Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.65k reviews by:
bandherbooks
The cover blurb for Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny by Rebekah Weatherspoon is no lie. Everyone you know are already saying "gimme" because this book is EXACTLY what the doctor ordered.
Dr. Sloan Copeland finds herself in dire need of a new live-in nanny after the one she entrusted her six-year-old twins to suddenly quits, with no warning.
In a bind, she agrees to hire a male nanny, something she's never considered. He comes highly recommended from people she trusts and immediately clicks with her girls, so even though he's a ginger-bearded, motorcycling-riding, tattooed giant white boy who turns her on just a little bit too much, Sloan says yes.
Rafe Whitcomb had finally decided end his career as nanny after deciding not to move overseas with the family he's taken care of for many years, but figures one last gig can't hurt while he figures out what he wants to do. He almost declines the job though because he immediately wants Dr. Copeland, something he's honest with her about right from the get-go.
Good thing he's honest, because Sloan is just as interested. What follows is a mature, low-angst, but hot as all get out romance between two grown-ups who are simply perfect for each other. With a few minor hiccups, these two will soon be your favorite couple of all time.
This is exactly the book I needed at the right time. The children are not just plot moppets, the slight drama with Sloans asshole ex-husband is perfectly believable and maturely handled, and it was just wonderful to see a romance featuring a black main character who just got to have a HEA.
Nanny romances can be problematic for the power imbalance, so I loved reading Weatherspoon's take on the trope. Rafe is not a character who doesn't have choices, as so female nannys in other stories are. He isn't taking the job out of desperation, but because he wants to. He has a local and excellent support system, his family and friends, and is completely honest with Sloan from the start. Bravo!
I listened to the audiobook in 2019, and loved it! The narrator was excellent. My only issue was the levels. The difference in volume between her voice for Sloan and her rumbly voice for Rafe made listening in my noisy car a little difficult, as I had to turn it up to hear Rafe. With headphones, no problem. This is a very minor thing for an otherwise spot on audiobook. I love this story so much.
I also re-read in prepartion for Xeni, which is almost here! I kind of forgot about that shock ending at the epilogue reference Xeni's
Dr. Sloan Copeland finds herself in dire need of a new live-in nanny after the one she entrusted her six-year-old twins to suddenly quits, with no warning.
In a bind, she agrees to hire a male nanny, something she's never considered. He comes highly recommended from people she trusts and immediately clicks with her girls, so even though he's a ginger-bearded, motorcycling-riding, tattooed giant white boy who turns her on just a little bit too much, Sloan says yes.
Rafe Whitcomb had finally decided end his career as nanny after deciding not to move overseas with the family he's taken care of for many years, but figures one last gig can't hurt while he figures out what he wants to do. He almost declines the job though because he immediately wants Dr. Copeland, something he's honest with her about right from the get-go.
Good thing he's honest, because Sloan is just as interested. What follows is a mature, low-angst, but hot as all get out romance between two grown-ups who are simply perfect for each other. With a few minor hiccups, these two will soon be your favorite couple of all time.
This is exactly the book I needed at the right time. The children are not just plot moppets, the slight drama with Sloans asshole ex-husband is perfectly believable and maturely handled, and it was just wonderful to see a romance featuring a black main character who just got to have a HEA.
Nanny romances can be problematic for the power imbalance, so I loved reading Weatherspoon's take on the trope. Rafe is not a character who doesn't have choices, as so female nannys in other stories are. He isn't taking the job out of desperation, but because he wants to. He has a local and excellent support system, his family and friends, and is completely honest with Sloan from the start. Bravo!
I listened to the audiobook in 2019, and loved it! The narrator was excellent. My only issue was the levels. The difference in volume between her voice for Sloan and her rumbly voice for Rafe made listening in my noisy car a little difficult, as I had to turn it up to hear Rafe. With headphones, no problem. This is a very minor thing for an otherwise spot on audiobook. I love this story so much.
I also re-read in prepartion for Xeni, which is almost here! I kind of forgot about that shock ending at the epilogue reference Xeni's
Spoiler
surprise wedding to a mystery Scot!
CW: heroine was tortured and experimented on by her ex-husband (off page), violence including futuristic weapons, gory medical details, miscarriage (off page).
A Space Princess finally free of her abusive ex-husband who experimented on her uses her unwanted skills to help find her kidnapped brother, causing her bodyguard extreme consternation. Along the way she comes in to her strengths and finds out the very bodyguard who rejected her all those years ago has been in love with her, forever.
Super delicious slow burn space opera, I adored the world building, the action, and the concept of a strong princess who isn't necessarily physically strong, but who uses everything she has to fight for her family.
Told in 1st POV, I really wanted Ian's POV as his motivations are very unclear for a long time and I would love to see things from his perspective. But, this is truly Bianca's story and she is the star and you'll love her. If you like romantic suspense, this is a perfect jump into Sci-Fi romance because it has all the best elements of suspense plus the science fiction elements. I was kept on the edge of my seat as Biana, Ian and the rest of their friends and family (hello Ada Loch) try to find Ferdinand.
Spoilery comments and CWs below:
I LOVE when wounded characters have to heal together, and the scene in the medical tank was exceptionally tension building. Proper use of an aphrodisiac and lingering touches. It takes so long for these two doofs to kiss but it was real worth the wait.
CW: heroine was tortured and experimented on by her ex-husband (off page), violence including futuristic weapons, gory medical details, miscarriage (off page).
A Space Princess finally free of her abusive ex-husband who experimented on her uses her unwanted skills to help find her kidnapped brother, causing her bodyguard extreme consternation. Along the way she comes in to her strengths and finds out the very bodyguard who rejected her all those years ago has been in love with her, forever.
Super delicious slow burn space opera, I adored the world building, the action, and the concept of a strong princess who isn't necessarily physically strong, but who uses everything she has to fight for her family.
Told in 1st POV, I really wanted Ian's POV as his motivations are very unclear for a long time and I would love to see things from his perspective. But, this is truly Bianca's story and she is the star and you'll love her. If you like romantic suspense, this is a perfect jump into Sci-Fi romance because it has all the best elements of suspense plus the science fiction elements. I was kept on the edge of my seat as Biana, Ian and the rest of their friends and family (hello Ada Loch) try to find Ferdinand.
Spoilery comments and CWs below:
I LOVE when wounded characters have to heal together, and the scene in the medical tank was exceptionally tension building. Proper use of an aphrodisiac and lingering touches. It takes so long for these two doofs to kiss but it was real worth the wait.
CW: heroine was tortured and experimented on by her ex-husband (off page), violence including futuristic weapons, gory medical details, miscarriage (off page).
If you follow me on Twitter you may know Speed is my absolute favorite Romance movie of all time. Keanu Reeves as LAPD SWAT Officer Jack Traven is my favorite fictional boyfriend.
I've been searching for a romance that gives me some of the same feels as Keanu and Sandra's blazing chemistry in that perfect film and well, Misadventures in Blue by Sierra Simone is the closest I've come yet!
She's 17 years older and the lead detective on the case they are working together. He doesn't care. Smoking hot and delicious.
CW for gun violence, on and off page, grief from losing a spouse to police work and gun violence.
I've been searching for a romance that gives me some of the same feels as Keanu and Sandra's blazing chemistry in that perfect film and well, Misadventures in Blue by Sierra Simone is the closest I've come yet!
She's 17 years older and the lead detective on the case they are working together. He doesn't care. Smoking hot and delicious.
CW for gun violence, on and off page, grief from losing a spouse to police work and gun violence.
I read a few Johanna Lindsey's stolen from my mother around the age of 11 or 12 (most significantly Prisoner of My Desire and Savage Thunder, omg), and they certainly made an impression on my young psyche. If I would have read Gentle Rogue at that same time, I think I would have loved it way more than I did reading it today.
That said, it was immensely readable and fun looking at it through the context of the time and place it came from. I loved Georgie the most and for a book from 1990 she is a damn delight. She's not afraid of sex, doesn't feel ashamed about wanting sex once she figures out that she isn't actually nauseous (so silly), and she's not afraid to stand up to her brothers and James Mallory when she can.
I didn't like that James didn't tell Georgie that he recognized her right away nor did I like that he made her do things no cabin boy would have ever been asked to do, so that took away some of his charm, not to mention that he's probably a slave owner. Yikes. I did love the banter between James and Georgie, especially once the jig was up.
As having never read any of the other Malory books, I was meh about all the other characters, and I felt the last third of the book was way too long and not enough about James and Georgie's relationship, which felt mostly settled besides them refusing to realize they loved each other.
That said, it was immensely readable and fun looking at it through the context of the time and place it came from. I loved Georgie the most and for a book from 1990 she is a damn delight. She's not afraid of sex, doesn't feel ashamed about wanting sex once she figures out that she isn't actually nauseous (so silly), and she's not afraid to stand up to her brothers and James Mallory when she can.
I didn't like that James didn't tell Georgie that he recognized her right away nor did I like that he made her do things no cabin boy would have ever been asked to do, so that took away some of his charm, not to mention that he's probably a slave owner. Yikes. I did love the banter between James and Georgie, especially once the jig was up.
As having never read any of the other Malory books, I was meh about all the other characters, and I felt the last third of the book was way too long and not enough about James and Georgie's relationship, which felt mostly settled besides them refusing to realize they loved each other.
Lazlo Strange is a dreamer. An orphan raised by severe monks who struggles his way into a fulfilling if lonely and ill-paid position as a librarian, where he discovers ancient stories about a magical realm to the west of an unpassable desert. Enchanted by these tales, Lazlo carefully and loving collects every scrap of evidence of the country he can only call "Weep" as the actual name appears to have been erased from the minds and mouths of anyone who try to utter it. Mocked for his passion, but also used by the city's elite researchers, Lazlo is vindicated when a contingent from the lost country suddenly appears and asks for the best and the brightest to travel with them and solve a pressing problem. Lazlo is chosen, for reasons he doesn't quite understand, and finds that Weep's problems are due to the atrocities of gods who left indelible scars on the city and its denizens. He also begins to dream of a beautiful blue-skinned girl...
Sarai is the Muse of Nightmares, a godling. She and her fellowing godlings secretly survived a horrible massacre that left their parents, the gods, and their half-siblings dead. Sarai uses her power to invade the dreams of the citizens of Weep to make them pay, but upon encountering Lazlo, a different narrative appears...
Hauntingly beautiful, with a thread of horror lurking quietly beneath the surface. A tale that shows how two different perspectives on an event can drive the lust for revenge which ultimately hurts all those involved.
So good. I can't even begin to describe how the ending made me feel, and now I can't wait for the second book!!
Sarai is the Muse of Nightmares, a godling. She and her fellowing godlings secretly survived a horrible massacre that left their parents, the gods, and their half-siblings dead. Sarai uses her power to invade the dreams of the citizens of Weep to make them pay, but upon encountering Lazlo, a different narrative appears...
Hauntingly beautiful, with a thread of horror lurking quietly beneath the surface. A tale that shows how two different perspectives on an event can drive the lust for revenge which ultimately hurts all those involved.
So good. I can't even begin to describe how the ending made me feel, and now I can't wait for the second book!!
Would you give a second chance to the man who broke your trust and your heart? 19 year old Tate fell for 21 year old Sam during her first trip to London. Growing up sheltered due to her parents' failed marriage, Tate is finally out experiencing the world and falling in love for the quiet man who becomes her travel companion along with her grandmother and his grandfather. But Sam destroys Tate's trust and world when he sells her secret to the tabloids, launching her life into a completely new trajectory and bringing her estranged movie star father back into it.
Cut to almost 15 years later and Tate is set to star in a movie with her father for the first time, a film absolutely perfect for her. But once she lands on set she realizes the screenwriter is no other than Sam, the boy who took her virginity and her heart that fateful London trip, now a man who she still feels something for.
As Tate acts out the role of a lifetime, can she find true love or trust with any of the men in her life?
I'm positive there will be many readers for this story, unfortunately this wasn't a story I connected with. Only being given Tate's POV of the story led this to feel more like women's fiction. Tate and Sam are rarely on page together, not enough for me to believe their HEA. Tate spent six days with Sam at 19 before he did something really bad, and he did NOT grovel close to enough for me to forgive him.
The romance arc didn't feel like the most important part of the story, it is more about Tate's journey accepting herself, her feelings, and realizing that sometimes you'll never have the relationship you want with a family member, no matter how hard you act in front of the cameras.
The rest is spoilers so please avoid if you don't want them.
I also figured out *why* Sam did what he did right away, and it was shitty and she immediately forgives him which is her right, but. And then he ghosts on her when news breaks that HE was the one who spilled the beans all those years ago, and she again forgives her when she reads four emails he sent before the movie started filming. Eh. I wanted more. I just really miss the dual POV Christina Lauren stories that were more fun and romance specific. I wish them well on this journey as I think it is working for a lot of readers, just not me.
Cut to almost 15 years later and Tate is set to star in a movie with her father for the first time, a film absolutely perfect for her. But once she lands on set she realizes the screenwriter is no other than Sam, the boy who took her virginity and her heart that fateful London trip, now a man who she still feels something for.
As Tate acts out the role of a lifetime, can she find true love or trust with any of the men in her life?
I'm positive there will be many readers for this story, unfortunately this wasn't a story I connected with. Only being given Tate's POV of the story led this to feel more like women's fiction. Tate and Sam are rarely on page together, not enough for me to believe their HEA. Tate spent six days with Sam at 19 before he did something really bad, and he did NOT grovel close to enough for me to forgive him.
The romance arc didn't feel like the most important part of the story, it is more about Tate's journey accepting herself, her feelings, and realizing that sometimes you'll never have the relationship you want with a family member, no matter how hard you act in front of the cameras.
The rest is spoilers so please avoid if you don't want them.
A woman from 1976 travels back in time to 1815 Antebellum South whenever a boy named Rufus is in life threatening danger. She learns he's her distant ancestor and must grapple with protecting him to ensure she will someday be born and her modern sensibilities around justice, race, and honor.
This book is a masterpiece. Horrific, hard to read (for the subject matter not the writing), and thought provoking, I'm only sad it took me so long to read it. Butler forces the reader to confront their own prejudices, their own biases, and takes you on a hard ride to the finish. Utterly compelling, especially in the small touches you might not notice, how Dana is not described explicitly as a Black woman, but if you read the context clues it is all right there.
Looking forward to discussing with my Book to Art Club group on 10.2019.
This book is a masterpiece. Horrific, hard to read (for the subject matter not the writing), and thought provoking, I'm only sad it took me so long to read it. Butler forces the reader to confront their own prejudices, their own biases, and takes you on a hard ride to the finish. Utterly compelling, especially in the small touches you might not notice, how Dana is not described explicitly as a Black woman, but if you read the context clues it is all right there.
Looking forward to discussing with my Book to Art Club group on 10.2019.
Nimona is awesome. And so is Ballister Blackweather (really the true hero of this tale). I also have a little soft spot for Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin, because damn that hair!
Basically, Nimona is blogger/graphic novelist Allie Brosch in a dinosaur costume BUT WHO CAN ACTUALLY SHAPESHIFT. YES, become ALL THE THINGS! Noelle Stevenson created a very awesome universe of medieval pageantry and magic combined with science and made it believable. It is also more than a little subversive, and I loved the dynamic between Nimona and her "boss" Ballister and the dynamic between Ballister and Goldenloin. Super fun, a must read.
Basically, Nimona is blogger/graphic novelist Allie Brosch in a dinosaur costume BUT WHO CAN ACTUALLY SHAPESHIFT. YES, become ALL THE THINGS! Noelle Stevenson created a very awesome universe of medieval pageantry and magic combined with science and made it believable. It is also more than a little subversive, and I loved the dynamic between Nimona and her "boss" Ballister and the dynamic between Ballister and Goldenloin. Super fun, a must read.
Eva, fresh from breaking off her business and personal relationship with a man who used her for her talent and left her in the dust when she started to shine, is out to win the commission for a large scale mural installation in a small town.
Eva's here for business ONLY, but when she discovers her hotel accommodations were lost to a computer glitch, the friendly woman who offers to let her stay on her family's ranch turns out to have a very sexy brother named Casey who might be the perfect distraction or the perfect heartbreak.
Despite leading a increasingly popular Country band, Casey is set on one thing only, keeping his family's ranch afloat. But Eva, with her platinum crop, tattoos, and forthrightness, is someone he can't just let pass by.
A hot fling turns into the opportunity for more, but can Casey or Eva trust the other or give themselves the chance to both have what they so clearly want?
Hot dog, consider me a Mayberry convert. I'm not typically one for cowboys, but if they are all as sensitive and sweet as Casey, sign me up!
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
CW for parental death (off page), verbal abuse from an ex
Eva's here for business ONLY, but when she discovers her hotel accommodations were lost to a computer glitch, the friendly woman who offers to let her stay on her family's ranch turns out to have a very sexy brother named Casey who might be the perfect distraction or the perfect heartbreak.
Despite leading a increasingly popular Country band, Casey is set on one thing only, keeping his family's ranch afloat. But Eva, with her platinum crop, tattoos, and forthrightness, is someone he can't just let pass by.
A hot fling turns into the opportunity for more, but can Casey or Eva trust the other or give themselves the chance to both have what they so clearly want?
Hot dog, consider me a Mayberry convert. I'm not typically one for cowboys, but if they are all as sensitive and sweet as Casey, sign me up!
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
CW for parental death (off page), verbal abuse from an ex
Okay, so I'm pretty sure I read this in 2018, but omg my heart broke reading this story. It has an HEA but only for two, not all, of the people involved. I do believe the person who does not get an HEA in this story gets one in their own, but holy crap I couldn't handle it. Not for me.