The 2nd book in "His Fair Assassins" trilogy. This time the plot centers on Sybella, another of the awesome assassins trained by killer nuns who owe allegiance to Mortain, or death himself. Sybella has had a tough go of life, including a sociopathic father (who is the same one trying to usurp the Duchess of Brittany) and an incestuous brother. Pretty dark stuff. While she was able to escape this life for awhile at the sisterhood, she is forced to return to take down her evil father.

The medieval setting is very authentic and exhaustively researched. Great historical fiction here. I also thoroughly enjoyed the kick ass women who are not afraid to fight for what they believe in and are not simpering damsels in distress. When Sybella pulls off the rescue of a huge behemoth of man, you just want to stand up and go "Girl Power"!

Taryn Landry blames herself for her sister's death. Taryn was there the night of the Long Acre High School shooting, but no one knows her real role.

Fourteen years later, and Taryn is now a psychologist and trying to secure funding for the program she's spent her entire career creating, a program she hopes will help prevent future kids from becoming like the ones who shot up her high school. Taryn has no time for anything else, but she's increasingly distracted by a the sexy fitness trainer at the new gym her best friend has convinced her to join.

Shaw Miller is also hiding from the scars of his childhood, blaming himself for the monster his little brother became. Shaw's brother was one of the gunmen and it has ruined Shaw's Olympic career, his life, and the lives of so many others.

Shaw has become a recluse, refusing to have relationships with anyone but his best friend, the friend who's convinced him to return to his hometown to help open new extreme sporting gym. Shaw only agreed if he could be someone else, and if he could be out in a year.

What Shaw wasn't counting on was the beautiful Taryn coming into his life, a woman he met out one evening and had immediate sparks with. A woman he gave a fake name to, a woman who has no idea that her sister was killed by his brother.

This romance has all the warning lights going for - how could these two EVER find a happily ever after?

Well, Loren does it, and with aplomb. You'll find yourself rooting for both Shaw and Taryn, both damaged, both needing to forgive themselves, and both absolutely perfect for each other.

This book avoids being a cliche and is a wonderful example of how to use a terrible, highly charged plot point in a respectful and meaningful way. Loren never digresses into grand standing or politics, but keeps the focus on the victims, giving them names.

So far, one of the best series I've ever read that uses a school shooting as its impetus. Bravo!

Also, love the cover of this book. Taryn is Black and her identity informs and drives the story, but isn't the central conflict.

Jenn Bennett writes my favorite YA Contemporary romances, hands down. While [b:The Anatomical Shape of a Heart|23310763|The Anatomical Shape of a Heart|Jenn Bennett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1426127809s/23310763.jpg|40336167] is still my absolute favorite, Serious Moonlight is yet another a quirky and fabulous tale from this author.

Featuring a mystery loving amateur sleuth with a case of narcolepsy and the street magician/hotel driver hottie she had an instant connection with that was ruined by an awkward hookup, this is a story perfect for those looking for a little suspense (quiet, non-scary) in their YA romance.

I loved Birdie and Daniel's adorkable and tense dance around their real feelings for each other. You want them to JUST KISS ALREADY but understand why they each have real fear about whether or not a relationship is in the cards for them.

I also loved the fantastic cast of adult secondary characters, as they are more than just stumbling blocks to the teens (older teens, 18 and 19) adventures in hooking up.

Super fab!

Finn is one of my favs, a big, quiet grump with a heart of gold and some mad skills with rope. Listening to this book was a true delight and I loved Sebastian York's voice for Finn. Harlow is also a fab heroine. I love that she knows she's hot, knows her worth, and is not afraid to let her light shine and to go for what she wants.

Wow, I treated you wrong with that old review book. You can see a huge change in my attitude towards romance as I've come to terms with the fact I LOVE ROMANCE and I'm not afraid to shout my love from the rooftops anymore. It is not trash, it is amazing, fun, and totally worth every minute I spend reading it. Sorry book. I really do love you and your sexy fisherman (and the rope).


While I usually detest the "we met and married after one wild night in Vegas" trope, I have to say this series is having fun (super steamy fun) with it. Also, since this is book #2, we don't dwell too much on those events, and instead dwell in the aftermath, namely that they married, quickly got it annulled despite the obvious sexual chemistry, but can't deny they still want each other even though they hate each other too. I love when characters have a past they are struggling against.

Again, with most of these, escapist trash at it's funnest.

Now that's how you do it! What a fantastically sensual and angsty in the best way romance, with one of the swooniest HEAs I've read this year. I'll write a better review when I'm not on my phone but all the yes.

Thomas Powell is now the Duke of Northfield. No longer can he carouse the town or enjoy his Thursday nights at the Orchid Club discussing everything and anything with its seductive and enigmatic proprietress, a masked woman he knows as Amina. Thomas shares one hot night of passion with the woman he's been enchanted with for years before taken on his ducal responsibilities.

One of those responsibilities turns out to be a huge secret. Thomas's father, a strict conservative, was actually the owner of the Orchid Club. Now Thomas must decide if he can keep this partnership with Amina, otherwise known as Lucia, or throw it all away. Not to mention he can't keep away from the woman who has stolen his heart.

Complications of society, propriety, and doing what is right, if not popular, lead to one of the most emotionally satisfying HEAs I've ever read. Lucia is a fantastic leading lady and I adored that she was a sex worker who got her HEA. Everyone deserves one.

Alas, while I appreciate being given the chance to review an early copy of this book, it was not really for me.

I love family dramedys, but I've read others I've enjoyed more. I liked the first half of the book focusing on the four siblings growing up on their own during a time period they call referred to as "the pause," a time when there mother was bed bound due to mental health issues and grief.

But, the second half when everyone goes their separate ways felt uneven. I didn't care about Fiona's poetry, her sex blog, or really anything about her. I didn't care about golden boy Joe's fall into disgrace, nor did I find the "betrayal" as shocking as I guess was intended? I was also distracted by the changes in narrative structure for each character. Fiona was in first person (as she is the main character) and then it would switch to third for the other characters. I guess I understand why, but usually I don't notice and here I wasn't clicking with the book so I did.

That said readers, of which I'm sure there will be many as the marketing push on this is HUGE, will definitely be flocking to pick this one up from libraries.

Thank you to the publisher and LibraryReads for the ARC.

Content warning for discussion of addiction and an eating disorder.

Bennett Buchanan has a bad impression of model Gia Gallo from the moment he meets her at the airport, where they are both stranded after a snow storm makes it impossible to fly out of NYC to make it to their best friends' wedding in Florida. She's crabby, she's causing a fuss, but she also tells Bennett she's hungry.
The Southern gentleman in Bennett won't allow him to leave a lady in a lurch, so he offers to take her to his restaurant for dinner and if her reaction to his food is any indication, maybe Gia is more than her beautiful exterior after all.
Gia is immediately attracted to Bennett and considers adding him to her "one and done, two and through" list. But, Bennett rejects her advance, embarrassing Gia who is coming to realize she has bigger problems to worry about. Namely, her 30th birthday, her growing fear she has a "problem" with food, and whether or not she has anything to offer the world but a pretty face.
But a decision to drive to Florida forces these two together, making both of them question the strict rules they've learned to manage their lives and feelings.

AH. There's nothing I love more than a good roadtrip romance, and this hits all of the high points for me with the added bonus of being a perfect end to an excellent series. Gia and Bennett are FIRE, and I loved how deftly Jenny Holiday handled their various issues. The reasons for Gia and Bennett being afraid to be together are realistic, and seeing Gia's best friends gather to give her strength just gave me so many feels. So good.

Get this one preordered stat.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

So, I think I've personally come to the end with the Shadowhunters. I made it through this massive, 880 page brick and while I did read the whole thing and enjoyed some things, I general felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of characters and plot lines. The narrative was very choppy with only about a page to two pages spent in one spot before jumping to a different character POV in a different point in the story.

I applaud the inclusion of diverse characters, including a polyamorous relationship, but wished we could have spent more time with some of the characters and far less with others. Basically every character Clare has every created was present in this book at some point or another.

So, I read it and I'm sure the 'stans of this series will love it. I didn't and that is okay.

Lauren Halstead is a teacher on her way to running her own school in the heart of Boston. She is completely focused on her goals and has no time for anything not related to her school, especially men.

Matthew Walsh is a huge distraction, even if his architectural firm finally found her a building she can afford to rehab.

Their intense and immediate attraction sees them banging their way around Boston, but Lauren is intent on keeping things casual and keeping Matthew at arms length, which to his dismay he realizes isn't enough. Now he just needs to convince her that giving him some room in her life doesn't mean she also can't realize her dreams.

Super hot sex scenes and dirty talk, with a few problematic things I found a little distracting. Matthew exhibits a bit too much intrusive, possessive behavior especially for someone who can't seem to vocalize his real feelings. JUST SAY WHAT YOU WANT MATTHEW.

That said, I loved the two narrators and found the Walsh clan of siblings very intriguing. I'll definitely be continuing on in the series.

Upon my second read, this still remains one of my least favorite Kate Canterbary's. There's so much great setup here for the series as a whole, I just don't love Matt & Lauren's courtship as much as some of the later stories.

There's also a lot of repetitive scenes and language, and I never got to the emotional level I did with say Erin & [redacted] or Shannon & [redacted].

That said still a hot as fuck and fun read. Definitely check CWs. I forgot Angus works with them (and then has the stroke that kills him, which I did remember). Also a lot of use of "lady bits"

Reviewed from a free copy provided by the publisher.

When Cam Brickley's teammates bet he can't date a woman for two months without following in love, he knows this is a best he can when. He hasn't had a relationship since his first girlfriend and is strictly in the game for casual sexy times.

Olivia Lockwood needs a famous spokesperson to help spur her non-profit fitness program for kids into the big leagues, so when hot and locally famous hockey player Cam hits on her at the bar, she thinks she can turn his interest into a business opportunity.

One date turns into three and into more as Olivia convinces Cam to join her mission and as Cam plays his heart out on the ice. But when both start to have feelings, Cam's bet begins to feel a bit dirty.

Fans of Jamieson's Aces hockey series will enjoy this series ending, while those new to the series may find the romance between Cam and Olivia a little flat as loose ends are tied up.

This wasn't really for me. I don't personally enjoy romances starting off as a bet, unless both parties are privy to it. Jamieson does handle the eventual outing of the bet well, but I had a few other issues that are of the content warning/spoiler variety.

Spoiler

Olivia is a self-confessed former fat kid but is now "hot as fuck" and thin because she became a runner and then started her charity to help kids exercise. Kind of noble, but bothered me a little and felt fat-shamey. There's described familial shame regarding Olivia's appearance, Olivia not being smart enough, Olivia not being successful enough. Cam's previous girlfriend we find out tried to commit suicide as a "manipulation" and had "mental-health issues." I felt this was a caricature and not handled sensitively but solely as a reason why Cam refuses to date/commit.