Cassie decides to leave her steady job to pursue a new passion, giving tattoos to cancer survivors like herself. She's almost ready to take off on her own, but until she reaches her five year cancer free milestone, she isn't willing to take the leap.

She gets a job at a struggling tattoo shop under the tutelage of MJ Flores, agreeing to learn the trade in exchange for help MJ with a new marketing plan. What Cassie isn't expecting is to have feelings for MJ, as Cassie has been on a strict no sex and no relationship regime since her diagnosis, since her mastectomy.

MJ also wasn't expecting to fall for such a "good girl" but as she discovers Cassie's hidden strengths she can't help but want to also show Cassie what life can be, fear be damned.

I've read a few tattoo shop romances, but this is my first with a queer couple! I really enjoyed it, especially for the tender way the author handles the love scenes. I haven't read many other romances that feature a character with a mastectomy, and it is nice to see that represented on page.

I received an ARC in exchange for a fair review, thank you to the publisher!

Content warning: miscarriage

I adore Lucy Knisley's work, and this book is no exception. I truly appreciated Knisley's open willingness to discuss her struggles with pregnancy. The way she can depict her emotions through her art is just masterful. I also love how she explores history through her own story, and I even learned some new facts about my body that I should have probably known.

That said, if you want to get pregnant, are trying to get pregnant, or are currently pregnant, be sure you want to read and visualize some pretty horrific stuff. Lucy doesn't have an easy pregnancy or labor, so I'm just telling you that in advance. Otherwise, highly recommend!

Zara and Dave share a hot summer fling. She never gets his last name and isn't interested in contacting him after he returns to his real life, leaving her to tend bar in her tiny Vermont town.

But what Zara doesn't realize is Dave may be leaving, but he's left her with a part of him she'll have forever, his baby.

Two years later, and Dave has returned for another vacation. Hoping to run into the hot bartender who rocked his world, Dave is stunned when he finds out he's a dad.

Older, wiser, and wary, Zara isn't sure she can believe Dave is ready to take it all on, or if she wants to risk her and her daughter's hearts in the process.

A lovely secret baby romance, which is normally a trope I detest, but Bowen made it believable. Also, I'm totally here for hot, hulking bearded gingers who are gaga for their babies.

Dave is a hockey player, but hockey was mostly a side-note. It was more important Dave was a rich professional athlete than it was that he was a hockey player. I wanted a little more hockey I guess? But overall enjoyed my first Bowen.

Basically this review is a massive spoiler so stop here if you want to remain pure.





Still with me?

Alright, I've been told/warned that Lothaire is super-extra-bananas. It took me FIVE DAYS to read this book. Typically a romance novel will take me one-two days tops. Well, Lothaire was just so much epic what-the-fuckery I just really needed to sinky my fangs, er, teeth into it and let Kresley Cole sweep me away. If not, there would be no way I could ever buy a happily ever after for the ultimate enemy of old, the ultimate bad guy, Lothaire.

I laughed out loud so many times because seriously, the dialogue in this story is choice. The banter between Lothaire and Ellie is just fire. And while Lothaire is SUCH A JERK, I couldn't help but kind of love him anyway? Super problematic but whatever.

Also, Ellie is my hero and I love her so much. She was by far too good for Lothaire, I'm just glad she's happy now. I was so mad when he turned her without her consent, and I'm glad she chopped his damn head off. Who knew 1/8 of an inch was all you'd need to grow a vampire head back?

ALSO THE SEVERED BODY PARTS. My gosh so many. The heart in a box and the accompanying note, dead.

What fun! Merry leaves America after 'jilting' two fiancées (for totally legit reasons) and soon finds herself engaged to a quite dashing English society man. Right after he proposes (and leaves her to find a card game), Merry runs into a dashing scoundrel who sets her blood to boil. Oh and he's her future brother in law. Oops.

Blaming her own flightiness, Merry vows to make it to the altar with her intended, but not if the Duke of Trent has anything to say about it.

I was surprised by the story ARC of this romance, which I love because it doesn't happen often. Very steamy, and Eloisa James' intelligent writing makes this again a clear winner in my book.

Lady Eva Hyde has an incredibly sexy encounter with a devilishly handsome American while traveling via ship to New York City. She gives him a false name and sneaks out of his stateroom as the thrice ex-fianceed due to death Eva has no desire for any further attachments. She is on a mission to build the hotel she designed under her father's name and needs all of her time and energy focused on making the project profitable and hiding the fact it was designed by a woman from everyone. Too bad the man who hired "her father" turns out to be the very sexy American from the boat. Uh oh.

I loved the time period (1890s), the setting, and so many other various details about my first Shupe novel that I couldn't help but be a little disappointed in the overwhelming amounts of plot points. There was so much going on I felt the characters didn't have a lot of time to interact besides in bed. That said, I'd still pick up the next in this series!

Thank you to Avon for the ARC!

*Fans self*

Well, this one takes you on a rollercoaster ride! While you feel like you may pass out a few times along the way the ride leaves you exhilarated at the end.

We last left Malcolm being pushed into a fish pond after he is caught having sex with another woman while his wife is massively pregnant. I didn't think we could ever forgive Malcolm, but MacLean does an excellent job of tracing the journey of Sera and Malcolm from first lust, to betrayal, to redemption.

I adore MacLean's portrayal of the Sera and her sisters and their undying loyalty to each other and their give a damn attitude about society. It was also refreshing to see a romance that deals with real infidelity and the struggle to forgive. While I don't generally like stories based around lies and hidden agendas this one takes that trope and demonstrates why the truth is always best. Both Malcolm and Sera made massive mistakes which helps balance it all out and makes the payoff all the more satisfying at the end.

Oh, and hidden ballroom under lake sex? Hawt.

I cannot wait to read Calhoun and Sesily's story!

Fans of Tessa Bailey's "The Academy" series finally see the smoldering tension between Lieutenant Greer Burns and NYPD trainee Danika Silva ignite and they will not be disappointed.
Greer has it bad for Danika, but he thinks she hates him because of his hard treatment of her best friend, roommate, and fellow trainee Jack. Plus there is that whole instructor/supervisor thing, so Greer tries to keep it under wraps until one day when he feels her respond to him during a training exercise.
Greer is also afraid because he knows once he makes a move, he'll want Danika forever, but he doesn't feel he is worth a relationship, to anyone.
Danika is shocked that Greer is as attracted to her as she has been to him, despite all her effort to hate him. She's been the good girl for too long and longs for Greer's dominance (in bed only!!). But, her insistence on taking care of everything alone will poke right at Greer's greatest weakness, threatening their relationship before it can even be defined.

Steamy, sultry, and just the right hint of naughty (spanking!!), this is a great series-ender.

Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for the ARC!

I picked up the audiobook because Tessa Bailey's dirty-talking heros are perfection on audio. This was no exception. I appreciated the tension between Danika and Greer even more, and really liked both narrators. Bonus points for sexy squad car banging and a really nice grovel at the end. I so love when a gruff, no-nonsense rule follower is just knocked to his knees by his love interest. Yum.

I chose this title for my Book to Art Club, and we created snowflake-skirted paper ballerinas as I thought "tasteful nudes" may be a bit too extra to handle.

I LOVED all the the technical details about painting, forging, etc, but found the overall mystery (which was barely a mystery) not too thrilling. This is very cerebral and internal, and the romance plotline was a complete throw-away for me.

Camilo Santiago Briggs doesn't believe in fairy tales. He believes in working hard and making things happen for yourself, a lesson he's learned from his mother and from his career as a New York City social worker.

So when Milo finds out the mystery man he shared the hottest hookup of his life with is in fact billionaire Thomas Hughes, and is in fact going to be funding the project Milo's in charge of at his non-profit job, he is completely skeptical. Knights in shining armor don't exist, and hot men in expensive tuxes who seem to good to be true are exactly that.

But Tom is going to show Milo just how real fairy tales can actually be.

Hot, hot, hot, and so incredibly swoony! I ate up every word of this delicious big city contemporary. I especially love a romance that sees the two main characters hooking up in the first chapters, then fighting their feelings for each other and trying to resist doing it again! Good luck!

Herrera is a talent to watch and her Dreamers series is A+ romance at its finest!

Content warning for discussion of domestic violence, but nothing is on page.

I received a free ARC in exchange for a fair review. Thank you!