sapphic romance

Flirting Lessons

Flirting Lessons is out now! Thank you to @berkleyromance for the free book! #BerkleyPartner

I’m about 50% into this one and really enjoying it!

It’s got lessons between straight-laced, dependable Avery, who wants to learn to approach women after only being with men, and Taylor, who is a bit less together in life, but has a lot more experience with women – and a bad reputation for loving and leaving them.

I’m really enjoying their opposites attract dynamic and watching Avery come into her own. They have a series of “lessons,” from salsa dancing to queer trivia nights and it’s been a lot of fun to listen to!

Blurb:

Newly single and about to leave her twenties behind, Avery Jensen is tired. Tired of being so buttoned up and well-behaved, and especially tired of dating men. She is desperate for change and determined to break out of her shell—which includes exploring her bisexuality and learning how to shamelessly flirt. One small problem: she doesn’t know where to start. With little dating experience, especially with women, confidence doesn’t seem within reach.

Enter Taylor Cameron, Napa Valley’s biggest flirt and champion heartbreaker who just swore off sex for two months after making a bet with her best friend. As impossible as it seems, Taylor agrees—but not without finding some loopholes. So, when Taylor meets Avery, it only makes sense to offer her flirting lessons. It’s a win-win—Avery will get the confidence she needs while Taylor will be too preoccupied to think of all the sex she isn’t having.

While their lessons may start off a little rocky, Taylor is patient and encouraging, and it isn’t long before Avery starts to look forward to their weekly meetings. Soon Avery’s life starts to look the way she’s always wanted. There is just one small issue…she now has feelings for Taylor. Little does she know the feelings are mutual. Soon their attraction is impossible to ignore, and their once innocent lessons risk becoming messy when Taylor realizes that the only person she wants Avery flirting with is her.

 

Make The Season Bright

Make the Season Bright is out now! Thank you to Berkley Romance for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this second chance holiday romance!

Charlotte & Brighton were childhood friends to lovers to fiancées before Brighton ran away on their wedding day, leaving Charlotte at the altar. It’s five years later, the two have gone their separate ways, until they’re reunited at Christmas while staying at their respective friend’s (who happen to be sisters) house for the holiday (Surprise!)

It was like a queer hallmark movie, jam packed with snowy holiday activities, from cooking classes to skiing to looking at holiday lights. It also had a good bit of steam, awesome supporting characters, and I really enjoyed the setting.

I did like both characters, they’re both wonderfully flawed and I especially liked Charlotte’s closed off nature (I love a colder heroine, genuinely.) We got bits and pieces of their history that led to where they are today and I really enjoyed getting to know them.

I struggled a bit with the second chance portion, it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around forgiving someone who left me at the altar in front of all my friends and family. There’s a lot I can forgive but public humiliation isn’t something I think I could ever get over. But good thing it’s a book and it isn’t actually about me!! 

Overall though I thought this was a thoroughly enjoyable holiday romance that I definitely recommend, especially if you are looking for something (per the book) ‘cheery & queery’!  

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!