Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.If you loved The Blonde Identity, you should *totally* check out Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker. This book is comparable to that one, with the added and welcome addition of some spice. Max is a chef whose beloved restaurant shut down during Covid. Swamped with debt and feeling like she owes family and friends, she takes advantage of the bizarre opportunity presented to her by the CIA: she’ll be the pretend Prime Minister of a country so the real one won’t be assassinated. But when she arrives at the job, she realizes her handler is her first love, who unsummarily dumped her without warning years before. Code Word Romance has definite fish out of water vibes. Max is an amateur, but she’s smart and resourceful, and the bumps she has along the way make the book even funnier. The second chance arc is relatively low angst, which this gal appreciated. Some fans of that trope might be a little disappointed with how easily it’s resolved, but I was a-okay with it. Easy & breezy but add a CIA decoy plot & you get this upcoming release! 5⭐️. Out 03/18.[ID: Jess holds the book in front of some pink & orange flowers.]
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Hi and welcome to my blog tour stop for First-Time Caller* by B. K. Borison. This is my first book by the author and what the heck was I waiting for? This book is sooo good! See the summary and review below. [ID: Jess holds the ebook in front of white, orange, & pink floral wallpaper]Summary.A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison. Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight. Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life—or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she believed. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending…even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final decision between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her. My review.I’m late to the BK Borison party, but now I can see what all of the raves have been about. First-Time Caller was a warm, romantic, hot cocoa-with-heat of a book. I loved it! Aiden & Lucie are lonely & both are disillusioned by love / the work that goes into finding it. Then Lucie’s daughter calls into the romance hotline that Aiden mans, & Lucie eventually agrees to feature on Aiden’s show as she goes on a mild quest to find love. These two are perfect together. I found myself thinking toward the beginning of the book that I didn’t have to worry about any angst coming my way because it was so clear that they were meant to be. Their conversations, the way they take care of each other, his protectiveness, her unwillingness to give up, the precious life they’ve built by the end… It filled my heart with so much joy. 5⭐️. Out now!CWs: parental estrangement, parent who has cancerDo you enjoy making phone calls? I avoid them as much as possible haha! Let me know if this book is on your TBR!
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.Ali Hazelwood’s versatility shines again in Deep End, with her taking on new adult characters, negotiation, & family & sports-related trauma. Scarlett & Lukas are star athletes, the latter in his medal-winning prime, & the former, trying to recover from a traumatic dive gone wrong. Thanks partially to the machinations Scarlett’s friend & Lukas’s ex, they enter into a FWB situation (or maybe Acquaintances WB situation at first), that turns into something more with Hazelwood’s trademark mix of slow burn & intensity. If you like Hazelwood’s other books, I think you’ll like this one. She does magnetic yet seemingly implacable heroes so well. Scarlett is a great heroine too, someone who’s reserved to so many people but who lets herself be soft & vulnerable with Lukas. Hot & rich with emotion, Deep End is a scintillating AH treat. 4.33⭐️. Out 02/04.CWs: parental loss, parental abuse, sports-related trauma.
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore has been in my NG queue for ages, & for no discernible reason other than mood. But I kinda blazed through this one once I got started, discovering a story with two nice hotties who are just trying to figure it out & be their best, happiest selves. Josephine & Will were once in each other’s orbit thanks to Will’s twin, Zoe, who was Josephine’s best friend. But after Josephine & Zoe’s best friendship imploded, Josephine & Will don’t see each other again for 9 years. When they are reunited, it’s through a literal crash that turns into Will being Josephine’s business consultant. Will is a recovering finance bro-ish (he was never a total jerk!), who wants to make up to Josephine. He respects her boundaries while also being as devastatingly attractive as possible. Josephine is a business & creative force who’s overworked & overwhelmed & has to figure out more of those boundaries for herself. With so much sweetness & respect, Perfect Fit shows how lovers can be there for each other, through physical & emotional distress. Will is a patient mountain & Josephine is killing at life, & when they come together it’s a mutual appreciation-fest of the emotional & physical variety. 4.5⭐️. Out now!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.What did I just read?!!! I mean that in the best possible way. Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey kept me on my TIPPY TOES. My mind was repeatedly blown & the twists & turns my brain & heart took were wild. The book starts off with two dark weird-os (said affectionately) being dark & weird with each other. I had no idea how dark Jacob & Dolores actually were, if they were killers, how far they might go. & then they have this fantastic, vaguely antagonistic but not really, series of power play moves in their office setting that had me internally giggling. Serial Killer Games is twisted & fun & dark & morbid but then it becomes very sweet too (how did that happen?!!!) & my heart was so engaged. I can’t describe this book bc the reader’s experience is such a big part of it. You’re supposed to go on this big guessing game, I think, & it’s unsettling & fun & surprising. The best combo I can think of is this book is Addams Family with dashes of Miss Congeniality haha. 4.5⭐️. Out 04/29.CWs: sexual predation, murder, genetic neurological disease, loss of spouse, assisted death
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links.Eli and Sage both face intense challenges as they try to make their marks on professional hockey & dance, so when the opportunity comes, it only makes sense for them to embark on a fake dating sitch. Of course, *we* know their fake dating will end in true luv. Although I couldn’t feel the full chemistry between these two at the beginning of their relationship, by the end, they were easy to root for. They’ve both got lots of stressors thrown their way, from a stalker to a single parent situation to the big pressures associated with their professions, & those help them support the other the way they need to be supported. Spiral by Bal Khabra skews a bit too young for my personal taste, but it’s a sweet & hot story about chasing dreams, working hard, & being passionate about things & other people that I think a lot of people will really enjoy. 4⭐️. Out 01/28.CWs: drug addicted parent, blackmail by parent, parental loss, stalker.
Hi and welcome to my blog tour stop for Temple of Swoon* by Jo Segura. I've really enjoyed this author's books about female archaeologists kicking butt, solving mysteries, and falling in love. Read on for a summary of this upcoming release, out now!, and you can see my previous review here. Summary.While her mentor may be the world’s most badass archaeologist, the only thing bad about Dr. Miriam Jacobs are her corny jokes. But when Miri is charged with leading an unmapped expedition through the Amazon for the fabled Lost City of the Moon, she finally has her chance to prove to her colleagues that she’s capable—and hopefully prove it to herself, too. Journalist Rafael Monfils has joined the archaeological team to chronicle their search for the lost city. Or at least, that’s what they think he’s doing. Rafa’s real goal? Make sure the team does not reach the Cidade da Lua, stopping the desecration of the holy city and protecting his mother’s legacy. All he needs to do is keep them on the wrong path. If only the endearingly quirky Dr. Jacobs wasn’t so damn tenacious—each of Rafa’s tricks and purposeful wrong turns only seem to fuel her determination. Even worse, he’s charmed by her goofy attempts to channel Lara Croft as they traverse the dangerous Brazilian rainforest. But they’re not the only crew hunting for the lost city, and soon the untamed jungle—and their untamed hearts—might be the least of their worries... What's the last romance you read featuring archaeologist leads? Let me know in the comments!Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links. Work in Progress has re-activated my desire to go on a tour of Great Britain. Alice Cooper puts her supposed mess of a life on pause to go on a bus tour, not realizing until she gets there that (1) she is the youngest tourer by far &, (2) the hottie jerk Scot who royally made her mad at the airport is the tour leader. The chemistry between Alice & Robbie is zesty, & their romance arc is fun, satisfying, & bittersweet to watch bc Alice is only visiting. But this is at least partially a romance, thank goodness, & that ending really packs the sweetness. With that being said, this is also women’s fiction, with emphasis on Alice’s considerable growth as she wanders historic literary sites. Alice can come across as judgmental, & this is something that she is sometimes aware of, sometimes not. The journey that she goes on wakes her up, shaking loose some of her ideas about life & introducing her to the wondrous stories we carry around, & her journey to love is not straightforward, but it is there. In the end, this book feels like Casey McQuiston’s The Pairing for me—the romance is there & it’s flawed but good, but I’m mainly reading for the gorgeous European adventure. 4.25⭐️. Out 01/14.Please see a list of CWs collected by a trusted reviewer.
Thanks for the free book, @berkleyromance! #BerkleyPartner #Berkley. All opinions provided are my own. This blog post includes affiliate links. I’ve seen so many friends sharing Lynn Painter’s books but this was my first one. (Now that I say that, I’m doubting myself. Such is the life of a big reader ;)). Long-time Lynn Painter fans, you might have seen Accidentally Amy before, but this version is being re-released with some edits & new content in January . This book is serving so much banter: in person & via text. Izzy & Blake thrive off of quips, little stories, & affectionately used insults, & they clearly love spending time together, even when they technically shouldn’t according to their workplace rules. Izzy & Blake come together so quickly at the beginning that I was a little worried about the pacing but then Painter shakes things up & we eventually see the leads building a strong friendship that goes beyond the back & forth of good verbal chemistry. Though the banter’s charm did wear off a bit for me toward the end, for the most part this is a super cute, fast-moving romance that put a smile on my face. 4.33⭐️. Out 01/14.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.What’s Brianna Rogers to do when her shady boss takes away the funding her school’s decrepit library needs? Join a Mars simulation with the teachers that work under her, of course! I’m not sure how often/if ever this premise would happen IRL, but it makes for a clever mix of high & low stakes in this contemporary romance. None of the people that Vice Principal Brianna is on the simulation with are in real danger, but in some ways, it’s still stressful when they get themselves into bad situations. & oh boy, the move Brianna pulls against MMC Roman when the shit hits the fan is such a boss move. I loved it. The Love Simulation is a sweet & satisfying contemporary with some steam that also highlights the struggles one might have if they feel mediocre in a family of high achievers. If you’re looking for some space-related romance, check this one & The Kiss Countdown out! 4⭐️. Out 03/04. Please see a trusted reviewer's list of CWs.
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