Category Archives: romance reviews

Review: LOVE AND OTHER CONSPIRACIES by Mallory Marlowe

IMG_1741LOVE AND OTHER CONSPIRACIES by Mallory Marlowe

Publication Date: August 20, 2024

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Synopsis

IMG_1737In LOVE AND OTHER CONSPIRACIES, web series producer Hallie Barrett finds that her job is on the chopping block unless she can pull together a stand-out pitch for a new web series and find the perfect on-screen talent to carry a season. But inspiration can come from the strangest places, and after falling into the late-night internet rabbit hole, Hallie thinks she may have found her big break.

Said break comes in the form of Hayden Hargrove, an unbelievably attractive cryptid expert who has made a name for himself on the hit podcast, The Out There. Intrigued by the plucky, blue-haired producer, Hayden agrees to partner with Hallie to bring his podcast to the screen.

When the production team sees that Hayden’s solo on-screen presence is bad enough to make a ghost blanch, Hallie jumps on camera too, challenging his beliefs at every turn with a healthy dose of skepticism—and enough chemistry to skyrocket their ratings and bring the show to the top of the competition. As they venture into the world of Mothman and aliens, sparks fly and Hayden and Hallie begin to unearth feelings for each other that will shake their beliefs to the core.

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Donna review 4.5 stars

This is the debut novel for Mallory Marlowe, and she hit it out of the park. The premise of the story was quirky and fun, especially where one believes in cryptids and conspiracies and the other does not. Hallie and Hayden’s banter was witty and enjoyable. Their chemistry was immediate, and I never liked one more than the other…they were a them. I would have given it a 5, but the climax of the story pulled me out a bit due to Hallie’s behavior. It was slight, but I was disappointed in her. Thankfully she redeemed herself quickly and my love of the story was not diminished.

Overall, this was a fast-paced, smile inducing, sometimes steamy, rom-com. I still have a smile on my face and cannot wait for her next book. I love finding a new author.

*Review copy provided by Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle | Paperback

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About the Author

Mallory Marlowe is an author and video game writer living in Los Angeles, CA. Seriously right-brained since childhood, her love of telling stories began with highly elaborate plots for her Barbie dolls and taking elementary school writing projects too seriously. She studied Writing for Film and TV at Emerson College. When she isn’t writing, she’s likely reading, stuck in LA traffic, or has fallen down a weird internet rabbit hole. Love and Other Conspiracies is her debut novel. Learn more online at www.mallorymarlowe.com.

Review: LOVE AT FIRST BOOK by Jenn McKinlay

A8D959A0-A77E-43E9-A1C9-FD418EFCD2BALOVE AT FIRST BOOK by Jenn McKinlay

Publication Date: May 14, 2024

Genre: Contemporary Romance

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IMG_0778When a librarian moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives, the last thing she expects is to fall for the author’s prickly son… until their story becomes one for the books, from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.

Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha’s Vineyard, has always dreamed of a life of travel and adventure. So when her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job in the Emerald Isle, Emily jumps at the opportunity. After all, Siobhan’s novels got Em through some of the darkest days of her existence.

Helping Siobhan write the final book in her acclaimed series—after a ten-year hiatus due to a scorching case of writer’s block—is a dream come true for Emily. If only she didn’t have to deal with Siobhan’s son, Kieran Murphy. He manages Siobhan’s bookstore, and the grouchy bookworm clearly doesn’t want Em around.

Emily persists, and spending her days bantering with the annoyingly handsome mercurial Irishman only makes her fall more deeply in love with the new life she’s built – and for the man who seems to soften toward her with every quip she throws at him. But when she discovers the reason for Kieran’s initial resistance, Em finds herself torn between helping Siobhan find closure with her series and her now undeniable feelings for Kier. As Siobhan’s novel progresses, Emily will have to decide if she’s truly ready to turn a new page and figure out what lies in the next chapter.

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This contemporary romance was a pleasure to read. Set in Ireland with lovely villagers and a couple that were meant for each other. I loved Emily’s personality, and her inner thoughts were a fun read. Kieran was a little harder to get to know, but his gruff and dismissive attitude couldn’t hide the good man inside. I was quickly invested in their story. Their witty banter along with the love and friendship of those around them made me long to move to the village and join them.

Emily and Kieran have past family issues that caused insecurities they needed to work through. The story is written through Emily’s eyes, so it is her transformation that touched me the most. I liked watching her transform into the woman hidden inside. Their romance was a slow burn that was quite satisfying. I enjoyed it all and now need to go find a recipe for whiskey shortbread.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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Kindle | Paperback

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Former librarian Jenn McKinlay is the New York Timesand USA Today bestselling author of the Bluff Point Romances, including Every Dog Has His Day, Barking Up the Wrong Tree, and About a Dog, as well as the Library Lover’s Mysteries, the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries, and the Hat Shop Mysteries. Jenn lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with kids, pets, and her husband’s guitars.

Visit her website at: www.jennmckinlay.com

Or follow her:
Facebook: JennMcKinlayAuthor
Instagram: @mckinlayjenn

Review: FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry

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FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry

Publication Date: April 23, 2024

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

IMG_1893Named a Most Anticipated book of 2024 by TIME ∙ The New York Times ∙ Goodreads ∙ Entertainment Weekly ∙ Today ∙ Paste ∙ SheReads ∙ BookPage ∙ Woman’s World ∙ The Nerd Daily and more!

A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?

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I enjoyed this contemporary romance. I honestly expected it to be all light and fluffy but was pleased to see how both Daphne and Miles’ past baggage molded them. Nothing earth shattering, but how their early lives shaped their behavior and expectations in a realistic manner. It explained so much about their personalities and added a nice depth to them. I loved how the author quickly and clearly invested me into their world, smiling at their banter and flirting as they tried to just be friends. The people around them rounded out their characters in a delightful way as well. The author’s writing style is such that I will now add her to my TBR list. She provided a fun escape.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle | Hardback

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About the Author

F900C144-AC52-4F56-9630-B63C889A3DE3Emily Henry is the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation. She writes stories about love and family for both teens and adults. She studied creative writing at Hope College and the New York Center for Art & Media Studies, and now spends most of her time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the part of Kentucky just beneath it. Find her on Instagram @EmilyHenryWrites.

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Review: CODE OF CONDUCT: An SBG Novella by P.A. DePaul

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CODE OF CONDUCT: An SBG Novella (SBG Series Book 3) by P.A. DePaul

Publication Date: January 16, 2024

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

IMG_1674Can a computer wizard write a code that apprehends criminals and attracts the woman who captured his heart?

Tech genius Ted Byrnes spends his days assisting a lethal black ops squad. Their missions are usually global, but Ted uncovers a national identity theft ring has infiltrated the small town he calls home. Instead of remaining behind the scenes, he takes the lead.

Doreen McKenna is a struggling widow attempting to raise her ten-year-old genius-IQ son. For four years, she’s pushed aside her own needs to focus on her son. Working long days as the office manager in a doctor’s office, the highlights of her week revolve around grocery shopping and taking her son to the bookstore…until she’s approached by a man in the fiction section whose intellect and looks have her suppressed desires rising to the surface.

Ted has narrowed the source of the identity theft ring and needs Doreen’s help. Working together, they devise a plan to expose the criminals, but what’s written on paper doesn’t always happen in real life. Their attraction escalates alongside the danger. Apprehending the ring may break all the codes of conduct . . .

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Donna review 4.5 stars

This is book three in the SBG series. It can be read alone, but why deprive yourself.  This story is about the loveable computer tech in the SweetBriar Group, a black ops team for the US. I adored how Ted broke out from working behind the scenes to his first operation. What a hoot! He is clearly out of his depth. And once he met Doreen, his attraction to her sent it all into overdrive. Doreen is a widow raising a young genius. She is strong but stuck in a bad situation. I’m generally not a fan of insta-love, but their mutual attraction seemed to fit into the story.

The storyline fits into today’s issues with hacking and identity theft. It also included enough action to keep me pinned to the pages. I have to add that I absolutely love the camaraderie of the SBG team. I think that’s what pulled me into the series in the first place. I want to be a part of it all. I wish this book could have been a full novel because it moved so fast and over too quickly. If you’ve not read the first two books, I encourage you to do so. I can’t wait for April and the next installment in this series.

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle | Series Link 

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About the Author

P. A. DePaul is a Publishers Weekly Bestselling and award-winning author.

Her books are full of action, suspense, and romance.

As a hybrid author, she has books traditionally and independently published. Her traditional publishers include Berkley, a Penguin Random House imprint, and Harlequin Books.

She loves connecting with readers! You can find her on these social media and book sites: Website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, GoodReads, Amazon.

Review: FISH OUT OF WATER by Katie Ruggle

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FISH OUT OF WATER by Katie Ruggle

Publication Date: February 14, 2024

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

IMG_1443WHY DATE A MOUNTAIN MAN? Because he knows how to pitch a tent.

When Dahlia Weathersby’s sister disappears on what should have been a simple day hike, Dahlia immediately heads deep into the Colorado Rockies to find her. Knowing she’ll never survive the mountains alone, she convinces the local hermit—adorably grouchy survival expert Winston Dane—to be her guide. All it takes is a good helping of Dahlia’s charm…and just the teeniest bit of blackmail…before she’s got all six-foot-something of him wrapped around her finger. But even with her very own mountain man in tow, things aren’t going to be easy. There are:

  • Long hikes through gorgeous wilderness? Check.
  • Bears? Check.
  • A single shared sleeping bag? Check.
  • Enough sparks to set the Rockies ablaze? Check, check, check.

With everything the wilderness has to throw at them, it’ll take more than charm and some city girl ingenuity to make this trek anything but a disaster waiting to happen…and an adventure she’ll never forget.

The Rocky Mountains get unBEARably hot in Katie Ruggle’s brand-new romance packed with adventure, action, tall dark & scruffy heroes, and a sense of quirky humor that will be your next perfect escape.

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As usual, Katie Ruggle’s writing has flown me away from reality. This quick read was a light romantic suspense novel filled with humor. Dahlia’s quirky comments reminded me of my own thought processes that aren’t always understood by others. Poor Winston didn’t stand a chance. He may come off as a cold taciturn mountain man, but to me there were enough glimpses of his true nature coming through to explain the attraction. The romance was sweet and understandable, culminating into a gentle and sexy encounter. Some small things in the story confused me and made me shake my head. The biggest thing is the basic storyline. It is so much like her “Gone Too Deep” novel. (One of my favorite books) That did not stop me from enjoying this story, however. I’m glad she’s back and look forward to more adventures.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle | Paperback

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About the Author
imageWhen she’s not writing, Katie Ruggle rides horses, shoots guns, and travels to warm places where she can SCUBA dive. Graduating from the Police Academy, Katie received her ice-rescue certification and can attest that the reservoirs in the Colorado mountains really are that cold. While she still misses her off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains, she now lives in Rochester, Minnesota near her family.

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Review: THE WRATH (The Warlord Series Book 4) by Gena Showalter

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THE WRATH (The Warlord Series Book 4) by Gena Showalter

Publication Date: February 6, 2024

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Synopsis

IMG_1333New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with a new book in the tantalizing Rise of the Warlords series, featuring a brutal Hell king and the irresistible beauty who upends his world.

For centuries, Rathbone the Only, King of Agonies, has existed for one purpose: recovering the enchanted bones of his slain wife to bring her back to life. He’s never been closer to success. But a new enemy has risen. A band of deadly war gods who have thirty days to destroy her or suffer the consequences. With time running out, Rathbone hires a maddening harpy-oracle, unaware she has an agenda of her own.

Neeka the Unwanted is a fierce warrior on a mission: stop Rathbone and the gods. She’s seen the future if either is victorious, and it’s horrifying. She’ll do whatever proves necessary to forge a new path, even seduce the ruthless royal from his purpose. What she can’t predict? How the intense male will shatter her hard-won defenses along the way.

As Rathbone battles unexpected betrayals, cunning foes and the wild temptress he craves with every fiber of his being, he knows he must choose: hold on to a cold dream or embrace a new flame.

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Cori 5 Stars

I could not wait for this one! I have loved Rathbone since he showed up in THE DARKEST PROMISE and started messing with Lazarus by putting stuffed leopards that looked like him in his bag that kept reappearing after he got rid of them. I’m not sure if it was to spy on him or just to mess with his head but it was funny. The harpies are always fun and Neeka is incredible so this book had a great heroine. I absolutely loved Rathbone and Neeka together. Gena Showalter always delivers an unforgettable love story. I always end one of her books thinking it’s my favorite and those characters are my absolute favorites and then the next book comes along and that books ends up being my favorite. Her characters draw me into their story, and I laugh and smile and get swept up in the worlds she creates. This is a new favorite but I’m sure I’ll say that on the next one too. 

The Warlord Series is a spin-off series from The Lords of the Underground Series but you do not need to read it before picking up this series. I highly recommend the LOTU series though. It’s one of my favorites. Each book in the Warlord series is a standalone but I recommend reading them in order.

I highly recommend this book and this series for paranormal romance lovers looking for steamy romance with action, humor, powerful heroines and heroes you fall in love with.

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle | Hardback

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About the Author

411A3C05-FDF9-4C09-BE5D-F743C622384CGena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, two young adult series–Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles–and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. In addition to being a National Reader’s Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan (Red Hot Read) and Seventeen magazine, she’s appeared on Nightline and been mentioned in Orange is the New Black–if you ask her about it, she’ll talk for hours…hours! Her books have been translated in multiple languages.

She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com or Facebook.com/genashowalterfan

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Review: HOUSEBROKE by Jaci Burton

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HOUSEBROKE by Jaci Burton

Publication Date: December 12, 2023

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

IMG_0910A millionaire and a woman who thinks he’s a house flipper are stuck living in a house together with a menagerie of rescue dogs as roommates, in this heartfelt romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton.

After her ex took all their money and bailed, Hazel Bristow is left broke and homeless. A kind friend whose home is on the market lets Hazel and her foster dogs stay there until it sells. It’s the perfect setup, until her friend forgets to tell Hazel she’s sold the house.

Linc Kennedy is shocked to find Hazel and her pups squatting in the house he just bought, but after some negotiating—she offers to cook amazing meals for him in return for a paycheck—he agrees to let her remain while he’s renovating the place. Linc tells Hazel he’s an investor who renovates homes for fun—he just leaves out the part about being wealthy.

Hazel’s intrigued by Linc. He’s funny, sweet, ridiculously hot, and loves dogs almost as much as she does. But her track record with men? Not great. She worries her trust meter isn’t in working order.

Linc’s never met anyone like the quirky beauty who puts everyone’s needs—human and canine—before her own. He didn’t tell her about his wealth because he’s been burned by women who only wanted him for his money. But with Hazel, he’s never felt more like himself. Now he has to figure out how to tell her the truth without losing her. Because Linc realizes what he feels for her isn’t puppy love—it’s true love.

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Donna 4 stars

This was an enjoyable, light romance. The forced proximity trope was cute and blended the future story together nicely. It wasn’t insta-love between Linc and Hazel, but they were just perfect for each other, didn’t fight the attraction, thus the relationship blossomed quickly into a hot romance. Add foster dogs to the mix, and you have a fun book to get lost in. I also enjoyed the banter and interaction with Linc’s family. I wish they were around more, but glad I had a taste of their relationship. I do have to say that Hazel’s actions during the climax of the story made me groan. It was forced as an almost “I have to have some drama here” situation. It could have been something different to add to the feel of the book instead of detracting. Overall, it is a light and enjoyable story.

*Review copy provided by Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle | Paperback

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About the Author Jaci Burton Bio PicAfter spending too many years to count in the high stress business world, New York Times and USA Today Bestelling Author Jaci Burton is happy to be living her dream of writing passionate romance. She has written over forty-five novels and is contracted to write ten more. Jaci has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business that she is thrilled not to be using in the corporate environment anymore. She grew up in Missouri but migrated to California, where she lived for thirteen years, but now makes her home in Oklahoma with her husband and five dogs. She enjoys being outdoors in the summer and she and her husband are avid Harley riders.

Jaci writes in multiple genres, from erotic romance to romantic suspense to contemporary romance. She has won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award, and has been nominated for the award four times. She has been a finalist in the Bookseller’s Best and National Reader’s Choice Awards, and has won The Romance Studio’s CAPA Award four times.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Review: ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS by Erika Kelly

IMG_0433ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS (A Calamity Falls Small Town Romance Novel Book 13) by Erika Kelly

Publication Date: November 16, 2023

Genre: Contemporary Romance

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IMG_0413Her children are grown, her ex betrayed her in the worst way, and it’s her first Christmas alone. What better way to spend it than with the hottest man she’s ever seen? She deserves a little fun after losing everything she’s worked so hard for.

Margot Rhodes is glad to wake up in her hotel room to an empty bed. Her one and only hookup was phenomenal, but she doesn’t need to say goodbye to a man she’ll never see again. Except when she comes downstairs…she finds him in the lobby.

A snowstorm shut down the airport, and now she’s stuck with him for three days.

She needs to rebuild her life–not fall for some guy who lives two thousand miles away–so she does her best to avoid him, but the infuriating man keeps teaming up with her in the holiday events the hotel owner’s arranged to keep her guests happy.

And then, when it’s time to go their separate ways, he makes an offer she can’t refuse. It requires a move to his hometown…but what does she have to lose? She’s starting from the bottom which means the only way forward is up.

She’s got a second chance at life…is she willing to risk it all for a dirty-talking stranger?

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Cori 4.5 Stars

Just in time for the holidays this book is the perfect holiday romance to curl up with and enjoy. I always enjoy Erika Kelly’s books because I know she’s going to give me a great love story with some steamy romance and I really like her writing style. I’ve been hooked since her first book. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS is a forced proximity Christmas romance set in a small town. There’s plenty of steamy romance and I loved the great characters. I curled up with this book on a rainy day and got lost in the small town of Calamity. I highly recommend this book for romance lovers this holiday season.

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle | Paperback

Amazon Series Link

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★★GIVEAWAY★★

KINDLE EBOOK & $5 AMAZON GIFT CARD

ENTER ON FACEBOOK POST HERE

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604CAF16-513E-40B9-A008-94B19D5E8AF7 Award-winning author Erika Kelly has been spinning romantic tales all her life–she just didn’t know it. Raised on the classics, she didn’t discover romantic fiction until later in life. From that moment on, she’s been devouring the genre and has found her true voice as an author. Over three decades she’s written poems, screenplays, plays, short stories, and all kinds of women’s fiction novels. Married to the love of her life and raising four children, she lives in the northeast, drinks a lot of tea, and is always waiting for her cats to get off her keyboard.

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Review: DO YOUR WORST by Rosie Danan

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DO YOUR WORST by Rosie Danan

Publication Date: November 14, 2023

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Synopsis

saveSparks fly when an occult expert and a disgraced archeologist become enemies-with-benefits in this steamy romance from “go-to author” Rosie Danan (The New York Times Book Review).

Riley Rhodes finally has the chance to turn her family’s knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business when she’s hired to break the curse on an infamous Scottish castle. Used to working alone in her alienating occupation, she’s pleasantly surprised to meet a handsome stranger upon arrival—until he tries to get her fired.

Fresh off a professional scandal, Clark Edgeware can’t allow a self-proclaimed “curse breaker” to threaten his last chance for redemption. After he fails to get Riley kicked off his survey site, he vows to avoid her. Unfortunately for him, she vows to get even.

Riley expects the curse to do her dirty work by driving Clark away, but instead, they keep finding themselves in close proximity. Too close. Turns out, the only thing they do better than fight is fool around. If they’re not careful, by the end of all this, more than the castle will end up in ruins.

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Donna review 4.5 stars

I enjoyed this story. A contemporary Rom-com with paranormal undertones was rather fun. The curse breaking aspect was like an archaeology mystery. Which worked quite well with the archaeologist in residence and setting up the angst between them. Riley was the curse breaker and Clark the archaeologist. Pulling in the ancient myths and legends surrounding a castle in the Scottish Highlands, had both scrambling for answers and dismissing the other’s work. I don’t always like the enemies to lovers trope because they tend to drag on too long for me. This came close to that but saved itself as part of the story. At some points their actions seemed rather cruel, so I was glad when that got resolved. The romance was hot and sexy due to their mutual insta-lust. The enemy vow didn’t stand a chance.

Overall, it was a fun quick read that made me smile. I do hope this becomes a series so I can see what happens next.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle | Paperback

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About the Author

Rosie Danan is the award-winning, bestselling author of The Roommate, The Intimacy Experiment, and Do Your Worst. Her work has been optioned for film as well as translated into nine different languages and counting. The New York Times describes her writing as “warmly funny and gorgeously sexy.”

When not working on her next book, Rosie enjoys jogging slowly to fast music, petting other people’s dogs, and competing against herself in rounds of Chopped using the miscellaneous ingredients occupying her fridge.

Review: DARK MEMORY by Christine Feehan

IMG_7473DARK MEMORY (A Carpathian Novel Book 37) by Christine Feehan

Publication Date: October 3, 2023

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Synopsis

IMG_7471Experience a connection that defies death in this captivating novel in Christine Feehan’s #1 New York Times bestselling Carpathian series.

Safia Meziane has trained since birth to protect her tribe, the family she holds so dear. All along she told herself the legends she was raised with were simply that. But now, she must call upon all of her skills to fight what lies ahead. Evil has come to their small town on the coast of Algeria, evil that Safia can feel but cannot see.

She is terrified she will not be able to protect the ones she loves. As her family’s “chosen one,” she has always believed she would face this task alone—until her family reveals she has been promised to a warrior who will join her. An outsider. A Carpathian…

Petru Cioban is one of the oldest Carpathians in existence, and he has spent all that time without the soothing presence of his lifemate. For two thousand years he has waited for this woman to be reborn, only to find her in the sights of a monster he has fought before, a vampire risen again to finish a battle started centuries ago.

Now, Petru must face his greatest enemy and his greatest shame. He has no hope that Safia will forgive his betrayal once the memories of her past life return to her. But he will not make the same mistake again, even if he has to sacrifice everything for the woman who has claimed his immortal soul.

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I got lost in this tale from the start. I loved the Algerian aspect and family customs so easily incorporated into the storyline. Safia came alive as the family and tribe’s demon slayer and protector. Those around her aided in describing her character and strength just by their interaction with her, making me become invested in all the tribe’s future. Petru is the usual ancient Carpathian. He had a few different nuances because of his and Safia’s history, but his character was not as rounded out as hers. I enjoyed their lover’s banter as the relationship progressed. Nice sexiness intertwined with the danger and evil surrounding them.

The story itself was fast paced and quite riveting. Safia’s way of fighting demons and vampires had new aspects that made it interesting. Lilith and her demon horde had their work cut out for them when facing Safia and Petru’s people. I cannot wait for the next installment. The hints about it sounded quite enticing.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle | Hardback

Amazon Series Link

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image#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan has over 40 novels published, including four series. Each of her four series has hit #1 on the NY Times. Her debut novel Dark Prince received 3 of the 9 Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romantic Literature for 1999. Since then she has been published by Leisure Books, Pocket Books, and currently is writing for Berkley/Jove. She also has earned 7 more PEARL awards.

She is pleased to have made numerous bestseller lists including the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Bookscan, B. Daltons, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Waldenbooks, Ingrams, Borders, Rhapsody Book Club, Washington Post, and Walmart. She has received numerous honors throughout her career including being a nominee for the RWA’s RITA. She has received a Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times and the Borders 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award.

She has been published in multiple languages and in many formats, including large print, palm pilot, e-book, and hardcover. In October of 2007 her first manga comic, Dark Hunger was released in stores. This was the first ever manga comic released by Berkley Publishing and it made #11 on Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller’s List. Her ground-breaking book trailer commercials have been shown on TV and in the movie theaters. She has been featured on local TV, appeared on the The Montel Williams Show, and her book Dark Legend was featured on the cover of Romantic Times Magazine.

Christine Feehan has also appeared at numerous writers’ conventions and book signings including: Romantic Times Convention, Get Caught Reading at Sea Cruise, Celebrate Romance Conference, Emerald City Conference, and numerous Romance Writers of America Conferences.

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