Sebastian Holloway has secretly adored Lady Grace Wyatt ever since sharing a pencil with her in the library they both frequent. But Sebastian is merely a poor scholar with no prospects, and Lady Grace is on a mission to make a famed naturalist she wants to wed notice her, a plan that includes molding Sebastian into a rake of the first order. But as these two bookish souls spend more and more time together, they realize that that happiness and true love may be right under their bespactacled noses.

I had a grand time watching these two nerds blushingly fall in love with each other and I cannot wait to read more in this series! There are a lot of great lines, but I'll wait until I see a finished copy before quoting.

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

"Why is my humanity only seen or cared about when I share the ways in which I have been victimized and violated?"

Vivek Shraya, I'm Afraid of Men

A brief but powerful exploration of the masculinity forced on a trans musician as a child and how it continues to haunt her as an adult.
I found the call out to complicit women especially poignant.
Trans rights are human rights.

A solid debut romance that takes on a marriage in trouble plot with great secondary characters and earnest feelings. Gavin and Thea are both frustrating and endearing, their fears and miscommunications making their marriage woes relatable and their path to a HEA hard-won and worthwhile.

I cared not for the catty "WAG" subplot and didn't really need the inclusion of the historical novel story that Gavin was reading. That's my personal preference. I also found the quick resolution to Thea's orgasm "problem" frustrating. I encourage everyone to read [b:Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life|22609341|Come as You Are The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life|Emily Nagoski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1421037685l/22609341._SY75_.jpg|42099345].

On the flip side, Gavin's stammer was lovingly portrayed as something he lives with and has fears about, and Thea's support of him was beautifully done.

All in all, this was highly readable and I look forward to more books in this series. If only men were able to find emotional connections with each other and talk about their relationships openly and without fear of being belittled or "unmanned." I'll definitely be pressing this book in to the hands of my spouse!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

I finally finally finally got to read the Great British Bake Off inspired romance of my holiday dreams. Yay! Extra special because it is from Adriana Herrera and features a buttoned up professional patisserie chef who is completely unwound by her baking partner, the ray of sunshine and confident Sully who I totally have a book crush on now.

The push and pull between Sully and Kiskeya's differing opinions on expressing their Dominican heritage, both in their personal lives and for the baking show, showcases Herrera's amazing ability to write romances that are both delightfully sexy and emotionally poignant.

My only regret is that I wasn't immediately able to don an apron and get into a kitchen after reading, but reading this story made me feel like I was there anyway. Is it too soon to ask for more stories set in this world?!

Thank you to the author for the ARC! My own copy is on preorder!

Well that's embarrassing. I totally reviewed the wrong holiday novellas for this anthology. I've now fixed this, sorry all!

In this collection I read the Sierra Simone and Kennedy Ryan's collaboration and holy hell that is FIRE. I suggest reading it after you've read The Kingmaker duology by Kennedy Ryan, but it certainly isn't necessary if you don't mind mild spoilers.

This story focuses on the recently widowed Queen of an African country who is reluctantly wearing the crown after the death of her cold and indifferent husband only until her son is old enough to take over. She's been sheltered yet threatened by people in her life, especially one who is looking to marry her and take the crown for himself. Enter the sexy hot bodyguard and head of security from the Kingmaker duology who will show her she is a treasure and someone worth protecting, forever.

SPOILER about something really sexy.

Spoiler

Mr. Bodyguard has cock piercing. Oh yes. The sex is scorching in this one. Bravo.

"...he dropped his mouth into her hair. “I might be younger, but I’m not young. I’m a man and I’m fucking you blind. I’m your man. Say it.”

*fans self*

Sarge Purcell, on a brief break from touring with his increasingly famous band, returns home to New Jersey to visit his sister and the three-year-old niece he's never met. Sarge is notoriously famous for his very erotic songs, songs he wrote about the one woman he can't forget, the one woman who's his sister's best friend, the woman he's determined to show that he's no longer a kid.

Jasmine Taveras had big dreams and wasn't scared to share them with everyone. But, years later she's stuck working in her hometown's factory and can never escape. When Sarge returns home, she can't believe the boy she used to baby-sit is now all man, acting and looking much older than his 22 years. Sarge also seems set on convincing Jasmine she can be his, if only for the short time he's home.

Jasmine agrees, but only if they keep it secret. She's almost thirty and doesn't want to be seen as chasing Sarge to escape her life, especially since she knows that can never happen.

What follows is a deliciously sexy, unrequited love to lovers romance that is just so great. I loved the trope flip, as usually it is a younger heroine falling for the older brother of the best friend.

Can't wait to read the rest!


Holy wow. Sarge Purcell you can be my man!

Sarge Purcell's filthy mouth is MEANT to be on audio. I'm so glad these Tessa Bailey gems are finally available as audiobooks because I love them so very much. What a treat. And holy shit are these stories amazingly sexy and absolutely sinful. Unffffffffff. Highly recommend.

High-powered divorce attorney Rebecca Lindt wants to put her past as a survivor of a high school shooting behind her, but her dad's political aspirations, the upcoming release of a documentary she was interviewed for, and the trauma that resurfaces during a mugging attempt makes it hard to do.

Wes Garrett, once an up-and-coming star chef, lost it all during his divorce. Finally sober and with a job teaching cooking to at-risk youth, Wes also wants to leave his past behind.

Wes doesn't believe he's a hero, but he certainly is when he helps a stray dog fend off Rebecca's muggers. Taking the shocked out Rebecca and the shot dog to his veterinary brother, Wes finds he recognizes Rebecca from somewhere but can't place it.

Rebecca instantly recognizes Wes from court. Leery, Rebecca can't reconcile this caring, sexy, helpful guy with the angry, scary one she took to the cleaners in divorce court.

Their attraction continues to grow as they can't help running into each other, but will their pasts and secrets ruin something before it can even begin?

So. Damn. Sexy. Wes is a hot, tattooed dream boat. It was great to see a strong guy who was aware of his mistakes, was learning from them, and willing to talk through everything, including sexy times. Sexy consent at it's very best.

I also loved Rebecca's character. She was sympathetic, and the majority of the drama keeping these two apart was real, un-contrived, and not based on lies. Yes, there were secrets, but the way Loren played them out was masterful.

Don't even get me started on the doggy. So great, I only wish we had a little more of him as he does drop off the page for awhile while recovering from his wound. The dog lives everyone!

Also, food truck sexy times! May be my favorite modern take on "sexy carriage rides."

Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC!

The narrator for the audiobook is absolutely amazing, I highly recommend if you can get a copy. She brings Chloe and Red to life and made me have major pants feelings during the steamy scenes.

Here is the link to my starred Library Journal Review

I'm in the process of writing a glowing review for Library Journal, so these are more my raw thoughts. I'm absolutely going to be picking up a finished copy and urge everyone to do so as well!

Such a delight, I'm just so pleased to see one of my favorites get a wide release. Talia Hibbert never shies away from difficult topics but always in a way that never makes you feel despair. Seeing a character with chronic illness get their HEA is important. Seeing a character who is emotionally abused and find their way to therapy and their own HEA is important. Seeing people who are very much like us, very much different than us, or a mix of both, is important. Talia Hibbert does all of this with sparkling wit, humor, and sensitivity.

Talia provides CW at the beginning of her books, but the ones that stood out to me I've described above.

Tired: romance novel character taking a condom out of their wallet.

Inspired: romance novel character reaching behind their public library card to take a therapist's number out of their wallet.

Get a Life Chloe Brown by @TaliaHibbert is inspired.

— b.andherbooks

My only issue with this book was I didn't want it to end because the mutual pining between Sebastián and Lucy is just the best. I could also read a whole story about their darn pets becoming besties. Kitty Hendrix and Hairy Garcia are adorable and fit their owners' personalities to a T, much like the adorable cover showcases.

I also adored that the film crew was gaga over the sexual tension that was NOT apparent to Lucy and Seb. So good.

More Olivia Dade PLEASE.

A slow-burn, simmering friends-to-lovers tale spanning decades, with our lovers first hooking up on New Years Even, then again and again on this holiday of hopes and expectations. Candace and Ezra's friendship is tested by both their fear of telling the other how they really feel and their diverging paths, as one goes on to become a billionaire and the other tries to chase their dream but finds themselves having to pick a different career once life gets a bit too real.

I adored how Jackson danced back and forth in Candace and Ezra's courtship timeline, giving the reader hot peeks in to their New Years' eves, but also moving us along to their well deserved happily ever after. The forced proximity of Candace and Ezra on the airplane and the glimpse into the career of a flight attendant was also fascinating, adding a great element to this story. I also very much enjoyed Ezra's non-asshole billionaire vibes and his gumption with learning everything about what Candace liked in bed. Super sexy.

So pleased I got to read an advance copy of the story! Thank you to the author.