Ostensibly about the huge fire that burned most of the Los Angeles Public Library's central branch collection, it really is a love letter to the institution itself and all of its foibles and accomplishments. As someone who works in a large, urban public library system, Orlean's interviews with the LAPL staff and what she noticed while observing the library at work were spot on.

This is an excellent book in a beautiful physical package. I highly recommend.

A promising debut historical romance !

If only Ursula Nunes could be as sweet as the desserts she craves. Her temper and forthright attitude, along with her her Jewish heritage, have landed her on the outs with polite society. She wouldn't care, but the one man she'd even consider marrying cannot even consider proposing to her because of the fear of his family's unacceptance.

Free copy received in exchange for a fair review!

But, what if Ursula could show society she is in fact worthy of entrance to their ranks? Being seen on the arm of one of society's darlings may just be the key.

John Thaddeus “Jay” Truitt is back in society after battling some demons, demons that continue to tempt him. Despite his fear his past addictions will ruin him, Jay agrees to fake an engagement to the beguiling Ursula who he's known since childhood.

As Jay squires Ms. Nunes around society, he sees a woman who is strong in her convictions and may just be a worthy match for himself, if only he can convince her he is worth it.

I adored the setting of this historical, America in the late 1800s, and a refreshing change of pace from Regency/Georgian England and seeing how Ursula struggled and triumphed with her heritage in a place where she often met with ignorance. I'm excited to see how this author builds this series!

Alas, this is the only print copy of any of Sierra Simone's work in my library system (trying to remedy that) and it isn't my favorite trope, but I needed more after Sinner so I gave it a whirl.

Definitely hot, with a crotchety Professor who likes to play "Professor Spanky" but has been shamed by his last partner into thinking that it is bad. He has a wonderful one night stand with an American woman he stumbles upon in the London rain, not knowing she is his new research assistant until she shows up at his cottage the next day. She's totally into his kink, but he's not having it, until he does again. And again.

Nicely done to make the Professor/student thing hot and not gross (I was a teaching assistant at a University and this trope isn't usually for me), and consent is king in this story, with the Professor always reminding his love of her safeword and checking in throughout play.

That said, after Sinner this was just not emotionally what I wanted, but still a fun read.

Spoiler alert.



There is also a secret baby at the end, which also is not my favorite trope.

Fans of the Boston Fire series will enjoy this second chance romance between a firefighter and the woman who suddenly ghosted him right before he was about to propose.

Grant thought Wren was gone for good and he's still picking up the pieces of his shattered heart when he ends up rescuing her from a fire in a bank of rundown apartments. Confused by Wren's living conditions Grant and his circle of friends from the fire department embrace her back into their lives.

Turns out Wren only left Grant because she was scared her ex would hurt him, an ex who beat up her brother and is now out of jail. In fact, he may have been the one to start the fire in her apartment complex.

Returning characters may add a bit of confusion for new readers, but otherwise this is a fair standalone with some intense emotions. I felt the hero and heroine reconnected a bit too quickly for my personal taste, but overall enjoyed reading the story.

Content warning for threats to a main character from an abusive ex.

Okay, so I definitely read this back in 2018 and I definitely liked it. Why didn't I review it?!

Anyway, a con-artist promises to help the woman he's entranced with and her struggling non-profit get their money back after being caught up in a scandalous swindle by a bad foreign investor. All Lenore has to do is fake-date Halsey, gain entrance to his high class world, and let his skills of lying and deception help her get the money back.

Swoony and I love a great heist!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

A graphic memoir of author/illustrator Lucy's grand tour of Europe, complete with a stopover at a Swedish Comics convention, a romance with a Swedish pessimist, and fraught with anxiety and hope for the future.

Knisley speaks to me on many levels, and I love the concept of a graphic travelouge. I also enjoy keeping a diary when I travel and only wish I could also capture my journeys in illustration. Alas, I'll just have to enjoy the skills of those far more talented than I.

An Age of License was one of the only of Knisley's works I hadn't yet read, so I was so pleased it helped tick off one of my 2017 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge items (travel memoir).

Definitely don't pick up Deep Kiss of Winter unless you've already taken a deep dive into the Immortals After Dark series (like I have). This story focuses on the vampire warrior Murdoch Wroth of the Wroth brothers, and the timeline intersects with the other Wroth books in the series.

Murdoch is just fine without ever finding his bride, his fated mate. But of course, as soon as he's admitted this to himself, boom. He finds his mate. And oh what a mate she is.

Daniela is part Valkyrie and part Ice Fey, meaning she cannot be touched by any one BUT an Ice Fey, lest she be burned. She's beautiful, ancient, and longing for a man to fulfill the desires she's only read about in her erotic romance novels. Murdoch fits her every specification, minus the fact he's hungry for her blood and a mere touch of his lips can bring agonizing pain.

As they try to to live as lovers without actually touching they also have to contend with the fact Danii might also be the Queen of all the Ice Fey, and Vampires need not apply.

I enjoyed reading this, and found it very sexy, but also just didn't quite buy it when Murdoch actually "fell" in love but oh well. Still liked the edging, sexual tension with the "we can't touch." OH and there was definitely some fun times with an icicle. o.O

Eddy strikes out on her own to California in the hopes of opening a restaurant. With some money in her pocket and her trusty cook stove Eddy is fortunate in the kindness of strangers, until she isn't.

Left for dead in the deserts of Texas by a con-man masquerading as a priest, she is rescued by the handsome Rhine Fontaine. Eddy, a black woman, is bewildered by Rhine's obvious attraction. Rhine is an rich, white man who is also politically powerful in the small Texas town she ends up in.

But, Rhine has a secret. Rhine is the bastard son of a slave woman and a rapist plantation owner, and he has been passing as a white man ever since deserting the Confederate Army and joining the Union Army with his half-brother. Rhine never wants to return to his slave roots, but Eddy may just be worth leaving his lie behind, consequences be damned.

My favorite parts of Beverly Jenkins novels are the historic details. The Old West trilogy is perfect for people who loved reading every little description of food, clothing, and life in books like Little House on the Prairie, but are looking for a less white-washed, problematic vision of that time.

I have to say, this book gave me a lot of feels, because I was so worried about the consequences of Rhine revealing his secret. These two deserve their HEA, and I just hope that damn town gives it to them.

Patrick, oldest of the Walshes, is hopelessly attracted to his new intern, the enchanting Andi Asani. Andi struggles to reconcile her desires of wanting Patrick's mentor-ship, a position at the Walsh architectural firm, and Patrick himself.

I adore this Walsh series, but so far this is probably my least favorite. The audio-narration is amazing and compelling and I loved the heat between Andi and Patrick, just I am struggling with workplace romances right now, especially ones that include the boss/employee power dynamic. Andi has everything to lose by sleeping with her boss so I understood her hesitation. And yet.


So, while this isn't my yum, I still enjoyed this story and this clan of siblings. The titles of these books are also so clever. Kate Canterbary is the real deal for me.

Hemdeep Singh and his brothers' legacy, their father's company Bharat, Inc., is under threat of an outsider takeover. While Hem had left the company to forge his own way, he is compelled to return home and team up with his brothers to ensure the company stays under family control.

Hem is only home from business, still smarting from the ending of his relationship with a white woman he thought was his forever. But Hem didn't truly know what forever meant until he sees Mina Kohli in the Bharat boardroom.

Mina herself is struggling between honoring her mother's legacy and law firm, even if it means she may need to agree to an arranged marriage. She doesn't have time for Hem, even if she's rapidly falling for the delicious man who's Punjabi heritage and business morals are a perfect match for her own.

But the heart wants what the heart wants, and these two forge an alliance to do what is right for both them and their values, even if it means maybe losing what they thought was most dear to them, their businesses.

A super debut from an author to watch! If you enjoy non-angsty romances with an emphasis on the career intrigue, this is one for you! What I missed a bit from this story was tension between Hem and Mina. I was hoping for a little fight between them before succumbing to their HEA. Their isn't a lot of tension in their romance, and most of the drama is about the business. There is also a lot of setup, so I'm very optimistic this author will grow as the series continues!

Thank you to Avon for the ARC!