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bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)
my audiobook loan ran out on Libby, and honestly the plot felt so similar to a Lynsay Sands I had recently read that I don't know if I'll go back. It wasn't bad! It was fun! I'll just move along with the series or pick it up in paperback if I can.
FINALLY, a true romp that I had just the best time reading. I slowly savored this horny rivals-to-lovers over a week because finding a funny, sexy, and just absolutely so much fun romcom is really difficult for me to find. The author's sense of humor really really works for me, it might not for everyone, but to me, it is perfect. The banter! The zingers! The horny horny heat!
Anyway, I loved it so much. I highlighted the absolute shit out of my eARC and this is a book I will want to doodle in with my gel pens. I will wait to closer to the release date to share quotes, but definitely get your preorder on.
I also VERY MUCH appreciate the content notes in the front matter; Maxine's mother is deceased (we don't get too much info on this, grief is not the plot of this book. Teddy's parents are struggling a bit financially due to his father's medical condition - more details are in front matter).
Here are some slightly spoilery out of context words: parachute, 69, good girl, yes professor
Professional review to come to Library Journal.
thank you to the author and publisher and LJ for the advance copy; I am friendly with the author on social media, all thoughts are my own.
Anyway, I loved it so much. I highlighted the absolute shit out of my eARC and this is a book I will want to doodle in with my gel pens. I will wait to closer to the release date to share quotes, but definitely get your preorder on.
I also VERY MUCH appreciate the content notes in the front matter; Maxine's mother is deceased (we don't get too much info on this, grief is not the plot of this book. Teddy's parents are struggling a bit financially due to his father's medical condition - more details are in front matter).
Here are some slightly spoilery out of context words: parachute, 69, good girl, yes professor
Professional review to come to Library Journal.
thank you to the author and publisher and LJ for the advance copy; I am friendly with the author on social media, all thoughts are my own.
Perfect airplane romance book. They loathe each other! But grope each other! He plants her favorite color wildflowers in the abbey ruins to bed her in! Not to mention that mirror + jewelry scene!!
I have so many thoughts about this absolutely bonkers historical romance that verges on being as close to a werewolf romance as it can be while also absolutely playing it straight. The hero, James Winters, the Duke of Wulverton, was lost over a decade ago while on a wintery expedition. He then survived, somehow, in almost darkness in a mountain cave, with a pack of wolves. He has now returned home and his mother is determined he will pass as The Duke to help make sure his family legacy is maintained.
Alas Wulverton is "wild" and prefers running around the estate shirtless, sleeping in his secret tree house in the woods, and he...he growls.
enter promising psychologist Jules Southby. Jules has been dressing as a boy // man her entire life thanks to a lie told by her mother at her birth (friends, do know there is an absolutely brutal first chapter about this, do take caution i can give more spoilers if necessary). Without a male heir, Jules' father would continue have made her mother try for a baby again and again, despite the fact pregnancy and birth nearly unaliving her each time before Jules birth.
Jules and her father are hired by the dowager Duchess to try and help Wulverton be respectable in society, to have a mask essentially. But Jules & Wulverton quickly form a quite unprofessional relationship as he SMELLS her. He connects with her based on her sincerity, seeing behind her fake mustache, and well, I guess pheromones LOL
What follows is an entirely wild ride that I had no idea how it would work out, you'll need to read yourself. I have confused feelings about this "heroine in pants" trope, but it seems clear to me based on the text that Jules is a woman, and only has the disguise to honor her mother's wish and to be allowed to study and move around society with much more freedom than a woman of the time.
But, this is definitely a wild ride I'd recommend you take. I'll probably re-read at some point.
Lord, I did almost die of horny-ness when he sniffed her those first few times (okay truly each time)
Alas Wulverton is "wild" and prefers running around the estate shirtless, sleeping in his secret tree house in the woods, and he...he growls.
enter promising psychologist Jules Southby. Jules has been dressing as a boy // man her entire life thanks to a lie told by her mother at her birth (friends, do know there is an absolutely brutal first chapter about this, do take caution i can give more spoilers if necessary). Without a male heir, Jules' father would continue have made her mother try for a baby again and again, despite the fact pregnancy and birth nearly unaliving her each time before Jules birth.
Jules and her father are hired by the dowager Duchess to try and help Wulverton be respectable in society, to have a mask essentially. But Jules & Wulverton quickly form a quite unprofessional relationship as he SMELLS her. He connects with her based on her sincerity, seeing behind her fake mustache, and well, I guess pheromones LOL
What follows is an entirely wild ride that I had no idea how it would work out, you'll need to read yourself. I have confused feelings about this "heroine in pants" trope, but it seems clear to me based on the text that Jules is a woman, and only has the disguise to honor her mother's wish and to be allowed to study and move around society with much more freedom than a woman of the time.
But, this is definitely a wild ride I'd recommend you take. I'll probably re-read at some point.
Lord, I did almost die of horny-ness when he sniffed her those first few times (okay truly each time)
two rival landscapers hook up in a shed at a halloween party for a prospective client, but they both aren't aware of the other's identity at the time thanks to time and a big bad wolf mask.
Cowboy and suddenly single dad to his nephew after the passing of the mother from cancer and his brother's incarceration, Travis is stunned to find out the vixen red riding hood who tasted so good is actually Maggie, the owner of Petal Pushers.
Forced to work together on a project they both can't afford to lose, the big bad wolf continues to text Maggie who is also having feelings for the glowed up Travis and his nephew.
This was a lot of fun, I especially liked the beginning, and that Travis isn't just some already alpha cowboy, but a former nerd with glasses who had major glow up (and still secret spectacles) and only discovers his "wolfish" side with Maggie during their play. HOT.
That said, the outing of one of Maggie's friends to serve part of the deception plotline felt, unnecessary and potentially triggering to some readers.
I did enjoy book 2 of this series as well!
Content Notes: drinking, mistaken identity, cancer mention (nephew's mother, off page and only mentioned). Incarcerated brother who threatens to regain custody from Travis
Cowboy and suddenly single dad to his nephew after the passing of the mother from cancer and his brother's incarceration, Travis is stunned to find out the vixen red riding hood who tasted so good is actually Maggie, the owner of Petal Pushers.
Forced to work together on a project they both can't afford to lose, the big bad wolf continues to text Maggie who is also having feelings for the glowed up Travis and his nephew.
This was a lot of fun, I especially liked the beginning, and that Travis isn't just some already alpha cowboy, but a former nerd with glasses who had major glow up (and still secret spectacles) and only discovers his "wolfish" side with Maggie during their play. HOT.
That said, the outing of one of Maggie's friends to serve part of the deception plotline felt, unnecessary and potentially triggering to some readers.
I did enjoy book 2 of this series as well!
Content Notes: drinking, mistaken identity, cancer mention (nephew's mother, off page and only mentioned). Incarcerated brother who threatens to regain custody from Travis
WELL that was certainly a book I read (picked it up on sale). It is definitely of the time it was written (late 1980s) so do expect a complete jackass 'hero' who loves to tell the heroine to drop some weight and other similar gems. Definitely gave me Moonlighting vibes now that I've seen some episodes of that.
That said, I wasn't bored? per se? The story centers on a spy who is on the run from evil Russians who have beat him up very badly, and then the romance author who they think is his lover because she dedicates her latest novel to "Puff" which is his code name LMAO.
This is so OTT and so very violent, lots of "on the run" and danger bang vibes, but definitely light on the "oh yes, this is romantic and I see why they love each other" points.
Definitely reminds me of Annie from Speed saying "Relationships that start under intense circumstances never last." LMAO
That said, I wasn't bored? per se? The story centers on a spy who is on the run from evil Russians who have beat him up very badly, and then the romance author who they think is his lover because she dedicates her latest novel to "Puff" which is his code name LMAO.
This is so OTT and so very violent, lots of "on the run" and danger bang vibes, but definitely light on the "oh yes, this is romantic and I see why they love each other" points.
Definitely reminds me of Annie from Speed saying "Relationships that start under intense circumstances never last." LMAO
lusciously narrated, the exquisite details and evocative vibes were truly exceptional, but the overarching 2015 plot did not live up to the flashbacks, especially in the end. Yes, there is a romance with an HEA, but it is barely a B plot so I will not include it in an overall romance category.
What did work was the life of the "age of adeline" esque character who is the heart & soul of both the Miniscule Mansion and the IRL Mansion. Her story was absolutely heartbreaking in so many ways.
Also, in 2023 i'm a little tired of the "oh noes I'm scarred on the face so I must hide away" trope - Myra was in a horrific accident as a little girl and I wish more of her tendency to hermit and not join in the real world was focused on her trauma and less on her facial scars.
That said, I'm glad I listened to this, it was a great choice to listen to in the car with people I could not listen to my usual steamy reads. This is entirely closed door, I think there might be one kiss?
What did work was the life of the "age of adeline" esque character who is the heart & soul of both the Miniscule Mansion and the IRL Mansion. Her story was absolutely heartbreaking in so many ways.
Also, in 2023 i'm a little tired of the "oh noes I'm scarred on the face so I must hide away" trope - Myra was in a horrific accident as a little girl and I wish more of her tendency to hermit and not join in the real world was focused on her trauma and less on her facial scars.
That said, I'm glad I listened to this, it was a great choice to listen to in the car with people I could not listen to my usual steamy reads. This is entirely closed door, I think there might be one kiss?
this debut feels like a debut. it was clunky, repetitive, and overly long. the main characters were ciphers; i barely knew what they looked like and i don't know their names. yet another contemporary in this self-insert style and it just doesn't work for me. Add on a combination of things I personally do not enjoy, (single POV, friends to lovers, unwarned about parental death from cancer), an overall lackluster, sad time was had.
romances that heavily rely on internal thoughts by one character without backup from another POV are not my favorite. i read romance for the comfort, and this was not a fun, holiday romance. this was a sad, set in winter on a struggling tree farm story involving a 'mystery sabotage' sub plot, fake dating for a reality show, and also being in love with your best friend and effectively dating (without calling it dating yet being clearly horny ALL THE TIME) for 10 years.
Maybe it is the sagittarius in me, but the love interests in this story were irritating and not in a fun way. maybe i'd be more kindly inclined toward them if i wasn't slapped with a surprise cancer plot line too, but really, ten years and he can't even say he loves you? just assumes? no one talks? but yet you cuddle and touch ALL THE TIME? sure okay. And why couldn't they be together? there was no reason beyond "I don't want to ruin the relationship." Nothing else.
there were some beautiful lines, yet there was a breathtaking amount of horny snuffling and putting mouths on places, and just weird unerotic yet supposed to be sexy sexy times that didn't work for me.
I would MAYBE try one more from this author, since she is so popular and i was put in a MOOD while reading.
Content notes: cishet, white male hero, christmas tree farm owning white female heroine. one character is described as having "dark skin" but is the only character described this way. both main characters' parents are dead (one from cancer). someone is sabotaging and causing damage/destruction to the tree farm. a secondary character is a police officer.
romances that heavily rely on internal thoughts by one character without backup from another POV are not my favorite. i read romance for the comfort, and this was not a fun, holiday romance. this was a sad, set in winter on a struggling tree farm story involving a 'mystery sabotage' sub plot, fake dating for a reality show, and also being in love with your best friend and effectively dating (without calling it dating yet being clearly horny ALL THE TIME) for 10 years.
Maybe it is the sagittarius in me, but the love interests in this story were irritating and not in a fun way. maybe i'd be more kindly inclined toward them if i wasn't slapped with a surprise cancer plot line too, but really, ten years and he can't even say he loves you? just assumes? no one talks? but yet you cuddle and touch ALL THE TIME? sure okay. And why couldn't they be together? there was no reason beyond "I don't want to ruin the relationship." Nothing else.
there were some beautiful lines, yet there was a breathtaking amount of horny snuffling and putting mouths on places, and just weird unerotic yet supposed to be sexy sexy times that didn't work for me.
I would MAYBE try one more from this author, since she is so popular and i was put in a MOOD while reading.
Content notes: cishet, white male hero, christmas tree farm owning white female heroine. one character is described as having "dark skin" but is the only character described this way. both main characters' parents are dead (one from cancer). someone is sabotaging and causing damage/destruction to the tree farm. a secondary character is a police officer.
So, there's some breath-takingly lovely sentences and scenes when Liz & Tobin are on page together. I really enjoyed the improv as marriage counseling book and the practices they do together to help work through their problems. The intimate scenes were quite delicious. These parts helped me finish and not DNF.
That said, wading through the rest of Liz's self-actualization journey wasn't for me. The pitch contest plot line felt tacked on to create conflict between Liz and her husband when clearly, they already had enough. The single POV kept Tobin to be a pretty big cipher to me; he felt "too perfect" and Liz's internal thoughts focused significantly on his physical characteristics and her pants feelings for him, and how woefully inadequate she thought she was for him. From Tobin's actions on page, I didn't really get the angst I wanted out of a marriage in trouble plotline.
Not what I was hoping for, but if you enjoy more a woman's personal journey to understanding her neuro-divergencies and learning basic therapy techniques, and discovering she was perfectly fine as she was, maybe pick it up. Also, there was a great merman cosplay moment that truly was a lot of fun.
This author has potential, I wouldn't rule out trying another.
That said, wading through the rest of Liz's self-actualization journey wasn't for me. The pitch contest plot line felt tacked on to create conflict between Liz and her husband when clearly, they already had enough. The single POV kept Tobin to be a pretty big cipher to me; he felt "too perfect" and Liz's internal thoughts focused significantly on his physical characteristics and her pants feelings for him, and how woefully inadequate she thought she was for him. From Tobin's actions on page, I didn't really get the angst I wanted out of a marriage in trouble plotline.
Not what I was hoping for, but if you enjoy more a woman's personal journey to understanding her neuro-divergencies and learning basic therapy techniques, and discovering she was perfectly fine as she was, maybe pick it up. Also, there was a great merman cosplay moment that truly was a lot of fun.
This author has potential, I wouldn't rule out trying another.
whew i'd been hoarding this for eons (I believe it was first pubbed in 2015), and finally a book captured and held my interest so I'm giving it a whole extra star just for that.
As for the romance, do know that 2023 b would not recommend this due to the c0p hero, so do know that before jumping in and buying.
The pacing of this novel is so fucking perfect though. It is tight, and every sex scene serves the emotional arc of the story so well. There are a few minor characters but otherwise we have Lacey and Hunter discovering every inch of their pleasure, together, and finding out their misconceptions about the other are unfounded. It is breathtakingly hot.
Breath on Embers will continue to be my favorite Anne Calhoun, but this one was a super fun read. I will also say I could scream that we didn't get an epilogue because I remain a *bit* concerned that the older woman // younger man dynamic and him not feeling worthy of her due to his blue collar job weren't completely resolved, but hey I'm a believer at heart.
As for the romance, do know that 2023 b would not recommend this due to the c0p hero, so do know that before jumping in and buying.
The pacing of this novel is so fucking perfect though. It is tight, and every sex scene serves the emotional arc of the story so well. There are a few minor characters but otherwise we have Lacey and Hunter discovering every inch of their pleasure, together, and finding out their misconceptions about the other are unfounded. It is breathtakingly hot.
Breath on Embers will continue to be my favorite Anne Calhoun, but this one was a super fun read. I will also say I could scream that we didn't get an epilogue because I remain a *bit* concerned that the older woman // younger man dynamic and him not feeling worthy of her due to his blue collar job weren't completely resolved, but hey I'm a believer at heart.