Rhiannon Hunter broke her own rules when she agreed to meet for a second night with the sexy ex-football player she met on the hugely popular dating app she created. The same man who completely ghosted her, proving she should stay with her one and done rule.
Rhiannon has tried to forget Samson Lima, but is forced to confront him after she discovers he's the new face of one of her major competitors, an old-school style matchmaking website she wants to buy.
Samson had his reasons for leaving Rhiannon high and dry, and now that he's finally found her he's out to prove he isn't the man she thinks he is, while also learning to navigate the treacherous world of modern dating.
The breezy cover of this contemporary romance holds a delightful and timely modern dating romance that will enchant both pros of the scene and those who've never had to download an app to date in their life. Discussion of the perils of dating and the repercussions of being an NFL player in the age of CTE lend depth and gravitas to this steamy tale. I cannot wait for more in this new series by Alisha Rai, perfect for fans of Alyssa Cole and Helen Hoang.

**Full review will be posted on Library Journal**

I received a free, finished copy in exchange for a fair review, these are just some quick thoughts:

Absolutely amazing banter abounds in this love story between an ice-queen matchmaker and the scruffy-looking, cravat-less former prize-fighter now gaming hell owner across the lane. Plus he has a one-eyed sassy cat!

I adored Reed so much, especially how despite being a big man with rough hands and scars from his past as a prize-fighter, he was the most gentle and slow and understanding of Ainsley's trepidation for becoming close to any man. So sweet and so delicious. I did want to punch him in the face when he decided to do that finally fight despite her protestations and just assumed she would stay home with their many children and give up her matchmaking agency. Like what? No way.

Also, the banter and chemistry is SO GOOD between these two but the secondary characters are pretty much infuriating. I was angry at Ainsley's sisters and their rich husbands for not helping more or realizing that the agency was doing so poorly. Um, hello, one of the sister's husbands couldn't hire a door man to keep Ainsley safe?! Also there is a slight mystery about the agency's benefactress and rich client that was okay, but felt like kind of a throw away?

That said, even if read for the banter, this was a nice series ender (I did not read the previous books).

Also a few CW hidden behind the spoiler, one having to do with the cat!

Spoiler

Ainsley's former fiancee physically abused her, verbally abused her, and sexually assaulted her. He almost rapes her when she tried to break it off with him (all events are described and do not happen on the page). He does return and tries to catch her in the house, but she is able to hide from him and the cat attacks him. The cat is hurt in the attack and the reader and Ainsley and Reed do not know if the cat is dead or not for some time. I was worried y'all! The cat lives. ALSO they do not bang until they are married! Which is cute for reasons and I felt handled the baby situation splendidly. Both characters are totally into making a baby and talk about it. So cute and I like this more than when characters ignore birth control talk.

A lovely and sensual second-chance romance between a new-to-town college professor and the assistant district attorney who challenges him to embrace happiness and love. But their happiness as a couple comes to a head when both Patrice and Easton find their respective careers taking them in divergent paths when the local law enforcement begins unfairly targeting young men of color in their community.
Can Patrice, a Haitian born immigrant turned social activist, accept happiness as his due when others like him suffer the consequences of being judged by the color of their skin, by their accent, by their immigration status? Can Easton, a rich, White man with a connected family, continue to toe the party line as he considers running for District Attorney while trying not to alienate the same police force he depends on to be witnesses for many of his cases while also not alienating his new boyfriend who wants him to do so much more?
As always Herrera deftly weaves a story both compelling and sensual as she makes her characters work for their HEA. Readers will also be pleased to see the other couples from the previous books making appearances.

I have to say I was very worried about Patrice being pulled over by the police throughout this story. I was so worried about what would happen that I just really want to say I appreciate the happily ever after promise Carina gives.

I listened to the audio book for my second reading of this lovely friends-to-lovers romance, and this is a really great example of the trope. I typically do not enjoy friends-to-lovers, but here I buy it completely. Hazel is such a glorious mess and I wish I had her in my life. Plus Josh is a scrumptious cinnamon roll who is lucky this hurricane blew in to his life.

Free copy received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review!

Hazel is the friend who'll make you fall in love with her. She's exuberant, has a fleet of pets, and may burn down your kitchen but it'll be while she tries to make you the best dinner ever. She's been this way her entire life, and she's not interested in being 'dateable.'

So, when Hazel finds out her best friend's brother is her sexy former Teaching Assistant from college, the one she emailed about a paper extension while high on painkillers, she knows they'll never date. Never going to happen. Since he also has a girlfriend, she knows this is the perfect way to gain another best friend.

Josh is a workaholic and is trying to make a long distance relationship work even though his girlfriend doesn't really seem interested in holding up her end of the bargain. Or making an effort to get along with his family, something which his traditional Korean-American mother is pretty annoyed about.

When Hazel blows back into his life, he is powerless to resist her genuine joie de vivre. Despite their completely opposite personalities, Josh and Hazel click. She draws him out of his boring routine. She makes him laugh. She loves his sister, his family. She supports him when he finds out his girlfriend has been cheating on him and they break up.

Hazel even convinces serial monogamist Josh to jump back into the dating pool, by going on double dates. All of which go disastrously. Especially when it seems Josh and Hazel should really be the ones dating...

If you're looking for your next perfect read after The Kiss Quotient, look no further! SUPER DUPER DUPER CUTE, so sexy, and a lovely slow burn.

Everything I could want in a historical romance. Soft glances over luscious dinners, library flirting, embroidered gifts, discussions of the importance of art, science, and why the two aren't always in juxtapositions, women supporting women.

I'm so pleased Avon and Olivia Waite have brought this beautiful story, and I cannot wait to see it on my library's shelves.

*4.5 stars*

I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review.

Roxanne Medina, self-made billionaire, gets what she wants in business and in life. And she wants Príncipe Mateo Ferdinand Juan Carlos de Esperanza y Santos. In her bed, three nights a month for one year. She'll have his heir, romance not required.
What follows is an absolutely delicious, soapy, and over the top clash of the titans romance for the ages, and the start of what will sure be a stunning career for debut novelist Angelina M. Lopez.

I adore when a romance novel starts with a bang and Lush Money will have you racing to keep up with the twists and turns of a plot *just* this side of ridiculous, but made utterly believable by the passion and strength of the character development. I cannot wait for more!

CW for cis-gendered language throughout, Roxanne wants a daughter, Mateo wants a son, and they talk about their potential child as such.

A rollicking fun time, but I had to suspend my disbelief that a seasoned courtesan who Marian initially seeks out for assistance in finding her own career as a mistress would suggest doing anything with anyone for free. Also, why wouldn't the retired courtesan train Marian herself? I'd like to read a romance like that (and maybe they fall in love).

That detail set aside, I had a great time as always reading Sophie Jordan's latest.

CW for stalking, threat of sexual violence, physical assault, and kidnapping.

I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review from Library Journal (review link to come once published to LJ).

I will be doing a full review for Library Journal so these are my messy thoughts for a mess of a novel.

I was assigned this book to review as for Library Journal. I review specifically "Historical Romance" novels for Library Journal. This book looks like a historical romance novel, has back copy that reads like a historical romance novel, and even has a Hawaiian language glossary at the back, all things that indicate this is a historical romance novel. But. The author's note at the beginning makes sure to specifically point out:

Bound in Flame is not intended to be an accurate portrayal of history, but rather a re-imagining, a consideration, of what might have been...Is this a romance? Is this a fantasy? Or merely the ramblings of an old woman who has spent too long in the sun? I leave that for you to decide.

No thank you. I don't want to have to guess whether this is a romance or a fantasy and the story doesn't embrace any of these genres in any satisfying way.

1900s Hawaii is a time period fraught with colonialism and racism and if you aren't ready to do the work besides following your own personal research rabbit holes, than don't write a historical fiction novel. Don't use historical figures. Don't make your blurb sound like you are writing about a real person (as far as I can tell Letty Lang is made up).

Most readers and book clubs are going to pick this up and think oh, how lovely, this will lead to such interesting discussion, but will not have the wherewithal or the prior knowledge to understand that this book is at best badly written and misleading and at worst highly problematic.

Letty Lang is 18 years old, is a budding Suffragette, an aspiring veterinarian, and SHE'S MAGIC. I hated that Letty's skills were made possible by magic she barely understood and that wasn't fully comprehensible to me, a white lady who is very unfamiliar with Native Hawaiian mythology. I just felt uncomfortable about it all.

And if that weren't enough, Letty is also best friends with the former Queen of Hawaii, rides at least fifteen different horses with different names throughout the story, interacts with other Native Hawaiians who seem to only be able to speak stilted English, and falls in love with an older English "nice white guy" who owns a sugar plantation. But she might kill him with her fire powers you know. And of course it is the MAGIC that is keeping them apart, not the fact he's a White plantation owner and she's a Brown Native Hawaiian who gets to experience casual and forthright racism throughout the story. Oh and there's a polo match, and a ball, and some other sort of horse race, and a magic white donkey riding lady who appears sometimes, and a dog named Rosebud, and a bad guy who wants to sabotage the nice White Guy for some reason and is mean to horses and kidnaps Letty and tortures her. SO MUCH STUFF. And the Hawaiian Ladies' Riding Society is barely mentioned, and again should perhaps been the focus of the story?

Basically this felt like it should have been a YA fantasy novel that took inspiration from Hawaiian myth, took more responsibility for not being "own voices," and just really shouldn't be out here masquerading as an Adult Historical Romance novel (there is one explicit sex scene).

I revisited my first ever Tessa Bailey novel on audio, and the female narrators Irish accent is lovely! I really appreciated Jack's journey toward recovery and seeing a small, Irish girl be a badass arms instructor.

CW for alcoholism, addiction, and discussion of a past sexual assault.

When Irish shooting instructor Katie McCoy meets NYPD trainee Jack Garrett, she thinks she's found the perfect candidate to tick off all the sexy items on her first visit to the USA list. Jack also seems to think so, but his very real drinking problem throws their instant love connection into risk.

This was my first Tessa Bailey and I really enjoyed it and immediately went in search of the first book in the series. That said, I had a few personal issues with Jack's possessive nature, especially him not wanting any other man to even look at Katie and sending people to keep tabs on her "to make sure she was safe." That toed the line for me to creepy behavior.

Also, I was a bit leery of Jack's alcoholism and it "being solved by magic sex" but Bailey does a sensitive job addressing this. I did like that it was the hero who had sexual trauma that the heroine was helping him with, as often it is the reverse.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!