bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)

goodreads ate my original review, so here's the edited one from my amazon review. UGH

Finding contemporary romance that is both fun, funny and spicy is like discovering a

☀Bend Towards the Sun by Jen Devon may be the angstiest romance I've ever read? Maybe barring a Kennedy Ryan?

I've been pondering my thoughts for SO LONG because I have all of them and cannot put into words how lush and captivating this angst fest was. SO romantic, yet also tore my heart up a bit; stay tuned for more I need a re-read.

I'd describe Bend Towards the Sun as a Nora Roberts found family and just good, decent men meets Kate Clayborn's lush writing and emotions.

Thank you to @macmillanusa for the early copy, and cannot wait for Jen Devon's next!

Do check CWs for this one, the big ones are death (woman after childbirth, described on page (minor character), blood, trauma & PTSD, spiders

I just absolutely adore this romance; it is now maybe one of my top ten ever favorite contemporaries, maybe top ten ever?? I know big words! The way the author plays with the length of time, allowing her main characters to BREATHE and find each other while fumbling with their personal pains is so lovely (and necessary). And whew, it devastates me when Rowan comes back and Harry has left. Just mop me up and wring me out.

Love it so much.

Alas, this just wasn't as sparkling and magical as the author's previous books for me. It has been awhile since I read it (december 2022) but I was so enchanted by Count Your Lucky Stars (my last read by the author) and this one didn't evoke the same feels in me. I'd re-read it again to see how I feel now in 2023.

I will not post a review on this until HarperCollins agrees to the union's fair pay and DEI contract asks.

I have the audio book of The Game Plan and unfortunately the male narrator is making me not like my beloved Dex and the female narrator is just not right for this story. I dunno, just making me question my five star rating, so I have DNF'ed the audiobook and will move on with my reading time.

I've been saving THE GAME PLAN for a special day, and I finally decided it was time treat myself! And damn. What a treat indeed.

Ethan Dexter is a hero of my dreams, and his giant, tattooed, pierced, body are just a small percentage of what makes him one of my new favorites. The man PAINTS. Paintings of his male friends that he gives them for wedding presents! He shows up, he says what he means, and means what he says, and he's just absolutely bowled over by a woman who is also one of my new favorites.

Besides a brief moment at the break which I felt was out of character for Dex (

Spoiler

Dex punches a wall multiple times and trashes a bunch of his house when he gets angry and believes Fiona took the payout from the tabloid, scaring her AND ME mightily

), this is an absolute perfect romance from start to finish.

I appreciated the discussion of Dex's virginity, why he chose to remain a virgin, and why Fi was the one he was ready to be with. I also appreciated the complete lack of slut-shaming in this story. Fi is most decidedly not a virgin, and that doesn't matter at all. Also for being a football romance, the amount of football to story was just right for me.

I'll definitely be re-reading soon!

CW: violence, discussion of a really bad drunken sexual experience (past, alcohol and dubious consent with main character and scene characters), public embarrassment of a character due to tabloids; gender essentialist language

specific writing style aside that is not to my personal reading taste, but made sense for this type of story, this story really did the most to show how problematic monster romance can be when white saviorism and "othering" is used a contrast to the orc character. i live-tweeted some of my reading and what i encountered in the first few pages, and i finished it to talk to my book club about, but off. not recommended.

i am so glad i read this with my book club (But Do They Bang: Tales as Old as Time edition) because I was near to DNF'ing around the 30% mark. Fei Long was so closed off and I wanted more character depth for Yan Ling BUT then, then, it all started to come together as I kept reading, and holy wow the payoff at the end was simply amazing.

As I said on my instagram review, My Fair Concubine was like watching a cherry tree slowly bloom. Once it does, magnificence. This is a great slowburn that ends in great pay off, and I just loved the archery contest too.

Also, Fei Long simp'ing for Yan Ling through calligraphy, my whole heart. Sexy calligraphy lessons for the win, reminding me of the sexy Italian lessons in Julie Anne Long's [b:After Dark with the Duke|57341079|After Dark with the Duke (The Palace of Rogues, #4)|Julie Anne Long|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1617170420l/57341079._SX50_.jpg|87021961].

i really loved the setting of this book because it is personal to me (I live in Wisconsin) and I was also fascinated by the history of the Playboy Resort in Lake Geneva and the culture of the 'bunnies' who had to audition to work there. The countering feelings about being in a sexy costume yet being told they are working at a "family friendly" resort. Fascinating.

Overall the story and main character were okay; not to my personal reading tastes but I found the writing engaging.

read for author interview.

I read The Playing Game like a fever dream; it hit my id in all my sweet spots and honestly now I remember mostly vibes and they were all great. my favorite part was how sexily patient kiernan was with wooing Harper. He doesn't just bring HER breakfast at work; he brings ALL the breakfast for her and her pediatric ward hospital coworkers. he LISTENS to her, in both life and bed. Also, I'm truly a sucker for a gentle giant in the streets, hot bossy man in the sheets (and on the ice lets be honest) and this paid out in so many delicious ways.

Good girls, assemble, this one is for us!

i listened to this partially with mr. b; i LOVED the narration. we might come back to it another time. the tv show did not live up to the narration at all, not even close.

Melissa Blue romances always go down smooth like a fine whisky, this one no exception. LOVED the hero and heroine, but not necessarily all of the family business shenanigans or why she had to baby sit the family elder.

Content notes: surprise baby, drinking, frail elder