close proximity

In A Second

Happy Saturday! In A Second released this week, thank you to the author for the ARC. 

Ohhhhh boy did I love this. You may have heard my talk about my love of In A Jam (or not, I’ve been very subtle hehe) but this is a worthy successor and if you know me you know what high praise that is. 

Audrey and Jude had such a delicious second chance romance. It has so many elements I love- fake engagement, road trip, forced proximity, only one bed, devoted single dad. It’s more than a list of tropes though, it’s a deep and emotional story of these two love birds finding their way back together after her family drove them apart years ago.

I truly loved them both, together and separately. Their journey is not an easy one, they really have to work through their past and present-day troubles. They both make mistakes, especially Jude, but in a way that felt so realistic to me. The journey is also not a short one but I love a long book that keeps me invested in all 500ish pages. I would have gladly read another 500 pages of their love.

I also of course loved revisiting the other characters from this series and broader world. I love that the author’s books have me like Charlie Day in front of his serial killer board. I do think you could read this as a standalone, though I of course recommend reading In A Jam as well  😉

Single Dad Dilemma

Single Dad Dilemma is out today! Thank you to the author for the ALC. 

I really enjoyed this! Single dad, neighbors to lovers, and an emotional slow burn as only Karla can write.

Barrett and Lily were both super grumpy which I love, but in sort of different ways. Barrett’s job as head coach to a football team leaves him with very little free time so he lives a very regimented life and doesn’t appreciate disruption, while Lily is a free wheeling nomad who constantly disrupts him. They’re brought together by Barrett’s kids and slowly find themselves turning into more.

I really liked Lily – she’s introverted, doesn’t really like people, and just kept needling Barrett. I love that the author regularly gives us non-sunshine FMCs. 

It wouldn’t be a Karla book if it didn’t break my heart, so of course it did at times, but overall I love how they found the partner/love/home they both had been missing. 

I did the audio on this one and really enjoyed it, especially Aiden Snow. He had the perfect taciturn kind of voice for this. CJ Bloom also did a great job, if not a little cheerier than the character called for.  

Tis The Season For A Cowboy

Tis The Season For A Cowboy is out today! Thank you to the author for the ARC. 

I enjoyed this angsty and heartfelt second chance Christmas romance!

If there’s one thing I enjoy in a wintery romance it’s a snowed in/forced proximity trope, and add in a divorced couple stuck together in the cabin they once owned together at Christmas? Yes. Please. 

Hank had pined for his wife the whole time they were separated, so he was willing to do what it took to win her back during their Christmas together. I love a yearning MMC! 

There are definitely some triggers here as part of the angst so be careful to check trigger warnings, but overall if you are looking for an angsty second chance Christmas novella, definitely check this one out. 

I’d say if you loved Kandi Steiner’s The Christmas Blanket this would be right up your alley! 

Half-Light Harbor

Half-Light Harbor is out today! Thank you to the author for the ARC.

I always love (fictionally) spending time in Scotland with Samantha Young but this book feels extra special! It’s a great kickoff to a new series, with an amazing small town and great characters I already love. 

We’ve got a broody, grumpy Scottish MMC and an American FMC who moves to Scotland for a fresh start & to open a B&B (all while trying to solve the mystery of her parent’s death.) I loved them both separately and together. Tierney really dragged Ramsay out of his comfort zone and he could not resist her despite himself.

The location is perfection, the suspense engaging, and I just really enjoyed my time in Leth Sholas! What an excellent start to what is sure to be a phenomenal series!

Mate

I loved this book! If you read and loved Bride, you are sure to love Mate as well. 

The banter, the snark, the relatable heroine and the growly ‘touch her and die’ MMC, all combined into one fantastic book. 

It took me a few chapters to get into it because the timeline bounces around a bit and that’s not my fave in general but once we were mostly in the present I was absolutely hooked!

I loved the pack dynamics and really enjoyed Serena finding her place in Koen’s pack, as someone who didn’t have a family other than her best friend it was just lovely to see her find a family in the pack. And of course I’d be remiss to not mention her bestie, I loved Serena and Misery’s friendship so much. 

I do recommend reading Bride first if you haven’t yet. I will admit some of the author’s academic books didn’t work as well for me but I love love love this world so much, so don’t be afraid to give this a try if you feel the same!

A top read of 2025 for sure. 

Every Step She Takes

Every Step She Takes is out today! Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. 

I really enjoyed this tender sapphic romance!

It’s a coming of age story about a woman, Sadie, who is in her mid 30s and still discovering who she is and what she wants. When the opportunity to have an adventure in Portugal & Spain arises, she jumps at the chance to escape her everyday life.

I really enjoyed both the main characters – Sadie, who is still figuring out why she never hits it off with the men she dates, who feels trapped in a life she never asked for, who was brave enough to try something new and scary all by herself. Mal, who is much further along in her queer journey but who is just as unsettled and unsure in other ways. They were both very likeable & very easy to root for. I loved how they helped each other in different ways, and I enjoyed their journeys, both physical and emotional.

The setting of the Camino was so fun and interesting to read about, and I enjoyed how the queer tour group they’re with became a found family (even if I did struggle to keep all the secondary characters straight in my head).

It’s never too late to figure out who you really are, and coming of age can happen at any time. I definitely recommend this one! 

If It Makes You Happy

If It Makes You Happy is out today! Thank you to @berkleyromance for the free book! #BerkleyPartner #Berkley #BerkleyBookstagram

I loved this! It felt like a classic Romance, and not just because it takes place in the 90s. It feels like the blueprint for small town single dad romance and what it should be, without feeling like every other small town single dad romance. It somehow felt very unique despite these well used (and loved!) tropes. 

It gave me warm and cozy vibes, in part due to the autumnal setting, but also the writing just felt very warm and inviting to me. I just wanted to keep reading and reading. I actually read my paperback arc and read it two days which is fast for me for a 500 page physical book!

I loved the slow burn romance between our FMC Michelle & MMC Cliff, they’re both somewhat recently divorced and both felt very cautious about trying something so they become friends first and I just really enjoyed their journey. 

The FMC is a bit reserved, definitely a type A perfectionist and I really loved that because not everyone is a bubbly extrovert (despite what a lot of romances portray) and I saw a lot of myself in her. Our MMC Cliff is the opposite, outgoing and playful and I love how he made her smile and feel comfortable, and maybe even bring down some of her walls.

I also really loved both of their respective relationships with Cliff’s daughters, they were a huge part of the story as well and I really enjoyed them both. 

There are also themes of grief and moving on – parental death, divorce, life not turning out like you planned, but never felt like it was bogged down with sadness. 

Overall I just really really enjoyed this! Definitely recommend. A top favorite of the year for sure. 

Chasing The Sun

Chasing The Sun is out today! Thank you to the author for the ARC.

This is the first book in a charming new small town romance series by Lena Hendrix – you can totally read this as a standalone from her other series. 

This is a single dad, neighbors, rivals to lovers stories about two people who both want the property next door to our MMC. Callum is looking to expand his inn and add a farm to table restaurant, while Elodie is looking to transform the farm to a tourist destination. Lots of banter and bickering ensue which leads to a lot of chemistry and sexual tension!

I had a lot of fun reading this one! I loved the new town and its legends, and look forward to learning more about them as the series progresses. 

Chasing Shelter

I always love my time spent in one of Catherine Cowles’ worlds and it’s even better when it’s a single dad, neighbors, grumpy/sunshine romance!

I really enjoyed the journey Ellie went on, learning to stand on her own and I love how she bonded with Trace’s daughter Keely. Trace was also great, trying to do what’s best for his daughter and his family.

It was great to spend time with the Colson’s and their group chat, and of course the star of the series, Lolli! 

And if you’re wondering, I yet again did not guess who the bad guy(s) was/is, which I love!

The Last Guy on Earth

Happy Tuesday! The Last Guy On Earth is out today, thank you to the author for the ARC.

I loved this! No one does hockey romance like Sarina, and it is always a joy to return to this world. 

This is a second chance romance with some forbidden vibes, between a hockey coach and the player transferred to his team. They played in the minors together years ago and had a burgeoning romance at the time, but their career took them in different directions until they’re suddenly dropped back into each other’s lives.

They had a lot of hurt feelings over the past, and I loved watching them work through those emotions while also trying to maintain a professional front. Both characters were really great, both separately and together. I really enjoyed all the secondary characters, and seeing our old friends from series past.

I just really loved it!