October 14, 2018

Review: Never Sweeter by Charlotte Stein

Reviewed by Caitlin

This is my first book by Charlotte Stein, and I’ve already read three novellas since reading this book. This was a genuine delight.

Letty Carmichael was bullied pretty badly in high school by three guys in particular. This bullying got so bad it culminated in them running her off a cliff. It took two years after high school for her to finally go to college because of the physical rehab required.

One of these tormentors (not the guy actually driving the truck that hit Letty, but perhaps the most aggressive of the bullies) is Tate Sullivan, who now goes to the same college Letty goes to. [Read more…]

Filed Under: by Caitlin, Contemporary Romance Tagged With: Leave a Comment
October 8, 2018

Review: Sweatpants Season by Danielle Allen

Reviewed by Caitlin

Me: She’s an ardent feminist and a freelance writer. He’s a writer and an English teacher who also hosts a podcast that gives guys sexist The Game-like dating advice.

Boyfriend: *makes face like he smelled bad sushi*

Me: I mean, I’m pretty sure he’s gonna leave the show in the end. And he’s not actively giving the bad advice.

Boyfriend: Okay… I guess…

I’ve been in kind of a reading slump recently. I haven’t actively hated a book in a minute, but what I’ve been reading has been… fine. So in a way, this book broke the slump. [Read more…]

Filed Under: by Caitlin, Contemporary Romance Tagged With: Leave a Comment
September 30, 2018

Review: Joy to the Earl by Nicola Davidson

Reviewed by Caitlin

I’m a sucker for a virgin hero, and this is Nicola Davidson’s SECOND virgin hero! I am usually not a sucker for a holiday romance, but I’ll make an exception for an author I like.

Jack Reynolds is a farmer in Yorkshire. He’s 6’5″ and muscled from labor, but he has a bad limp. He is socially awkward and painfully shy, which means he’s made it to the age of 28 without having had sex. A few days before Christmas, Jack finds out he was actually the son of the Earl of Lynthorpe, given away because of his “deformity.” Now he’s the next in line to inherit the title. He’s not sure he should – he knows nothing about being an earl – but the law is the law, and primogeniture insists he must be the next earl. [Read more…]

Filed Under: by Caitlin, Historical Romance Tagged With: Leave a Comment
September 20, 2018

Review: Untouchable by Talia Hibbert

Reviewed by Caitlin

Unabashed Talia Hibbert fan here (I think this is the third book of hers I’m reviewing?) and Untouchable is no different. The Ravenswood series is fire, and this one is my favorite so far.

Hannah Kabbah was a nurse in small-town Ravenswood, until she smashed her sister Ruth’s dickhead boyfriend’s car the night of his engagement party to another woman. Now she can’t get a nursing job – with the record and all – so she’s stuck in jobs that have absolutely nothing to do with her education.

She’s a smart woman, but she struggles with depression, and it makes her… not great at some of these jobs. When she’s fired from a coffee shop for erupting at a customer, Hannah is very worried about her future. That is, until Nate Davis – her old school crush – comes in to town. [Read more…]

Filed Under: by Caitlin, Contemporary Romance, interracial romance Tagged With: Leave a Comment
September 5, 2018

Review: Sweet on the Greek by Talia Hibbert

Reviewed by Caitlin

Surprise – this book is wonderful.

In fact, I’ve liked every single one of Talia Hibbert’s novels. I think if I had to rank them, the one that would come last would still earn a smiley face or three.

Sweet on the Greek is the third novel in the Just For Him series, and not only do I like it, it’s my favorite of the series.

Aria Granger is a bit of a mess. Because of an unhappy childhood, she looks for love wherever she can find it – even if the man she’s with is totally undeserving. She may look like a badass, with her towering height, tattoos, and unconventional hair color, but inside she’s still that little girl looking for connection. [Read more…]

Filed Under: by Caitlin, Contemporary Romance Tagged With: Leave a Comment
August 16, 2018

Joint Review: Dr. Strange Beard by Penny Reid

Reviewed by Caitlin & Sara

Caitlin: I’m a Penny Reid fan, and her last several books have been, in my opinion, her best. Marriage of Inconvenience and Dating-ish were the two best books in the Knitting in the City series by a mile (thanks to a complete lack of slut-shaming that plagued the earlier books), and I’m very much enjoying her Winston Brothers series.

Sara: I’m also a Penny Reid fan and I agree. It’s great when you can see an author grow. Gone is the problematic slut shaming and completely monochromatic cast of characters and in their place are thought provoking commentary on current events and more diversity. I’m really happy with the way Reid’s writing and this series in particular is going. [Read more…]

Filed Under: by Caitlin, by Sara, Contemporary Romance, interracial romance, Uncategorized Tagged With: , 1 Comment
August 15, 2018

Review: The Tycoon by M O’Keefe

Reviewed by Caitlin

The King Family series is going to be four books long with three authors contributing. Molly O’Keefe wrote the first one – The Tycoon – and I believe she wrote the fourth one, which will be out in the fall and about which I am very excited.

The books so far revolve around the King family – a ridiculously rich family in a small town outside of Dallas, TX – and the death of the narcissistic, chauvinistic, selfish asshole of a father. The first book is Veronica’s book.

Veronica (Ronnie) King is the oldest legitimate child of Hank King. Five years ago, when Ronnie was twenty-two, she was engaged to Clayton Rorick, one of the most promising employees at King Industries. She was over-the-moon in love with the coolly confident man who gave her the best orgasms she’d ever had. She wasn’t the pretty one, as everyone seemed to delight in telling her, but she was smart and practical and Clayton sure seemed to think she was beautiful. [Read more…]

Filed Under: by Caitlin, Contemporary Romance Tagged With: Leave a Comment
August 12, 2018

Review: Taunt by Eve Dangerfield

Reviewed by Caitlin

Taunt by Eve Dangerfield is an odd book for this author. It’s the only one that’s not strictly contemporary erotica romantic comedy (a very specific genre, but she’s excellent at it). It’s the only one that isn’t m/f. It’s the only one set in an alternative universe where the apocalypse is nigh. And it’s the only one that felt very much like it needed a “to be continued” and I have no idea when she’s going to come back to this.

This is a m/m/f/m story. So many of these are done poorly/awkwardly, but when they’re done right, there is so much angst and I am 100% there for it.

Daniel Schwartz is a New Zealand woman who likes to party and can’t feel pain – either emotional or physical. She is aware when she is sad, but in a distant sort of way. She and her friend Cynthia are on the run and hiding out in Paris after they’ve stumbled upon some very important information with very serious consequences. Her friend can’t handle whatever this information is and kills herself, leaving Daniel totally alone. [Read more…]

Filed Under: by Caitlin, polyamorous, sci-fi romance Tagged With: Leave a Comment
August 4, 2018

Review: My Lord, Lady, and Gentleman by Nicola Davidson

Reviewed by Caitlin

I first decided to check out Nicola Davidson on a recommendation by Sarah Maclean and burned through almost her entire backlist. Back then, this book hadn’t been released yet, but I couldn’t wait for it to come out. The first two novellas in the series – “My Lady’s Lover” (f/f romance) and “To Tame A Wicked Widow” (BDSM with experienced widow submissive and virgin dominant) – were excellent, and I was very much anticipating this entry into the series.

It did not disappoint.

Clayton Irving is a third son of a lord whose parents expected him to be a vicar. Clayton, however, is not really cut out for the cloth. He drinks, he gambles, and he has plenty of sex – with both men and women. His parents have disowned him, so he supports himself as an artist of a… sensual nature. He’s very talented. [Read more…]

Filed Under: by Caitlin, Historical Romance, Menage, novella Tagged With: Leave a Comment
July 28, 2018

Review: Disciplined by the Duke by Alyson Chase

Reviewed by Caitlin

Disciplined by the Duke is the first in the Lords of Discipline series. So far there are three books out, and so far all three are very good. I might like this first one best because the build up is so incredibly hot, but the other two are definitely worthy follow-ups.

The year is 1813. Elizabeth Wilcox is being blackmailed by the Earl of Westmore. Her sister, Amanda, is in Newgate for murdering their father – sticking a knife in his ribs after years of sexual abuse when it became clear he was about to move on to Elizabeth. Westmore is corrupt and has the ear of the judge in Amanda’s trial. He will release Amanda if Elizabeth does what he asks.

It’s been a year of living under his awful thumb, doing unpleasant tasks that aren’t always quite legal. Now, though, he has given her the final task that will ensure her freedom. If she gets a certain letter currently in the Duke of Montague’s possession and brings it back to him, Westmore will free Amanda. Westmore has even gotten Elizabeth a job as a chambermaid at Montague’s country estate. [Read more…]

Filed Under: BDSM, by Caitlin, Historical Romance Tagged With: 2 Comments
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