 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC and the publisher for the complimentary hard copy. All opinions provided are my own.I just wondered what it would be like if someone like Kate Clayborn—who writes so gorgeously & so completely from the heart—hadn’t written books & they weren’t published… Especially when her books make me feel so full. So expansive (read the book to get this reference ;) ). Georgie, All Along is another exquisite portrayal of the best of people & of love. I think it’s also probably the funniest book of Kate Clayborn’s that I’ve read. Not only is Levi totally amazing—I want to hug him & go to his Bday party & drunkenly tell him how much I love him & also write embarrassing wishes regarding him up & down my arms in Sharpie —but Georgie—& her heart & her confusion & friendship—is also beloved to me. Have I ever been uncertain about what I want? About my future? Um yes. This is my favorite kind of romance in that not only is the central love story so wonderful & well-developed, the secondary characters & those relationships are too. Kate Clayborn is one of my fave writers of friendship & I absolutely love how she captures the one between Georgie & Bel, another opposites attract pairing that’s done so well. This book satisfies on every level & made me feel as if I were truly watching/observing/enjoying love in all forms. So if you haven’t read Kate Clayborn yet, please do. She is an author I recommend without reservation & her books are lovely & like Georgie says about Levi, “what I want, but better.” 5⭐️. Out now!CWs: Parental estrangement; parental neglect; parental “cruelty.” References to drug use & emotional abuse at alternative school.
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 Thanks to the author for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. I’m often trying new authors because I feel like you never know when you’ll find a new one whose books make you fall in love. Rosanna Leo was gracious enough to send me an ARC of her upcoming PNR Darke Passion, out 03/21. Dual timelines + ghosts + kissing is definitely my jam & this book delivers on those fronts. The historical setting is Canada during the War of 1812 & it becomes pertinent to the present- day story when inn owner Simon Teal contacts our heroine Edwina Darke saying that people think his inn is haunted. Edwina Darke & her sisters—all of whom have unique jobs at their paranormal investigation agency—are on the case. While the story is atmospheric & creepy in a way I wanted, the ending is satisfying, & the moments of sweetness are engaging, I’m not a huge fan of insta feelings—which this felt like to me—& I didn’t always feel fully connected to the writing style. (Both of those things are “YMMV” kinds of things to me). But this is a fun story with some great thrills & a sweet & naughty romance too. 3⭐️. Out 03/21.CWs: murder, haunting, reference to rape.
 Thanks to the author for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.Some books just leave you feeling & saying “wow” & that’s how I feel about Eliza McLane’s Perfect Match. From the beginning to the end, this novella is just delightful & feels perfectly considered—like everything is working so harmoniously (& maybe also horny-ly) toward a HEA that left me feeling very happy indeed. The novella opens with Rosie—who is smarting from how her business is currently doing & who is not interested in love at all thankyouverymuch—attending a speed dating/dating algorithm party out of support for her BFF. There she meets nice guy Tyler, who wears glasses and is an accountant (*cue all the butterflies bc I do love a hero like this!) & is smarting from a failed relationship. They are paired together & spend one magical & very H O T weekend together. Can they be something more?? You betcha & the Epilogue left me with such a feeling of satisfaction. The communication between leads in this book!! Not a full sentence but I think you get it . If you’re looking for a steamy, wonderfully written novella that gives you that full, complete HEA feeling, check out Eliza McLane’s Perfect Match. By the end of it all, I was in love with Tyler & Rosie, I was feeling the steam, & I was congratulating myself on requesting this ARC . 5⭐️. Out 02/06.[ID: Jess, a white woman, wears a black, white, purple, & blue flannel shirt & holds the ebook.] Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.I’m starting this review in a brutally honest way & saying that I thought book 1 in this series was really good, book 2 was a slog for me, & book 3–excluding a quibble or two I had at the end of this book—had me saying OH MY THIS IS FUN from the first time the MCs meet. Definitely by the end of their encounter, when they hook up for the first time. Eamon Sullivan is supposed to be accompanying Carla Black on a trip across Ireland for his brother & her BFF’s wedding. But sparks fly in a major way when they meet & after setting the sheets, the bed, the room, that entire side of Ireland on fire with their sexytimes, & after realizing how much pleasure they take in each other, they prolong their road trip in fun random adventures along the way. Off the Map portrays instant attraction & companionship in a beautiful & striking way—I totally believed that they were hot for each other, that they liked each other, & that it was love too. This book feels like it came to me at the right time & I embraced the heck out of this road trip romp. With that being said, there is a sadder story underpinning the book. Carla’s beloved dad has dementia & there is loss & grief on page—see my CW below for more on this. I didn’t totally love how it functions in the plot but the story of their relationship overall is touching & explains Carla’s love of travel. Off the Map was a bubble book for me in terms of reading Trish Doller. Will I be back for more now? You betcha. 4.5⭐️. Out 03/07.CWs: Dad has dementia & dies at the end of the book.
 Thanks to the author for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.* brother’s best friend * snowed in romance * secret crushing * smoking hot sex around a Christmas tree Eliza McLane’s Santa, Baby serves up a hefty dose of Christmas romance magic, blending steam, pining, respect, & care effortlessly & offering something sweet & IMO super sexy. Wow-ie. Actor Nick Andersen arrives at his new job only to find when he arrives that he will actually be starring as Santa in an adult film directed by—& co-starring—his best friend’s quiet but also fascinating sister Holly Caine. Holly blends into the background when it comes to family life but at work she’s the one making the decisions. Including shutting down the film they’re making when a big storm is about to roll in. But when she & Nick are snowed in—with the cameras still there & that delicious chemistry flaring between them—well, the show must go on. [insert any song lyric about Santa Claus coming here.] This novella offers so much good stuff: a love story that feels believable, MCs who offer understanding and empathy to each other, and a big gesture of support; so much sexiness & heat; a fast-moving story that doesn’t skimp on the feels. The dynamics with her family fall a *bit* short for me but otherwise Santa, Baby is sensational. It’s so much fun & gives a lot of heart to hold onto too. 4.5⭐️. Out now!CWs: Reference to negligent parents, depression. Reference to views of conservative parents & those same parents make Holly leave their house when she shares that she works in the adult film industry.
 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.I know I’ve said this before but the more I read by Alexis Hall the more I’m in awe of how versatile of a writer he is. A Lady for a Duke is just masterful, Paris Daillencourt is like being inside my own brain in some of my most anxious moments, & then Glitterland—which is being rereleased—is another emotional powerhouse. Dark, hopeful, & hilarious by turns, it deals with the topics of depression and a past suicide attempt, among others, offering a book that I think will move & maybe resonate with a lot of readers. At the beginning of Glitterland writer Ash meets model Darian in a one night stand that ends in a rather panicked exit afterwards. They meet again thanks to Darian’s pluck & what follows is the beginning of a relationship, as Ash starts to relax some into his mystifying connection with Darian & how Darian makes him feel. This is not an easy, emotional read despite the moments of hope & the bursts of humor. In the end, Ash is not “cured” of his depression or totally rid of uncertainty. But he can see & feel happiness in that moment & he has found love with someone who is so generous & lovely. So this book isn’t for everyone but, for me, it was another reminder of how much we all need & deserve love, no matter what our brains might sometimes tell us. 5⭐️. Out 01/17.CWs: Suicide ideation. The lead refers to himself as being bipolar, depressive, & having anxiety and describes emotions relating to those. References to past cutting. The lead ceased an RX before the book began bc it made him gain weight. Reference to something being “Not like black urban. Just urban urban.”
 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.I’m on the decidedly wimpy side of the angst-meter but when my book bestie Kim @bookbruin said the magic words about Abby Jimenez’s upcoming release, Yours Truly—EPISTOLARY ELEMENTS—I decided to snap it up. What did I think? Per my usual experience reading this author, I thought the book was exceptionally written & funny but the angst goes a *smidge* too far. There’s pretty much always a moment with this author’s work where I think: this additional bit of angst isn’t necessary . But with that being said, this story is adorable & sweet & I so enjoyed watching too lonely ER doctors who have been burned by love & start off with big dislike on the heroine’s part turn to friendship via letters & emails & calls & then to a fake dating sitch & then to love. The overall story is lovely, not to mention how funny some of the lines are. One of them in particular really cracked me up. I also love the anxiety rep, the care they take with each other, how hero Jacob consistently puts himself out there for Briana & how much she tries to protect his peace of mind & comfort. Jacob running to the cafe toward the beginning of his relationship with Briana just so he’ll have phone service for her call is stunning & Briana is a powerhouse of a lead. So in the end, this is quite a book. I think there could have easily been less angst & that would have been preferred by me personally. But this is a wonderful story of two people falling in love & choosing to be together. 4.5⭐️. Out 04/11.CWs: Cheating ex. Brother & ex. Brother on dialysis. Kidney failure. Anxiety. Former miscarriage. Reference to postpartum depression.
 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.A single parent chef + a smartass businessman temporarily down on his luck & back in the hometown he left as soon as he could. On paper that combo speaks to me. But sadly Kosoko Jackson’s A Dash of Salt & Pepper didn’t live up to my hopes, offering a story of growth & some steam but also one that doesn’t lay solid enough groundwork for the arc of the relationship or of one of the lead’s change of heart. What I think Kosoko Jackson does compellingly in this romance though is portray a titanium-strength friendship between Xavier—said businessman—& his BFF Mya, & give some insight into why Xavier why wears his glib armor. While A Dash of Salt & Pepper doesn’t totally work for me—I found myself skeptical of where the story was taking me—there are still things to appreciate here—including that adorable cover & the dislike to love premise that always has me sitting up & paying attention. 3⭐️. Out 12/06.CW: loss of job, possible failure of business, a joke about JonBenet Ramsey.
 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.With Ashley Herring Blake’s Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail we’re back with the same magnetic, loving, boisterous & balanced friend group, this time watching Astrid—who feels an imperative to always seem calm, cool, & collected—take on the renovation of a beloved inn before the eyes of the inn’s family members, a tv crew…& as always, her overbearing mother. Also before the eyes of carpenter Jordan Everwood, the same woman who Astrid had a nasty moment with at the end of Delilah’s book & the beginning of her own, about some spilled coffee & her power dress. Astrid isn’t someone who is open easily—we see that even with her close circle—& it’s lovely watching her find that safe place to land with the person who she started off so antagonistically with. Jordan, too, needs that safe place. As always, my heart cheered for two people finding a home & a refuge with each other, especially when I can relate to one of them in some way (hello self-consciousnesses & fear of failure etc. it’s nice to see you again ). This book has an interesting tension that strikes at the heart of what both women desire for themselves, heart-grabbing backstories about growing up & in the present, trying to wrestle back an identity & purpose for themselves, & that aforementioned wonderful group of friends. The “villain” in this story feels a bit obvious & I would have liked a bigger conclusion to that whole storyline, but on the whole, this is another emotional, powerful, sensual read with a great group of characters. Can’t wait for Iris’s book! 4.5⭐️. Out 11/22.CWs: mother’s manipulation & overbearingness, & there’s a reference to her homophobia. Jordan’s ex wife had cancer & left her soon after learning she was in remission.
 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC and the publisher for the complimentary hard copy. All opinions provided are my own.Peter Reedton isn’t a particularly bold hero. As the book notes, he is not waging outright war against his enemies to make himself or the heroine happy. Instead, the book says, he’s “subtle,” “caring.” And in the end, so romantic. I loved him so much. Olivia Dade writes her leads in Ship Wrecked beautifully. They feel & seem real—they have charm, eccentricity, insecurity, hurts; they show uncertainty & grace; they are frustrating at times; they are loveable. He & Maria Ivarsson—both actors on a Game of Thrones-like show—are so emotionally charismatic. I talked about Peter already & Maria is a dynamo—she stands up for herself & for Peter & tries to facilitate connections for him, something he isn’t naturally adept at doing. The fat rep is sensational, the found family had my heart squeezing, & the ending gives me the gestures & romance my greedy heart wants. But the book does lose a bit of momentum for me for around 10% of the end, & at the beginning Peter’s personality loses a bit of charm when it delays their relationship in an anticlimactic sort of way . With that being said I think those things wouldn’t hurt as much with a reread, when I knew what was coming & when things were going to slow down. In the end this lovely powerful book is really something special & I adore it. 5⭐️ . (I rounded up because since finishing, my heart has grown even fonder.) Out 11/15.CWs: the show producers are jerks at times who have certain body and/or beauty expectations for the leads—particularly for Maria. Maria was a foster child who was repeatedly uprooted & sent to live with new families. Parental death. Former infidelity & partner abandonment.
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