Well I ate up every single angst ridden moment of this morally complex and heart-wrenching romance. I may never recover but wow. Where have you been all my life Lorraine Heath?

CW: miscarriage, pregnancy

This story deals with very heavy topics, so make sure you are ready for that. Heath did an amazing job making Jayne, Ainsley, and Walfort human and complicated. You will ACHE for Jayne as she falls in love with Ainsley during their month long interlude to impregnate her. Your heart will break into a million pieces as Ainsley too falls for Jayne while also being riddled with grief and regret over his role in Walfort's accident.

I shan't tell you how Heath pulls off the HEA, but it was perfectly crafted and kept me on my toes. My god that scene in the carriage when Ainsley and Jayne are having their "last moments" together SLAYED MY SOUL. Loved it.

So excited to listen to the Fated Mates podcast next week!

A tense and emotional first-person YA novel about a Black teen who's twin brother goes missing and is later found dead after the police bust up a party they were both attending.

Marvin Johnson's experiences with police brutality, injustice, and trauma are difficult but important to read and will hit home, especially with teen readers. Readers will either be extremely frustrated with some of the dangling plot points that are never answered and left to the imagination or will delight in coming up with their own endings for Marvin, his mom, his father, and his friends.

My favorite parts of the book were Marvin's father's letters.

Listening to the audio of THE WORST BEST MAN was a pleasure for my ears and a delight for my heart. And not only did I enjoy a lovely and romantic adventure watching Max and Lina fall in love, I actually laughed and could see this entire novel thrown on to the big screen basically beat for beat. And while there are super big feelings, emotions, and hurdles for our couple to deal with, the story never lost its hope and lightness. There are no unexpected deaths, illnesses, or babies. Just grown-ups with jobs and families and feelings and their work to deal with all of these things. Plus, the sexy times are delicious yet also had the couple laughing and not being super serious all the time, which was lovely to see depicted. Showing lovers laughing together over silly things that sometimes happen during sex is so important, because it can't all be mind-blowing intensity all the time.

Best of all, the entire cast of characters, including the ex who jilted Lina and is a jerk to his brother Max, are completely fleshed out. This world Sosa has created is super fun and I cannot wait for more stories!

I did have an eARC which I flipped through, but I mostly listened to this on audio I checked out from Hoopla.

A+ banter, loved the contract negotiation scenes the absolute most, and Tom Severin realizing he has feelings was a delight. Also, please sign me up for sexy train sex.

Overall though this was fairly boring. When Tom and Cassandra weren't on page together I found myself losing interest and getting distracted. There is not a lot of external conflict, so if you are looking for a basically angst free they love each other and work it out romance, this is a perfect comfort read.

CW: fatphobia, constant talk about how Cassandra's weight

Thank you to Avon for the ARC.

Zoey Roux and Sawyer Wilson secretly got married six years ago, and it did not work out. Lingering grief issues and other complications could not stand up to Zoey and Sawyer's love. They broke apart, but never got divorced.

Now, thrown back together at Zoey's charity event, is is time for a divorce or a reconciliation?

Whew this is angsty. Flipping back to Zoey and Sawyer's early days of being married and to the present, watching these two hurt people find their love was emotional and ultimately fulfilling. Beharrie is a lyrical writer who makes you get down deep in the hurt but then always finds the light.

Also! This was open door! I've not read an open door Beharrie before and it was lovely and sweetly awkward (both characters are virgins on their wedding night).

CW pregnancy complications, grief

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

I LOVE THIS BOOK. I've re-read and re-listened to it more times than I've actually counted on here. Jason and Naomi are my trope-tonite and I give them my whole heart.

I tweeted about why here

Runaway Girl was one of my favorite books of 2018, and listening to it again on audio was such a treat. I realized I never gave this the full review treatment and I need to rectify that!

Basically this book destroyed me in the best possible way. May be one of my favorite Tessa Bailey's, which is saying a lot. A full review to come closer to the publication date, but make sure to get this one on your TBR immediately.

Southern Belle beauty queen on the run from a loveless marriage finds refuge and a calling at the home of a grumpy, bearded Special Forces hero and his spectacular teen-aged sister. Loved it.

Also, my ovaries are now exploded, so thank you for that Bailey!

Okay, so after a thoroughly enjoyable reread via Richard Petkoff's most excellent narration, I can confirm Malkolm Slaine is officially my favorite IAD hero. Carrow and he both have a lot of baggage to overcome and Kresley does an amazing job making their HEA feel almost unattainable but all the more satisfying when they do achieve it. Glorified camping on a demon plane? Yes. Sexy baths? YES. Heads on pikes? YEES!

Um, Malkom Slaine, vemon of my heart! I cannot wait to listen to this episode of Fated Mates and I'll do a more coherent review tomorrow!!!

What if your meddling family set you and your siblings up with blind dates for Thanksgiving dinner...and your brother's date just happens to be the gorgeous woman you just had a glorious one-night stand with?

Steamy, cute, and full of edible descriptions of food and sex that will leave you wishing for an invite to the Wong's!

Available now!

CW for parental death (in the past). Thank you to the author for the ARC!