I credit X-Wing Rogue Squadron (Book 1) for "blooding me" to the "we only have tonight" trope. Corran Horn and Mirax Terrik actually joke about this before boning (off page alas) and heading to battle the next day. Young Beth LOVED IT.

Jasmine is nervous but excited to start her new starring role on a groundbreaking bilingual romantic comedy TV series on a Netflix-esque streaming service. She's hoping to put the drama and tabloid gossip surrounding her recent breakup with a very famous musician behind her and let her work carry her forward, no dating allowed.

Part of her excited nervousness comes from the fact she'll be co-starring with the telenovela superstar Ashton Suárez, someone her family, especially her beloved grandmother, very much admire.

Ashton is also hoping this new role and show will spur his career forward, giving him more Hollywood clout and get him out of the acting box he feels stuck in.

But what neither of them planned on were the very real feelings that seem to be developing along with their characters' chemistry. But Ashton's utmost desire for privacy and his fear of Jasmine's notoriety after her messy break up lead to some challenges ahead.

Oh what a story! I have been eagerly awaiting this one for so long, having fallen in love with Daria's work in her Dance Off series. Daria has a way with deftly weaving in the characters' careers and the magic and mayhem of the TV industry with sparkling and sensual romance. It is perfectly balanced and absolutely breathtaking to read.

Additions of bright secondary characters and touches like an intimacy coach that makes the actors learn how to give consent and voice discomfort are so welcome and important.

A must read, will definitely be a contender for romance of the year!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

CW: drinking, stalking (in the past), child endangerment (fear of, incident in the past), some scary hospital stuff

August 2020 - listened to the audio book as narrated by the glorious Seraphine Valentine and will be reviewed for LJ.

Christina C Jones is really a master of the short romance novella format. So much is packed in this tight and delicious story about woman falling for the florist she discovers made the beautiful arrangement her dud one night stand sends to her work (when she pitched it in the trash and went to buy her own I fell in love). I've read a few in the Heights series but will definitely be back for more.

ALSO can we please talk about August's grandma posting sexts on her FB wall for all to see? I was dying! I need her story please!

The Revisioners by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton had me holding my breath the entire time I read it. Told in alternating POVs by two women (ancestors) separated in time, themes revolving around motherhood and the poison of white supremacy.

Lyrical prose and the inclusion of a lot of songs and chants would have made this a great one to listen to on audio if I had more audio booking time. I am wondering why this one didn't get more buzz, as I found it utterly compelling and a perfect book club pick. Definitely worth your time to read.

What a wild ride. As my friend Margaret said, this is truly the LOTHAIRE of the Maiden Lane series and I was here for it.

Best quote: "Will you drive me mad? Scatter my wits to the wind like so much chaff? Leave me a shell of a man, broken, hollowed of brain and soul, left with merely a throbbing prick like a mindless goat? Have mercy, I plead, O siren of chatelaines and unlovely bonnets! Let my famished mouth feast upon thy sweet, sweet flesh. I am awash in yearning spunk.”

Val's inner monologue was a delight, if somewhat disturbing, to read. He is a villain and he's had a lot of trauma. I don't know what to say about the mental health rep in this story at all, or that he and Bridget end up in Istanbul at the end, but I had a fun time reading this.

LOTS of CWs - mostly including child endangerment and discussion of rape/attempted rape to children and adults.

SPOILERY REVIEW>


We've followed Alf, a 20-something girl from St. Giles who dresses as a much younger boy, throughout the series. She's cocky, knows everything and everyone, and if she doesn't she knows where to find out how to get that info for you. OH, and she's also the new Ghost! That surprised me a bit even though it should't have, but cool!

Hugh is the bastard son of the king but also a Duke and acknowledged, and he's trying to find out what is up with the Lords of Chaos and bring them down. He has two small sons who he is now taking care of after the death of his wife (who he lived separately from-she had many lovers). He's also supposed to marry his dead wife's best friend, the refined Lady Iris. A marriage of convenience only, NEVER AGAIN of passion.

But of course Hugh hires Alf, has a boner for the Ghost of St. Giles who he figures out is a woman, and then puts the pieces together that Alf is the Ghost is a woman. And worries he got to third base with a child (because he and the Ghost mess around before he figures out the connection). There is a lot of yucky business here with the Lords of Chaos, raping children, secret societies, and what not, plus SO MUCH gendered language of Alf being the woman to his man, their woman and man parts being perfectly aligned, etc etc. Most romances are still grappling with such gendered language, but this was exceptionally glaring and threw me off a bit.

But lots of things I did like, especially Lady Iris and how she befriended Alf and basically told Hugh "he would not suit" and that he was basically a dolt for not realizing his feeeeeelings. Love her.

Not one of my favs - and I'm intrigued to see how/if Lady Iris can make it work with the heir apparent to the Lords of Chaos in the next book. Y I K E S.

A sparkly and quirky engineering graduate student moves into her inherited Victorian side by side and falls for the grump next door.

I really loved the details of the story, a STEM heroine who is both really into bridges but also into polka dots, unicorns, and ladybugs AND who is learning to assert her needs in relationships familial and romantic. A grumpy hero grieving for his brother who died a couple years prior. So many delicious food descriptions, basically a love letter to the Toronto foodie scene.

But, for all the grand details, I never sunk into the story or the characters. The excellent details didn't translate into emotional connection. I enjoyed reading about the heroine's family and friend interactions more than the romance.

I received a free copy from the author for review.

I finally read this because my fated mate Leigh Kramer (please read her review) loves this book, as does other trusted romancelandians. And wow I was really blown away!

A thrilling exploration kink and consent between Talia, a college student, and Sean, a bit older graduate student. It is insta-lust that turns into the sweetest love story (the way Sean cares for Talia whew), albeit one that enjoys their pleasure with some pain and daddy play.

I was really concerned about Talia's therapist who really was trying to make Talia feel like she was damaged and wrong, and that part of the story did make me uncomfortable. I am not knowledgeable to comment about rep, but the way the author portrays it, the reader is fully aware this therapist is not a good fit for Talia and is in fact harming her. So do take care with that if needed.

CW for cutting (in the past, described), depression, gas lighting (not between main characters), and more that I am now forgetting because I read this a bit ago and did not note them down (not doing an official review).

A sweet and steamy holiday novella, Adam and Sarah are side characters from the Maiden Lane series and it was fun to see their HEA. Sarah is my fav Godric's step-sister and Adam is Lord D'Arque who I vaguely remember.

I do love the "oh no our carriage is broken and now we are stuck at this estate" trope so much, and this one is exactly that, including a meddling Grandma. I love meddling Grandmas!

This one did feel a little rushed to me and the back story of the sexual assault on Sarah (was this mentioned in a different book, I cannot remember) was a bit startling for an otherwise cheery holiday story.