bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)

Really thoughtful and horny small town second-chance romance featuring two 40-something former childhood sweethearts.

I loved seeing Cynthia and Marcel reconcile as he renovated her future B&B, and how they came to realize the hurts of the past and the years separating them gave the time they needed to grow as people. If they had stuck it out as teens they would have eventually broken their hearts because they wanted different things, especially Marcel wanting children, which he had with his now ex-wife.

James does a lovely job of balancing the romance with the secondary characters. I especially loved how much love Marcel showed for his family and the care he takes to ensure Cynthia is welcome by his kids and his ex, who he has a good relationship with.

Thank you to the author for the advanced reading copy!

CWs : death of parent (in the past), abortion, toxic parents, grief

#mekajames #alwaysreading #bookstagrammer #instabook #bookrecommendations #bookreviews #alwaysreading #booknerd #booksofinstagram #romancereadersofinstagram #kissingbooks #contemporaryromance #romance

" “Get these off,” I demanded. “Yes, ma’am.” His grin made him look impossibly young and even more attractive."

I'm a sucker for a good ma'am and the pool boy in question ma'am's real good. Not in bed though whew. This age-gap pushed me right to the edge of my comfort level, and was so hot even I found myself a bit uncomfortable reading on my family vacation. But not enough to stop, nope. I wasn't expecting the sort of Nashville-esque musician plot, and I think I liked the part about him becoming her client (not just her pool boy) was the tiny bit that was too much for me. I'm glad it was worked out he wouldn't be, but there were so cringe-y moments there.

I was also uncomfortable that it was her best-friend's son, but that was part of the taboo. The sub-plot of her cheating ex-husband was also a bit squicky

Spoiler

she catches her ex-husband having sex with his colleague, another cis-man. She does keep his secret, since he is not out, and the eventually talk and come to a bit of resolution about why their marriage didn't work

.

But dang, there's some good sexy content in here. Yes there is.

James Bond meets Indiana Jones in this fantastically delicious enemies-to-lovers historical romance! My FAVORITE Lenora Bell title to date.

I received a free copy in exchange for a fair review, thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss!

Daniel Bonds, the Duke of Ravenwood was Lady India Rochester's best friend. The boy who embraced her desire to dig in the dirt, the boy she was supposed to marry and spend the rest of her life adventuring with.

Now "Raven" is India's arch-nemesis and embodies everything she stands against-a spoiled noble who only cares about treasure hunting, not for finding and securing artifacts for museums.

But Raven has a secret. He is still in love with India, but he cannot have her. He is intent on honoring his father's dying wish, that he continue on the family's tradition of spying for the crown. His persona as an indolent, over-sexed, and greedy noble is the perfect cover, but also the perfect way to drive Lady India away.

But, fifteen years after leaving India once and for all, they are driven back together by a mission to secure an important stolen artifact and Raven's may not be able to withstand his desire to finally make Lady India his, once and for all, mission be damned.

AH! This was so wonderfully steamy and funny and fun! Super highly recommend.

The sense of family, found and otherwise, and community imbues this lush second-chance-romance. FADE and Delightful are fated to be together, but the murder of Delightful's older brother, FADE's best friend and music partner, bring their young love to an end.

Years later, Delightful and her sister are winning an Oscar for their screenplay written in honor of their talented brother's life, a biopic bringing FADE, now a famous musician, back into Delightful's circle.

But complications of grief and secrets threaten to end any hope of their second chance.

Thank you to the author for the advanced review copy!

Gosh, that was so good.

I'm just going to sit here with my feelings.
(April 2020)

2nd read - audio & print (my own copies) - July 4 - July 13 2020

It is truly difficult to write a coherent review for a book you adore I've discovered. Let's just mash some keys on the keyboard and call it done? No, I cannot do that! Plus I had to review the audio book for my Library Journal gig and I don't think lkjsdflkjakjl would work.

Mildly spoilery and if you haven't read the other books in this series (or this book):

Okay. So here goes. I have to admit I didn't worry about Ewan's redemption like I worried about Malcolm's from [b:The Day of the Duchess|31307650|The Day of the Duchess (Scandal & Scoundrel, #3)|Sarah MacLean|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1477616140l/31307650._SY75_.jpg|51979220]. I felt MacLean deftly showcased Ewan as cold and calculating and completely without hope until he discovered Grace's existence. I fully believed he has ulterior motivations for attacking Grace and her brothers so I could sink into this story ready for his redemption.

And oh Grace, she is so awesome. I connected with her tendency to give others the pleasure they seek without taking pleasure of her own. Her loyalty to her family, her brothers of her heart and her crew of women. I loved seeing her discover what would give her pleasure, going to seek it, but never compromising herself or her ideals. Duke was hers by right, and Duchess would never be enough, and finally seeing Ewan understand this and burn it to the ground was SO SATISFYING.

Grace and Ewan also both have a past. So often in this trope the woman often remains unkissed, a virgin, and I'm glad Grace's past was not dissected but was presented in a way we know that she has taken lovers before. She is not shamed for living her life, but instead is glorified for who she has become.

I want to revel in the world more, and will reread this series often. It is a true treasure.

I'll post the LJ audio review when it is live.

So super sexy, and a quick read. I loved the main protagonists but some of the jealous, overbearing brother stuff was too much for me.

not in the mood for this right now. absolutely a me thing, not a book thing.

I glommed this entire book in an afternoon and it was compelling and super heavy. It will be an interesting one to discuss for book club, but also I'm emotionally exhausted from reading it.