Role Playing


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This was a cute romance about two Gen X introverts who meet online while playing a RPG together. Due to assumptions made on each side, they don’t realize they’re talking to someone their own age but they form a friendship regardless while going on quests together with the rest of their guild. Eventually they realize the truth but both are romantically cautious due to their pasts so the friendship continues to grow. ⁣
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I loved Aiden so much. He’s a cinnamon roll good guy who gave up everything to try and take care of his aging parents without much support. He hasn’t had much of a romantic history outside of a few relationships when he was young and I loved the journey he went on to discover why that is (hint: he’s not straight). I love how clearly written and well explored his demisexuality is, a lot of times this is just hinted at or skirted around but it was a major plot point here, integral to his story. ⁣
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Also, he’s described as chunky and PLEASE I am begging you give us more big boy MMCs because I love it. ⁣
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I loved how unapologetically grumpy Maggie was. She was completely out of fucks to give and it was honestly so refreshing to read a character who didn’t care what people thought about her. She was a borderline hermit, leaving her house only when truly necessary and mostly avoiding other people (I can relate). She was also so supportive and accepting of Aiden when not a lot of people in his life were. ⁣
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I really enjoyed this but at times it was a bit too much of a slow burn for me personally because not a lot of tension was being built. Some of the game stuff was also boring for me but I can see that being interesting if you’re into gaming!⁣
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Overall though I thought it was a good story with great representation and it was a great change of pace to read about characters that skewed older than we normally see in romance! ⁣
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I did the audio on this one, I liked the flow but didn’t think either narrator’s accent was a great fit for the characters. The male narrator especially has a southern twang which didn’t fit the MMC who was born and raised in Washington. This isn’t a huge issue but it is enough to pull me out of the book!⁣

Young Buck


From Smartypants Romance… Young Buck, an all-new slow burn small-town romance
 from Kilby Blades, is now live in #kindleunlimited!

My take –

This was a sweet small town age gap romance. Loretta and Buck had a hilarious meet cute that set up the story really well. I love that she was the older one in the age gap, though Buck didn’t really seem younger in any way. I enjoyed how their relationship grew from neighbors to more and enjoyed the bit of heat we got! 

At times it felt like these were montages instead of chapters, the way things jump around. She’s on a date with a different guy, the next page he’s rescuing someone in her “book club”, then the next chapter something else happens. It didn’t feel like a super cohesive plot in these moments.

I also did not love the third act conflict. I don’t hate them in general but this one had me gritting my teeth.

Overall though it was a good addition to this series!

‘Young Buck’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #5 in the Green Valley Heroes series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Package Makes Perfect

This was a cute fake dating small town romance between Robin, an outgoing aviation mechanic, and Arthur, a slightly grumpy mailman. 

Robin catches her boyfriend, Arthur’s cousin, cheating on her and decides to fake date Arthur to get back at him. Arthur, who believes in true love and soulmates, is appalled that his cousin would cheat on a woman as wonderful as Robin, so he agrees despite this causing major issues with his family. She decides to give him kissing lessons (and more!) after their one attempt at a kiss to decide if they’re actually compatible goes terribly.

I loved Arthur, he’s described as grumpy but I think he’s really just an introvert who appreciates a schedule and just wants to be comfortable at home while reading a book and having a strict bedtime (I can relate). He’s a big hairy guy which I lovvvveee and I loved how steadfastly he believed in true love even if he hadn’t really felt that spark with any one (until *spoiler alert* Robin). His family was also great, aside from one of them, and I loved that they were a bunch of male wedding planners.

Robin was a fun character, I loved her take no shit attitude while also caring deeply for Arthur and his happiness. I love that she has a blue collar career while also going to school to finish her degree so she can own her own company. 

I loved them together but man the lack of communication made me want to pull my hair out by the end. Neither of them were honest about their feelings and it got repetitive and old as the book progressed. 

Overall though it was cute and I especially loved the kissing (and more!!) lessons. 

‘Package Makes Perfect’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #6 in the Green Valley Heroes series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Skies Over Caledonia

Happy Thursday! Skies Over Caledonia released today, I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

I love returning to Ardnoch! 

This brings us Jared and Allegra’s story, two characters we’ve met in previous books. We’re now five years in the future from the previous book, and Allegra finds herself about to be kicked out of Scotland for visa reasons. She has a proposition for Jared, whose family farm is failing – they get married so she can stay in the country and she can provide the capital needed to save the farm.

I love a marriage of convenience romance and this one was so good! Jared’s been avoiding Allegra’s attentions for years, she’s too rich and shiny and young for the likes of a surly farmer like him but the forced proximity works its magic and they eventually can’t resist each other any longer.

Jared was so broody and grumpy and I loved it. He boarded on rude at times in his insistence at not growing closer to Allegra and I love that she eventually won him over. He was the king of “my wife” moments that I am an absolute sucker for. Allegra was a character who surprised me, she wasn’t necessarily cast in the best light during previous books but I loved learning her history and watching her come into her own. 

They’re both two lonely souls and I loved how they found belonging with each other. It’s a slow burn but when they finally gave into those feelings it was super hot! There’s also a dash of suspense and I love that it drove them closer together.

It’s always great to return to this world and I thoroughly enjoyed it!. 

Promise Me This

Promise Me This releases tomorrow! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ⁣
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Another winner from Karla Sorensen! I love this world and this family and am always so happy to return.
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This is Ian Wilder’s story, the grumpy & slightly mysterious brother who’s mostly been in the background of the other sibling’s books. He’s back in town for good, settled down with a house and job at his family’s construction company, when suddenly his childhood best friend shows back up in town and needs a place to stay. He offers her and her daughter the spare rooms in his house and she reluctantly agrees. Harlow is a writer with a serious case of writer’s block and just needs a comfortable place to land for a while.⁣
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Ian and Harlow were truly always just friends, from kindergarten on up but they fell out of touch after high school and are now rediscovering each other in their mid thirties. The close proximity of living together eventually works its magic and they start to see each other in a new light. When I say eventually, I mean WHEW it’s a slooowwwww burn but that just means the payoff is that much sweeter. ⁣
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I loved both characters, Ian is so grumpy with everyone in his life except Harlow, and even when he is she calls him out for it. I loved how they were each other’s person, they were such good friends first and they found comfort and a sense of home in each other. I loved how they both fought so hard not to have Feelings for each other and I loved when they had their fuck it moment.⁣
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If you couldn’t tell, I loved it! ⁣

The Five Year Lie

Sarina Bowen is one of my all time favorite romance authors so I was so excited to see she had a thriller coming out! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I don’t read a ton of thrillers these days but I do enjoy them so this seemed right up my alley … and it was!

I really enjoyed it. It’s a domestic thriller about single mother Ariel, who receives a text message five years after the disappearance of the father of her child. They once had a torrid affair, until one day he sends her an email saying he’s leaving and it’s over between them, oh and then he died. She sets off to find out who could have sent her this text and what was really behind his disappearance five years ago, as the contents of the text change her perspective on the whole situation. 

It’s a quick reading book that flashes between past and present as we discover what brought Drew into Ariel’s life all those years ago and what led to his disappearance. The mystery was intriguing and I didn’t want to put it down so I could find out if my theories were correct. I enjoyed all the characters and yes, there is a romance. It’s in the background but it’s definitely there which was great. 

Overall I thought it was an intriguing read and one I recommend for those who like thrillers with a bit of romance! 

Muffin But Trouble

From Smartypants Romance… Muffin But Trouble, an all-new opposites attract small-town romance from Talia Hunter, is now live in #kindleunlimited!

★ ★ BLURB ★ ★

New Yorker, Magdalena Solis, is a city cynic to her core. But when she’s threatened by a thug who demands she pay her absent boyfriend’s debts, she flees to Green Valley, Tennessee. Bewildered by her rural surroundings, and harboring a serious aversion to beards and flannel, Mags is horrified when the first local she encounters is the scruffiest brute she’s ever seen.

Cy Baxter has a tortured past, a bad reputation, and facial hair like a tumbleweed in a dust storm.

With troubles of his own, Cy vows to keep clear of the rude stranger who does nothing but insult him. But he has a heart as big as the wide-open countryside, and when an adorable stray dog brings the two together, sparks fly in the most unexpected ways.

Desperate to pay off her pursuer, Mags starts work at the Donner Bakery. And as Cy becomes a regular customer, his sweet tooth turns into a longing for something spicier.

But with the relentless thug hot on Mags’ trail, can these city-meets-country misfits find common ground? Or will their love story be as impossible as square dancing in stilettos?

‘Muffin But Trouble’ is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #4 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

My Take:

This is book four in the Donner Bakery series, featuring Magdalena, who is the sister to Carla from Tough Cookie. She’s in Green Valley to hideout after her boyfriend’s drug dealer threatens her. She gets a short term job at the Donner Bakery, and has a series of run ins with Cy, her bearded neighbor which eventually turns into a romance.

I loved Cy! His dad was a bad guy so everyone in town expects him and his family to be bad as well but he’s a really upstanding, kind hearted guy. He’s temporarily raising his niece while his sister gets medical help, and I loved how hard he tried to be there for her. 

Magdalena I did not like as much. I genuinely hate leaving a review saying something about an unlikable heroine because everyone is too hard on FMCs but I really did not like her. She constantly judged and insulted people directly to their faces and didn’t care, even when they pointed out she was being rude. She was a mean girl which is different than just “unlikable.”

Overall though it was great to be back in Green Valley and I loved Cy!

Late Bloomer

Late Bloomer is out today! Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

This was an easy breezy sapphic romance between two women who both think they’re the rightful owner to the flower farm. Opal, the chaotic artist who buys the farm after winning the lottery, and Pepper, the serious woman who thinks she’s inherited the farm from her grandma. They agree to live there together while they work out a solution and you already know how that goes.

It was an easy listen, the tone was light and the characters were endearing, if not a little young feeling. I really enjoyed Pepper’s character, the autism rep was great and I loved her character arc. I also really enjoyed the side characters and what a great support system they were for our FMCs.

There was a lot of focus on their inner monologues instead of a complicated plot or them actually communicating with each other. If you love character driven stories with lots of exposition on inner thoughts maybe you’ll love this part of it! I loved the spice level but I could have personally also used more swoons and romance between them.

Overall though I thought it was great and I was entertained by the audio. The audio performance was great, I could easily tell the difference between the FMCs and the side characters. I do recommend it if you’re looking for something sapphic and bubbly and easy reading and full of pop culture references!

Just This Once

Well, I guess I’m a King girlie now! (Fictional) bad boys are more fun anyway.

If you’ve read the Sullivan family series, you know the King family has had a long standing rivalry with the Sullivans, and now it’s the King’s time to shine.

Whip King has a steamy one night stand with a stranger at a bar, only to later find out it’s his boss’s daughter who just moved to town. He’s trying to impress his chief to get a promotion so canoodling with his precious daughter isn’t the best way to go about that. Emily is new to town, starting over, and doesn’t need a cocky (& pierced!) firefighter sniffing around her, but the two are unable to stay apart and boy did I love their chemistry.

Their relationship is full of secret encounters and stolen moments, and I just loved how they supported and brought out the best in each other as they slowly brought their walls down. 

It was great to be back in Outtatowner and see glimpses of the Sullivans and other townies, and I’m so looking forward to more Kings! 

Unloved

Unloved is one of those books that’s been on my TBR for years and years. I can’t remember how it got there but when I saw it was now in KU I finally decided to read it and I’m so glad I did.

I am an absolute sucker for a true forced proximity romance – in this, the FMC is attacked and injured by a fellow hiker on a hiking trip, and the MMC swoops in to save her. He takes her back to his secluded cabin and nurses her back to health, until her wounds have healed enough to make the treacherous journey back to civilization. 

It’s not always an easy story, both have traumatic backstories revolving around violence that are explored via flashbacks but it was a lovely romance nonetheless.  

Cass is my favorite kind of hero, broken and secluded but ultimately caring and full of so much love. He lives off the grid, totally alone, because believes it’s best for society if he is not a part of it. His dad was a terrible man who did terrible things, and he’s worried those violent genes are a ticking time bomb in him. 

Brynn is also a bit of a hermit, her fiance died years ago in a violent act and she’s having trouble moving forward. They were so sweet together, Cass tried so hard not to fall for her but the forced proximity did its magic and they just couldn’t stay apart. Both characters were so resilient and I just genuinely liked them a lot.

It was a bit instalove and crazy dramatic at times and I ate it up. It was also heartbreaking, heartwarming, and emotional. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am now dying to read the author’s entire backlist.

TWs: death of a loved one, grief, violence, gun violence, cancer