Posts Tagged With: romance

Book Review: Spring Frost Romance by Johnny Miles

Reviewed by Astros

Title: Spring Frost Romance
Author: Johnny Miles
Heroes: Jackson & Griffin
Genre: M/M Fantasy Romance
Length: 143 pages
Publisher: Deep Desires Press
Release Date: June 26, 2020
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Spring is coming, and under the melting frost, desire stirs…

Jackson Frost is youthful and charming, even if he can come off as a bit cold at times. Griffin Kloss is a gruff, 30-year-old failed businessman in need of nurture as he licks his wounds. When the two meet, it’s love at first sight. And there’s something about Jackson that’s magical.

And mysterious.

Jackson has secrets, and with the spring thaw coming, it’s harder for him to keep them from his lover. As Griffin deals with an ailing mother and a life that seems to slip away, he longs to hold onto Jackson, even if it means denying the worst of his fears.

Some things are not meant to last, but Griffin is determined to find the one exception, even if he must learn to believe in a new kind of magic.

The magic of the heart…
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Categories: 3 Star Ratings, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2020 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite

Reviewed by Ami

Title: The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows
Author: Olivia Waite
Series: Feminine Pursuits #2
Heroines: Agatha and Penelope
Genre: F/F Historical Romance
Length: 292 pages
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Release Date: July 28, 2020
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: When Agatha Griffin finds a colony of bees in her warehouse, it’s the not-so-perfect ending to a not-so-perfect week. Busy trying to keep her printing business afloat amidst rising taxes and the suppression of radical printers like her son, the last thing the widow wants is to be the victim of a thousand bees. But when a beautiful beekeeper arrives to take care of the pests, Agatha may be in danger of being stung by something far more dangerous…

Categories: 3 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2020 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Devil of Downtown by Joanna Shupe

Reviewed by Ami

Title: The Devil of Downtown
Author: Joanna Shupe
Series: Uptown Girls #3
Hero/Heroine: Justine & Jack
Genre: M/F Historical Romance
Length: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: June 30, 2020
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: The final novel in Joanna Shupe’s critically acclaimed Uptown Girl series about a beautiful do-gooder who must decide if she can team up with one of New York’s brashest criminals without losing something irreplaceable: her heart.

Manhattan kingpin.
Brilliant mastermind.
Gentleman gangster.

He’s built a wall around his heart…

Orphaned and abandoned on the Bowery’s mean streets, Jack Mulligan survived on strength, cunning, and ambition. Now he rules his territory better than any politician or copper ever could. He didn’t get here by being soft. But in uptown do-gooder Justine Greene―the very definition of an iron fist in a velvet glove―Jack may have met his match.

She wears hers on her sleeve…

Justine is devoted to tracking down deadbeat husbands and fighting for fair working conditions. When her mission brings her face-to-face with Jack, she’s shocked to find the man behind the criminal empire is considerably more charming and honorable than many “gentlemen” she knows.

Forming an unlikely alliance, they discover an unexpected desire. And when Justine’s past catches up with them, Jack may be her only hope of survival. Is she ready to make a deal with the devil…?
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Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, M/F, Published in 2020 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: A Good Duke is Hard to Find by Christina Britton

Reviewed by Ami

Title: A Good Duke is Hard to Find
Author: Christina Britton
Series: Isle of Synne #1
Hero/Heroine: Peter & Lenora
Genre: M/F Historical Romance
Length: 384 pages
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: June 30, 2020
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: After her third fiancé leaves her at the altar, Lenora Hartley is beginning to think she’s cursed. One thing’s for certain: she needs to escape London and her father’s tyrannical attempts to find her yet another suitor. The Isle of Synne, an isolated and idyllic retreat off Britain’s northern coast, is blessedly far from society’s gossip, but it also carries haunting reminders of her first fiancé. Letting go of the past to find happiness seems impossible — until Lenora is thrown in the path of a gruff, mysterious blue-eyed man who makes her pulse race.

Next in line for a dukedom he doesn’t want to inherit, Peter Ashford is only on the isle to exact revenge on the man who is responsible for his mother’s death. Once he’s completed the task, he’ll return to America where his life can finally be his own. Yet when he meets the beautiful and kind Miss Hartley, he can’t help but be drawn to her. Can Peter put aside his plans for vengeance for the woman who has come to mean everything to him?
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, M/F, Published in 2020 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey

Reviewed by Heather C

Title: Love Her or Lose Her
Author: Tessa Bailey
Series: Hot & Hammered #2
Hero/Heroine: Dominic/Rosie
Genre: M/F Contemporary Romance
Length: 347 pages
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: January 14, 2020
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Rosie and Dominic Vega are the perfect couple: high school sweethearts, best friends, madly in love. Well, they used to be anyway. Now Rosie’s lucky to get a caveman grunt from the ex-soldier every time she walks in the door. Dom is faithful and a great provider, but the man she fell in love with ten years ago is nowhere to be found. When her girlfriends encourage Rosie to demand more out of life and pursue her dream of opening a restaurant, she decides to demand more out of love, too. Three words: marriage boot camp.

Never in a million years did Rosie believe her stoic, too-manly-to-emote husband would actually agree to relationship rehab with a weed-smoking hippie. Dom talking about feelings? Sitting on pillows? Communing with nature? Learning love languages? Nope. But to her surprise, he’s all in, and it forces her to admit her own role in their cracked foundation. As they complete one ridiculous—yet surprisingly helpful—assignment after another, their remodeled relationship gets stronger than ever. Except just as they’re getting back on track, Rosie discovers Dom has a secret… and it could demolish everything. Continue reading

Categories: 5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Heather C's Reviews, M/F, Published in 2020 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: I’ll See You Again by Chris Bedell

Reviewed by Astros

Title: I’ll See You Again
Author: Chris Bedell
Heroes: Cyrus & Nico
Genre: YA M/M Contemporary Romance
Length: 227 pages
Publisher: Deep Hearts YA
Release Date: March 6, 2020
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: It’s the start of his senior year, and Cyrus should be worried about college applications, procrastinating on homework, and staying up past his bedtime. And he does, until his mother’s cancer returns.

To make matters worse, Nico Valentine—the person Cyrus hates most—insists on being his friend. Carefree, flirtatious, and spontaneous, Nico is everything Cyrus’s childhood never allowed him to be. When their English teacher offers Cyrus extra credit to tutor Nico, Cyrus knows he shouldn’t accept. He could use the distraction, though.

A fling soon ensues, and Cyrus realizes they have more in common than he thought. What is more, Nico is the first person who seems to get him and who is there no matter what. But, if Cyrus wants his romance with Nico to turn into something real, he’ll have to do something he’s never done before—be vulnerable with another person.

Adam Silvera’s HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME meets Rachel Lynn Solomon’s YOU’LL MISS ME WHEN I’M GONE in this tale of heartbreak and second chances.

Content Advisory:
This novel contains discussions and scenes of self-harm and suicide ideation.
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Categories: 3 Star Ratings, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2020 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner

Reviewed by Ami

Title: Something to Talk About
Author: Meryl Wilsner
Heroines: Jo & Emma
Genre: F/F Contemporary
Length: 333 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: May 26, 2020
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: A showrunner and her assistant give the world something to talk about when they accidentally fuel a ridiculous rumor in this debut romance.

Hollywood powerhouse Jo is photographed making her assistant Emma laugh on the red carpet, and just like that, the tabloids declare them a couple. The so-called scandal couldn’t come at a worse time—threatening Emma’s promotion and Jo’s new movie.

As the gossip spreads, it starts to affect all areas of their lives. Paparazzi are following them outside the office, coworkers are treating them differently, and a “source” is feeding information to the media. But their only comment is “no comment”.

With the launch of Jo’s film project fast approaching, the two women begin to spend even more time together, getting along famously. Emma seems to have a sixth sense for knowing what Jo needs. And Jo, known for being aloof and outwardly cold, opens up to Emma in a way neither of them expects. They begin to realize the rumor might not be so off base after all…but is acting on the spark between them worth fanning the gossip flames?
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Categories: 3 Star Ratings, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2020 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Hard Road Back by Andrew Grey

Reviewed by Astros

Title: Hard Road Back
Author: Andrew Grey
Heroes: Martin & Scarborough
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 186 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: May 5, 2020
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Rancher Martin Jamuson has a deep understanding of horses. He just wishes his instincts extended to his best friend, Scarborough Croughton, and the changes in their feelings toward each other. Martin may be the only friend Scarborough has in their small town, but Scarborough is a man of secrets, an outsider who’s made his own way and believes he can only rely on himself when the chips are down. Still, when he needs help with a horse, he naturally comes to Martin.

As they work together, Martin becomes more determined than ever to show Scarborough he’s someone he can trust… maybe someone he can love. Even if it risks their friendship, both men know the possibility for more between them deserves to be explored. But when Scarborough’s past reemerges, it threatens his home, horses, career, and even their lives. If they hope to survive the road before them, they’ll have to walk it together… and maybe make the leap from cautious friends to lovers along the way. Continue reading

Categories: 3 Star Ratings, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2020 | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington

Reviewed by Heather C

Title: Meet Me at Midnight
Author: Jessica Pennington
Hero/Heroine: Asher/Sidney
Genre: M/F Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: They have a love-hate relationship with summer.

Sidney and Asher should have clicked. Two star swimmers forced to spend their summers on a lake together sounds like the perfect match. But it’s the same every year–in between cookouts and boat rides and family-imposed bonfires, Sidney and Asher spend the dog days of summer finding the ultimate ways to prank each other. And now, after their senior year, they’re determined to make it the most epic summer yet.

But their plans are thrown in sudden jeopardy when their feud causes their families to be kicked out of their beloved lake houses. Once in their new accommodations, Sidney expects the prank war to continue as usual. But then she gets a note–Meet me at midnight. And Asher has a proposition for her: join forces for one last summer of epic pranks, against a shared enemy–the woman who kicked them out.

Their truce should make things simpler, but six years of tormenting one another isn’t so easy to ignore. Kind of like the undeniable attraction growing between them. Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Heather C's Reviews, M/F, Published in 2020 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Aftercare by Tanya Chris

Reviewed by Astros

Title: Aftercare
Author: Tanya Chris
Series: Ever After #1
Heroes: Garret & Aayan
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Length: 221 pages
Publisher: Tanya Chris Publishing
Release Date: May 17, 2017
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Aayan Denir knows Garrett Hillier was once a high-powered defense attorney, and—thanks to a leaked photograph—he knows Garrett is sexually submissive, which makes him ideally qualified to defend Aayan’s brother from the charge of murdering his sub. Aayan would do anything to protect Syed, even if he doesn’t understand how Syed could hurt someone he loves. He could never hurt Garrett. He only wants to take care of him—love him, serve him, cherish him. And maybe torture him. Just a little.

Garrett probably shouldn’t be dating his client’s brother. Right? And what’s the use in a confirmed sub dating a guy who doesn’t want to be a Dom anyway? The important thing is to get Syed cleared of the discriminatory murder charge he’s facing. Aayan is a distraction. But for the first time in the three lonely years since Garrett’s husband died, he’s feeling hope, ambition, and desire. Can he give up the pain he craves to find the love he needs?

As Syed’s trial date looms, Aayan and Garrett explore what a BDSM relationship means for them, and what they mean to each other.

Aftercare is a M/M BDSM contemporary romance about Aayan, a Muslim immigrant who’s not sure he can play the Dom role, and Garrett, a submissive attorney who walked away from his life when his husband died. 64,000 words. Continue reading

Categories: 3 Star Ratings, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2017, Published in 2018 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment