One of the biggest and most unfortunate parts of celebrity culture is the fascination with a star who burned bright and burned out quickly. It is my theory that everyone has that one idol who died young, whose loss still affects them in some way. A person who showed so much promise in their short life that the tragedy of their death is only amplified, whether that be a singer who committed suicide or a pilot whose plane went missing. Love Letters to the Dead, fittingly with that title, is a love letter to all of these people, but also a touching and heartbreaking story of a teenage girl moving ahead with her life following a terrible experience and the death of her own idol, her older sister.

Full review here: http://www.imwithgeek.com/books/review-love-letters-to-the-dead-by-ava-dellaira

To say that Landline is not one of Rainbow Rowell’s best books is in no way an insult, but rather a compliment to her incredibly readable and fun novels. Unlike her most popular books, Eleanor and Park and Fangirl, Landline is a novel aimed at adults, centering on a married couple in crisis, but with an added fantastical twist. Characters are well-realised, as is the unique plot device at the centre of the book. In fact, the only reason why Landline doesn’t rate among Rowell’s best is simply because, while this is great, other books of hers are greater.

Full review here: http://www.imwithgeek.com/books/review-landline-by-rainbow-rowell

Historical romance is nothing new or revolutionary; in fact it is one of the most popular subgenres under the romance umbrella. What is new and exciting is when an author takes a period of history not often used as the backdrop to their story. This is the case with Tournament of Shadows, a blend of romance, espionage and peril set during The Great Game of the 18th Century.

Full review here: http://www.imwithgeek.com/books/between-the-sheets-tournament-of-shadows-by-sa-meade

Ajax Bell is an exciting new voice in the world of m/m literature, with her debut novel This Charming Man a delightful blend of coming of age, nostalgia and romance. Set in early 90s Seattle, this book is one that isn’t afraid to create flawed characters, and as such the journey they take is much more rewarding.

Full review here: http://www.imwithgeek.com/books/review-this-charming-man-by-ajax-bell

Smoky Mountain Dreams, the latest book from author Leta Blake, is perhaps her most affecting yet. Away from the erotic ice-skating themed Training Season and the amnesia drama of The River Leith, which were both fantastic reads, Smoky Mountain Dreams is simply the story of two people overcoming terrible circumstances to find love with each other. It is because of this that the emotion in Smoky Mountain Dreams is more palpable than ever before for this talented romance author.

http://www.imwithgeek.com/books/review-smoky-mountain-dreams-by-leta-blake