus on love, second chances, and personal growth. Thank you to Ellie Wilde, NetGalley, and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC!
I have read all of Victoria Walter's romance books as ARCs and I truly don't think she can write a bad book. The plots are like most romance book, BUT her characters are what sets her books apart from all the other romances. Her characters, both FMC and MMC, are relatable people that have true problems that everyone can relate too.
Tessa Elliott is a romance author who is supposed to be writing her 3rd novel, but instead she hasn't written a word and her deadline is in 3 weeks. She has no plot, characters, or setting for her next novel. It does not help that she has fallen out of love when she find out that her boyfriend of 6 months had been cheating on her the whole time.
Tessa and her ex were supposed to go to Paris for their anniversary and instead of going together, Tessa decides to go by herself in hopes to become inspired for her book.
Tessa gets the surprise of her life when she walks into the Airbnb in Paris and her ex boyfriends childhood best friend is in a skimpy towel while walking out of the bathroom.
Tempers flare and things become resolved when Tessa and Ethan decide to share the apartment for the next 5 days.
During those 5 days Ethan shows her a side of Paris that tourists don't normally see. He introduces her to his friends and they have an immediate connection.
I just loved Ethan. He was sweet, sensitive, and wanted nothing more than to be an encouraging partner to Tessa. The only problem I have with him is his name, and that's more on me than anything else - I had a very traumatizing experience with a guy named Ethan.
There was a lot of growth with both characters and even the side characters were fun!
10/10 would recommend.
This is an adorable webtoon that is being compiled into volumes.
Sébastien moves from the human world Paris to the paranormal Paris and he is lost and looking for friends. He goes into a bar and runs into Elia, a vampire who is also a fashion model. Sébastien and Elia make out and both thought they would never see each other again.
Turns out... they live in the same apartment building!
This webtoon evolves around Sébastien and his coming to terms with his sexuality, magic, and his social awkwardness. The story goes back and forth between Sébastien's story, Elia's POV, and Sébastien's friends love lives.
This comic has cute stories and characters you can 100% relate too.
I really enjoyed it and want to continue reading it on WebToon!
I enjoyed the story, I just didn't love it.
Maryn and Gabe are coworkers at a big accounting firm and they find themselves mutually hating their boss and commiserating over the food that Maryn brings to share. Gabe constantly flirts with Maryn and she tolerates it due to her troubled past. When Maryn is fired over finding a discrepancy in the books for a major client Gabe ends up quitting the next day and they open up their own accounting firm to try and solve the mystery of why this major client is having so many problems with their books.
One thing leads to another and as their love for each other grows, threats from the client and treats from Maryn’s unknown past become unbearable – Maryn freaks out and Gabe is there to help pick up the pieces.
The spice in this book was good and it came out of nowhere. Maryn does not seem like a character that would be SO into sex as she is and be as bold as she’s portrayed. For some reason, to me, the two just don’t match and I find her character hard to connect with.
What I don’t find hard to connect with is her past with the ex-boyfriend, I feel that is something most women can connect to and relate to her about.
The client part of the story I didn’t feel like was needed, I kinda wish it was the ex that was the main problem in the story. I feel like that would have made the story more relatable and would have made Maryn’s character make more sense.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This why-choose shifter romance novella is a spicy one for the books. Part one of a series we are introduced to Millie who is claiming to be a shifter heiress. She runs into her shifter neighbor, Branch, and has the time of her life.
This book had some elements that I liked:
. Unique shifting animals: rabbit, tiger, sea eagle, horse
. Semi-voyeur screen scene in Branch’s basement
. A shifter that can only perform if he’s being watched, or has a third person in the room
There were things that I did not enjoy in the book:
. She’s fated mates to 4-5 shifters
. Her backstory seemed forced and was very vague
. Didn’t feel like that story was going anywhere until the last 15 pages, of a 96 page novella.
But I was able to read it in an hour and it was a fun read if you’re not looking for anything serious!
Joana is a witch who got her dream potion-making job in her dream city, London. She moves and starts to realize how hard it is to be alone in a new country/city where you know nobody, and have very few options to live.
She starts her dream job and realizes how stressful and unfair upper management can be. It sends her spiraling and trying to learn how to handle her "dragons". Her dragons try to destroy her relationships with herself, her boyfriend, and her new friends.
Joana is a character I can empathize with, I also struggle with my own "dragons" and managing them. With a lot of encouragement from her friends, Joana decides to see a "dragon tamer" and learn how to accept herself and express her emotions in healthier ways. The biggest lesson Joana and the reader take out of the book is that to love others, you must love yourself.
The art style is gorgeous and I'll be keeping Lara Pickle on my radar!
Brynn Cornell is becoming America's Ray of Sunshine on the news network she works for, Sunup. When she thinks she's off air, she rips her hometown, Adelaide Springs, a new asshole - saying that they're poor, uneducated, and nothing special. She realizes her mistake when all the cameramen, prompters, and higher-ups come rushing around the stage and stopping her broadcast. Her career is ruined. To save her skin she recommends that she be sent back to Adeline Springs and film her homecoming and apologies to the townspeople.
Sebastian Sudworth was a Pulitzer-winning journalist before he snapped and, after a lot of NDAs, moves to Adelaide Springs to live a quieter life. While in a city council meeting, he is voted as Brynn's chaperone during her time back in town.
They have a horrible meet cute and things just get worse for Brynn as the days follow. Nobody wants her around, and Sebastian is not making anything easier. Things change when she gets stuck in a tree she climbed as a kid and called Sebastian for help. They started talking and getting to know each other. Sebastian started to see the real Brynn and not the Sunup TV version.
I found it incredibly challenging to connect with Brynn as a character. While we all encounter individuals who present themselves as something they're not, Brynn's portrayal lacked believability. I just didn't believe her apology filmed journey, and the town needed to remain upset with her.
What I did enjoy with this book were the side characters. All the townspeople in Adelaide Springs were lovely and reminded me of the small towns that I live in and by in Iowa. I also really liked the narrator's voice. It was soothing and easy to listen to.
Bryce Weatherford, a promising chef in Tampa, Florida, experiences a life-altering event when her elder brother passes away. The reading of his will reveals an unexpected responsibility: Bryce is appointed as the guardian of his three daughters - June, a tween, 8-year-old Cecily, and 5-year-old Addison. This sudden turn of events sets the stage for a significant shift in Bryce's life as she takes on the role of caregiver for her nieces.
Ryker Matthews, a Marine veteran who lost a limb during his years in Afghanistan, copes with the persistent agony of phantom limb pain and a condition known as heterotopic ossification—abnormal bone growth in soft tissues following severe trauma. To occupy his time and find solace, he immerses himself in the role of a town mechanic and restorer of vintage muscle cars. However, as he undergoes rehabilitation and endeavors to readjust to civilian life, he grapples with severe social anxiety and nightly debilitating nightmares caused by his PTSD.
Bryce and Ryker have a disastrous meet cute in the baby aisle at the local grocery store where Cecily gets stuck underneath a shelf and Ryker has a PTSD flashback and tries to protect the girls when three bottles of baby food fall from the shelves. Ryker is instantly attracted to Bryce but is embarrassed by his flashback to ask her out. He rushes from the store and doesn't buy anything in his cart. He's chastising himself by his truck when she approaches him and gives him a bag of his groceries and her business card.
Bryce thought she struck out when he never texted her or came to the restaurant she worked in, but when her car stopped working he came to her rescue. After that moment their relationship blossomed and the sexual tension was incredible!
Despite usually being a reason for me to stop reading, the miscommunication trope in this book surprisingly fits. Ryker's PTSD and his determination to shield his loved ones resonate with the experiences of other veterans I know. His situations and anxieties lend credibility and relatability to the miscommunication trope, making it work effectively in the story.
I HIGHLY recommend this book if you want a feel-good romance with minimal spice!
This is my first novel by Darcy Coates and it will not be my last! She is a spectacular horror/thriller author!
Christa may not be a fan of the great outdoors, preferring the comforts of indoor living and steering clear of venturing out after dark. However, when her boyfriend suggests a retreat deep in the Rocky Mountains, she finds herself unable to resist.
As the trip takes an unexpected turn, with a massive snowstorm causing their bus to become stranded due to a fallen tree, things start to unravel for Christa. Her boyfriend is keen to explore the area, but they end up by a cliff edge and she ends up falling. To her horror, she soon finds herself trapped in a canyon, buried under a blanket of snow, with no clue as to whether her partner has suffered the same fate.
Managing to escape her icy tomb, she stumbles upon a cabin, which incredibly houses all of the passengers from the tour bus. While they wait for the storm to subside and signal for help, they awaken to a gruesome sight the next day - their tour guide's decapitated head mounted on a tree limb.
What follows is a gripping tale of mystery and suspense as members of the group begin to meet similar fates, their heads found on tree branches. Christa is forced to unravel the mystery of who the perpetrator is before she becomes the next unfortunate victim.
This book had me completely engrossed from the beginning, with its unexpected twists and turns leaving me on edge. I was unable to put it down until the very end and have struggled to find a book that compares since finishing it.
Bree had been in love with her best friend, who happened to be a famous comedian on the hit show, Comedy Hour. Despite her attempts to move on, her feelings for Sam kept her from pursuing relationships with other men. Eventually, she decided to start a new job in Michigan, but she dreaded telling Sam about her plans.
As Sam's career took a nosedive following a viral song that exposed all his flaws, he turned to Bree for support. Staying on her couch, he realized that he had deeper feelings for her than just friendship, but his destructive behavior threatened to ruin everything.
Despite the challenges, Bree stood firm in her decision to prioritize her own goals and dreams, and she refused to let Sam's issues derail her plans. The story ultimately culminated in a satisfying happily ever after, which celebrated Bree's newfound self-worth.
One unique aspect of the book was its comedic theme, with Sam's profession as a comedian adding a fun twist to the friends-to-lovers trope. However, the lack of chemistry between Sam and Bree, combined with the distracting image of a celebrity lookalike, detracted from the overall reading experience.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Non con, rape, abuse, kidnapping
Anthony Griff is a son of two Doms. Around your 18th birthday you find out what your ‘second sex’ is, and that determines your fate. To Anthony’s parents dismay, two Dom’s created a Sub. All of their plans for their son to attend the Dom-exlusive college and for him to inherit the family business, is destroyed.
Since Anthony is now useless to his parents, they sell him off to a Dom who, coincidently, is going to be joining the Griff board of directors. Anthony is sent away and treated terribly by this new Dom, until Noah appears.
Noah, who is also a Dom, is at the house to try and rob it, but instead of robbing valuable items, he takes Anthony. Once he’s free with his new Dom, their lives can start.
I had a lot of problems with this book, first one was that the story was terrible. I love MM and Boy Love themes, but this book did not do it for me. I also did not like the amount of non-con and grooming that was involved. Normally non-con does not bother me, if I know that that’s going to be a part of the story before I start the book. If it’s a dark romance, you can almost expect it – but this book, based on the cover and description, did not give off ‘dark romance’ vibes. The first third of the book is grooming and non-con violence against Anthony.
Lillian had a stressful childhood where she felt like a burden to her mother and didn't think she was going to amount to much in or after school. She proved them wrong by getting accepted, on scholarship, to the private high school during her freshman year. She meets her unusual roommate, Madison, and Lillian feels like her life is going somewhere. That all crumbles when Madison gets caught with cocaine in her desk and her father pays Lillians's mom to have Lillian take the wrap for the drugs. She gets expelled from the school and gets into a pen pal situation with Madison for the next ten-plus years.
Lillian is contemplating what to do with her life after many failed attempts at going to college and working multiple dead-end jobs when she gets a call from Madison asking her to come over to her mansion in the Tennessee countryside to help raise her husband's two kids from his previous marriage. But there's a catch - these kids catch on fire when they are stressed or upset.
The kids and Lillian have to circumnavigate around how to keep them from catching fire, and how to assimilate them into their senator father's picture-perfect world.
I've seen this book on a lot of lists and I didn't think I was going to like it. I think if I read it in book form I would have quit, but I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was perfect. I really enjoyed the characters and I could relate to the kids (not the catching on fire part - the feeling like they're a burden part). This book caught me by surprise and I truly enjoyed listening to it.
Comfort and tradition are the name of the game for Maelyn Jones when it comes to her Christmas vacation. Ever since Maelyn was born her family, and family friends, vacation at the snowy cabin in Utah. This bucolic setting is what Maelyn looks forward to every year and never wants things to change - until the status quo was challenged and Maelyn's world went to hell.
Maelyn is petrified to face her families but when she opens her eyes, she realizes that she is back on the plane heading to Utah. She gets to redo the Christmas holiday over again and relive the same routines over and over. She needs to figure out how to get out of the time loop and figure out what will make her happy.
I really enjoyed this book! I thought I would hate it based solely on the description but, in the traditional Christina Lauren style, it wins you over with a very relatable main character facing (mostly realistic) predicaments of life.