 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links. There are some losses that tear you to the bone and Lenny Bellamy in Cara Bastone’s Promise Me Sunshine is faced with one of them. Lenny’s best friend died recently & much of the book deals with her tremendous & overwhelming grief. As she mourns, she becomes friends with Miles, a grumpy grump who has also experienced grief & who offers a trade of sorts: Lenny will teach him how to relate to his recently discovered niece, & he’ll help her process her loss. This book is important & big & it will reach the hurting, sensitive parts & make you feel the love too. Lenny & Miles’ story is beautiful; like always, Cara writes characters I absolutely love & a romance that feels so good, even as the leads are both dealing with heartache of sorts. If you haven’t read Cara Bastone yet—& one of my friends said this recently—you absolutely must. Her characters will become part of your personality & heart. 5⭐️. Out 03/04.[ID: Jess holds the book in front of sunflowers.]
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 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.Before reading Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods, I was totally wrong about what people actually did during Dungeons & Dragons . This book not only gave me an education, it also uses D&D to bring together Sadie & Noah, both of whom are temporarily living in the same town. Sadie’s at loose ends in her work-life & Noah is a free spirit who bounces from place to place. While I didn’t know what D&D was before this book, the author uses it in such a cool way. Most of the book is contemporary, but then, as the characters become engrossed in their game, a fantasy-ish story briefly takes over. Two for the price of one . Roll for Romance builds on the contemporary & fantasy plots to draw interest, & it also focuses on the friendships that the leads make within their D&D group. Coming in hot with strong communication & a hot hero with a relatable bod, this romance is firing on all levels. 5⭐️. Out 07/15.Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.After a string of so-so fantasies, The King’s Messenger was a 5-️ treat that reminded me of why I love this author. Phoebe and Andrew have an enemies to lovers story arc that begins with a mistaken impression of Andrew & that lasts well into their journey to retrieve a possible murderer for the King. As they ride together, Phoebe realizes that Andrew is only partially similar to the prideful jerk she thought he was—he’s actually considerate, strong, & a man of honor & integrity. While still being prideful . In the background of their sweeping love story is a mystery about what happened to a dead prince, & the characters involved in that mystery are unexpectedly moving as they grapple with his loss & life in the royal circle. While Susanna Kearsley’s books do have HEAs, I describe them as chonky historical fiction with romantic elements. If that sounds like your cup of tea, check one out; they’re amazing! 5⭐️. Out now! CWs: loss, death, espionage, murder
 This blog post includes affiliate links.Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon by Annie Mare. Fancy a sapphic time-travel romance? The threads of this one got too complicated for me & I eventually stopped trying to understand all of the time travel intricacies (probably a me problem!). But the romance is compelling & the sensuality between the leads is nice. 3.5 ⭐️ ️, out 06/03. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.) Realm of Thieves by Karina Halle. A resourceful, strong dragon thief falls in love with her kidnapper & vice versa, as they work to pull off a heist & research the fearsome beasts. This one has steam, a fighting heroine (one of my weaknesses!), a declaration of love, endo rep, & secrets—in short, so much of what I love in a fantasy—but the plot felt loosely held together. 3.5 ⭐️ ️, out 06/10. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.) A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic by J Penner. This is a cozy fantasy with a soft romance between an elf & a nonmagical human. The heroine develops confidence in herself, forms friendships with contestants, & challenges herself in a baking competition, all the while surrounded by a beta hero elf & a host of intriguing secondary characters. 4 ⭐️ ️, out now. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.) Are any of these on your TBR or have you read any of these already? Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.A Rare Find by Joanna Lowell is amazing. There’s one quote in particular that had me wondering how anyone could possibly denounce romance as a genre. Like, seriously, how. Elfreda Marsden (she/her) is archaeologist who wants to find something huge & also win acceptance by an all-male antiquarian society. Georgie Redmayne (they/them) has been sent to the countryside to mull over their bad behavior & can’t help themself from needling Elfreda. Things get more interesting when they go on a treasure hunt together. This stunning book left me feeling like I could hug my Kindle—watching Elf & Georgie realize how they’ve unfairly judged each other & seeing how they put themselves out there for each other is really fantastic. I just want to read more books about people falling head over heels & finding a million things to appreciate about someone. 5⭐️. Out 06/10.[ID: Jess wears a gray shirt with a tied ribbon & a red blazer & holds the ebook while standing in a yard.] This blog post includes affiliate links.Thank you, @berkleyromance, for the free copy! #BerkleyPartner #BerkleyRomance I just finished the closing pages of Swept Away by Beth O’Leary & I think it’s going to take me a couple of days to really decide what I think about it. There’s sooooo much action & intensity—I really felt suspense about Lexi & Zeke’s lost-at-sea journey—& I also felt the intensity & rawness of their connection. But then the book takes a twist that I didn’t love, & I’m left feeling the rush of it all after closing my Kindle. Swept Away is a mega whirlwind of danger & stress at sea, & through it all, the developing emotional relationship between two leads who hooked up at the beginning of their unintended journey. I think I wanted a little less from the plot (the twist didn’t win me over!), but I also felt the magnetism between the MCs & the wild vagaries of the sea. 4.33⭐️. Out 04/01.CWs: grief, emotional estrangement from parents, dangerous situations
 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.I would love to be in Sarah Hogle’s brain for a few minutes bc the things she comes up with in her writing are so whimsical, interesting, and weird that I think I would be endlessly fascinated. If you like her writing (and I don’t think everybody does) The Folklore of Forever is likely to be another winner for you. I’ve liked all of her books, and this one is a real standout to me. The zip between Zelda & Morgan is phenomenal, their quirks lining up in a way that makes sense. They’re both characters in the capital C sense of the word & it’s so fun (& funny!) watching them interact, entice each other, & discover magic in multiple senses of the word. 5⭐️. Out 04/08.Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
 This blog post includes affiliate links.Thank you, @berkleyromance, for the free book. #BerkleyRomance #BerkleyPartner #BerkleyBookstagram
Vacation vibessssss Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen has its funny moments, but it’s also about the wild & sobering moments after life has been disrupted. As Ada & Jack journey across Europe, they encounter obstacle after obstacle, from a marriage-minded B&B owner to a flat tire. Each setback is an opportunity to get to know each other more & to delve into the scared parts of themselves they try to hide. When their crackling chemistry finally blazes into something that can’t be denied, I was rooting them on in a big way. This is a such a great romance! Have you read it or is it on your radar?  Hi and welcome to my blog tour stop for Fan Service* by Rosie Danan. This PNR book moves quickly and doesn't take itself too seriously. Read on for a summary and my previously shared review!  [ID: Jess holds the ebook in front of a tree trunk & pile of firewood.]Summary.The only place small-town outcast Alex Lawson fits in is the online fan forum she built for Arcane, a long-running werewolf detective show. Her dedication to archiving fictional supernatural lore made her Internet-famous, even if she harbors a secret disdain for the show’s star, Devin Ashwood. (Never meet your heroes—sometimes they turn out to be The Worst.) Ever since his show went off the air, Devin and his career have spiraled, but waking up naked in the woods outside his LA home with no memory of the night before is a new low. It must have been a coincidence that the once-in-a-century Wolf Blood Moon crested last night. The claws, fangs, and howling are a little more difficult to explain away. Desperate for answers, Devin finds Alex—the closest thing to an expert that exists. If only he could convince her to stop hating his guts long enough to help.... Once he makes her an offer she can’t refuse, these reluctant allies lower their guards trying to wrangle his inner beast. Unfortunately, getting up close and personal quickly comes back to bite them.  If you want to check out my review again, it's here. Spoiler alert: I really enjoyed it!Fan Service is out now, and it's a great escapist read for those so inclined. Tell me: is it on your TBR?  This blog post includes affiliate links. How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang takes you on the emotionally marooning experience of losing a sibling to suicide. It’s very well-written with a heroine whose self-consciousness makes her all-too relatable. 4.33 ️⭐️. Thanks to Kim @bookbruin for the rec!
Pole Position by Rebecca J. Caffery is a sweet romance set in the world of motor racing. One hero comes across as pretty immature to me & while he does grow throughout the book, he didn’t quite overcome my initial impression. But if you’re in the mood for an age gap, MM romance with a lead who has a lot to learn, you might enjoy this one! 3.5 ⭐️ ️, out now. (Thanks to the publisher for the free copy. All opinions provided are my own.) Mistress of Lies by KM Enright had a twist I didn’t see coming, sexy vampire vibes, & a betrayal dished up nice & hot. This is a solid fantasy with a lot to offer but I didn’t love it. The audio is great, though, & provided a nice distraction while painting. 4 ⭐️ ️, out now. (Thanks to the publisher for the free copy. All opinions provided are my own.) Once Upon You & Me by Timothy Janovsky is a tender story that wears its heart on its sleeve. There’s bisexual, ADHD, & fat rep in this romance, a single dad who has to navigate a relationship with his ex’s assistant, & a cute ending. With that being said, sometimes this book veered into corny IMO . 3.5 ⭐️ ️, out 04/29. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.) Are any of these on your TBR or have you read any of these already? |
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