“The Ballad of Never After” is Stephanie Garber’s best and most heartbreaking book yet! 

 

Like her other novels, Garber’s latest publication has the fun formatting that her readers know and love. Letters, scandal sheets, and book excerpts break up the text, contributing to the whimsical atmosphere that is created in “The Ballad of Never After.” 

 

What makes the sequel to “Once Upon a Broken Heart” different, however, is the building romantic tension between Jacks and Evangeline. Garber turns up the heat, allowing the two characters to grow far more intimate than ever before. Their relationship development from loathing each other to not being able to resist each other has an addictive quality to it that ensnares the reader, leaving them craving for their every interaction. 

 

Another aspect of the book that I thoroughly enjoyed was venturing deeper into the Magnificent North. Through Evangeline, the reader is able to explores places like The Hollow and Merrywood, two locations that play a pivotal role in helping us uncover Jacks’ true identity. Garber does a fantastic job slowly revealing bits and pieces of The Prince of Hearts’ past life that give good insight into his character motivations, add depth, and spark more questions than there are answers. 

 

The ending of “The Ballad of Never After” TORE my heart out!!! I am so glad there is a book 3 in the works because there are loose threads that still need to be tugged at and conflicts that need to be resolved. I cannot wait to see where Garber takes us with this next book so long as Evangeline gets the happily ever after she deserves. 

Review: ELENA ARMAS, YOU DESERVE ALL THE CRONUTS IN EXISTENCE FOR THIS MASTERPIECE OF A BOOK! 

“The American Roommate Experiment” truly is a love letter to romance novels. Armas incorporates all of the best tropes (fake relationship, forced proximity, friends to lovers) in her newest release and writes from two perspectives for the very first time.

I fell in love with Lucas the moment he graced the page and loved every chapter told from his point-of-view. He cooks, is a dog lover, has the best laugh, and embodies romance. He truly is the definition of a cinnamon roll character, which I found to be a breath of fresh air considering the abundance of grumpy bad boys serving as the main love interest in romance novels nowadays. 

Armas takes her time developing Lucas’ character and making sure that he has depth. Through his actions, we learn that Lucas is willing to prioritize the happiness of others over himself and that he is struggling to confront the demons of his past. 

Luckily, Rosie gives Lucas the love and support that he needs. She complements him every way and I loved watching her come to that realization towards the end of the book. Their slow burning romance makes their relationship all the more realistic and, in my opinion, satisfying. 

I really admire Rosie’s character and enjoyed following her storyline as an engineer turned romance writer. Her decision to chase her dreams is a message that I know that many readers will resonate with. Rosie is also fiercely protective over her family, which helped me further relate to her character.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my love for Armas’ incorporation of the Spanish language and the warm fuzzy feeling I got every time Aaron and Lina from “The Spanish Love Deception” made a cameo. I absolutely loved catching up with them. 

This book truly has a special place in my heart. I cannot wait to reread it again and again until Armas new book comes out in fall 2023.

Review: Hazelwood’s sequel “Love on the Brain” brings on the heat! 

 

Like her debut novel, Hazelwood’s newest release is told from the point-of-view of a woman in STEM: Dr. Bee Königswasser. Bee is a neuroscientist that is invited to co-lead the project of her dreams. There is only one catch, she has to work alongside Levi Ward, her arch nemesis from grad school. The longer the two are forced to work in proximity to each other, the more Bee begins to realize that Levi isn’t the man she thought he was. 

 

Hazelwood’s use of the enemies-to-lovers and workplace romance tropes are absolutely delightful. 

 

I also enjoyed getting a glimpse into the love interest’s perspective for the first time, which is what makes “Love on the Brain” different from the rest of Hazelwood’s other works. Through direct messages written by Levi on his Twitter account, the reader is able to gain insight into his character. He bares his heart to Bee and is not afraid to be vulnerable, which is something that I admire. 

 

With Levi at her side, Bee finds the strength to learn how to love again after a life of instability. The two push each other to grow as individuals and that is what makes their connection so electric on the page. 

 

While the writing is formulaic at times and does not wildly differ from her previous publications, “Love on the Brain” is an addicting read that leaves no romance reader wanting. 

Review: How many rules do I need to break to read MacLean’s debut novel again for the first time?! 

“Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake” is the perfect regency romance that alternates between Lady Calpurnia “Callie” Hartwell’s and the Marquess of Ralston’s, points-of-view. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading from Callie’s perspective because I could see so much of myself in her. At the beginning of the novel, she views herself as too plain, too ordinary, and too curvy in comparison to the women around her. She believes that those qualities are the reason why she has been a spinster for so long. Instead of continuing to live a life dictated by society, Callie decides to let go and embrace adventure. Her newfound carefreeness paired with her natural kind and loving nature ends up ensnaring the Marquess of Ralston.

Gabriel St. John, the marquess, never planned to fall in love with Callie. In fact, he swore off love altogether the day his mother left the family and broke his father’s heart. Not wanting to experience the same pain his father felt, he chooses to live the life of a rake. But the more time he spends with Callie, the more he learns what love really is and how badly he wants to give up his lifestyle for her. He sees Callie’s beauty and is set on helping her see it too. 

As a reader, I loved Callie and Ralston’s development as characters and the little moments that they shared. Their late night adventures, dances, fencing matches, and horseback rides are swoon worthy and only grow more intimate as the novel progresses. 

Review: “The Summer of Broken Rules” is a sweet escape for closed door romance readers everywhere! 

 

The novel centers around Meredith Fox, who recently lost her big sister. Walther turns feelings of grief into words by capturing Meredith’s pain and how it consumed her, isolated her, and transformed her. Though her grief never fully goes away, it lessens at Martha’s Vineyard, a place very near and dear to her heart. 

 

Every summer, Meredith makes the trip to Martha’s Vineyard to reunite with her extended family. I appreciate Walther for making the Fox family so diverse. Same-sex parents, remarried couples, and adopted children are all featured, offering great representation. The family only grows when Meredith’s cousin decides to hold her wedding at the vineyard. 

 

Enter Wit, a member of the wedding party. Still struggling with his parent’s separation and not knowing what direction he is headed in life, Wit is intent on soaking up the last bit of summer. 

 

As the week progresses, Wit and Meredith grow closer, unable to resist the pull they feel towards each other. I absolutely love how their whirlwind romance is healing for the both of them. They truly bring out the best in each other, no matter the circumstance, allowing for character growth.  

 

Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was the formatting. Each section of the book is a day of the week to represent the seven days that Meredith spends in Martha’s Vineyard for the wedding. Additionally, Walther includes text messages and instagram captions, making for a more engaging read. 

Review: Adams’ sports romance is a real winner for me! 

 

“The Cheat Sheet” is told from both Bree Camden and Nathan Donelson’s point-of-view, allowing the reader to fully realize the extent of their friendship and love for each other. Though the two want so desperately to leave the friend-zone, neither person wants to tell the other about the romantic feelings they have in fear of losing the wholesome friendship they have spent years developing. Everything changes, however, when a reporter catches Bree, in an intoxicated state, verbalizing her attraction to Nathan. The video takes the world by storm and Nathan’s manager proposes that the pair date publicly for three weeks. The incorporation of the fake relationship trope permits the characters to explore something more and pairs well with the friends-to-lovers trope that is present. 

 

I appreciate Adams for making “The Cheat Sheet” a closed door romance. Much of her focus is devoted to creating intimacy through meaningful touches, addicting kisses, and swoon worthy dialogue. 

 

Keeping things PG also gives Adams the ability to spend time on other subject matters. She brings awareness to mental health through Nathan’s character. She takes care with writing the panic attacks Nathan experiences and provides a content warning at the beginning of her book. Adams also breaks the mold with Nathan by having him embody non-toxic masculinity. He doesn’t mind getting his toenails painted, crying in front of Bree, and seeking help from a therapist once the panic attacks become more than he can bear on his own. 

 

As a ballerina at one point in her life, Bree’s character gives voice to the unhealthy side of the sport (bloody feet, starvation, etc), which I think is important. 

 

In addition, Bree is of lower socioeconomic status and represents those that struggle financially. Still, she does her best to help her neighbor Mrs. Dorothea and I love that her studio in the novel operates on income-based tuition to help dancers with low income receive instruction. 

 

Both Bree and Nathan come from different walks of life, but they do not let that get in the way of their relationship. Instead, they become each others biggest cheerleader in life, making the book that much more enjoyable. 

Review: “The Atlas Six” is a slow, yet powerful start to a captivating series! 

I really enjoyed reading from the perspective of all six of the main characters (Parisa, Libby, Nico, Callum, Tristan, and Reina). Blake does a great job making each character unique in their own way and goes to great lengths in order to share their histories, motivations, and thoughts with the reader. 

In addition, I appreciated how diverse Blake’s cast of characters are. A variety of ethnicities, races, and sexual orientations are represented in this book, giving readers more opportunities to see parts of themselves in what is written on the page. 

Blake’s world-building is just as complex as her characters. Blake’s world is populated by both humans (non-magic users) and medeians (magic users). All medeians practice different types of magic, but few are powerful enough to gain access to the Alexandrian Society—“a secret society of magical academicians.” 

The six protagonists are admitted into the Great Library of Alexandria for one year as part of the society’s initiation process. Once their time is up, one of them will be eliminated and the remaining five will be initiated. 

When it comes to the society and its dealings, the reader is as much in the dark as the characters, adding depth to the ever-growing mystery. 

The price for knowledge is high in this series and I cannot wait to see what sacrifices are made to attain it in Blake’s highly anticipated sequel “The Atlas Paradox,” due to be released in October.

Review: 

This novella is sure to give you the warm fuzzies! 

 

“Below Zero” is told from the perspective of Hannah Arroyo, a NASA aerospace engineer who finds herself stranded in the Arctic during a snowstorm. The only person willing to save her? Her rival, Ian Floyd. As Hannah awaits rescue, she analyzes their relationship over the years and questions why he would be willing to risk his own life for her. 

 

Like the other STEMinist novellas, “Below Zero” has fantastic representation. Hannah identifies as bisexual, but she has trouble forming relationships that are not sex-based, adding complexity to her character. Deep down, she fears what her partners will think of her once they learn more about her personality. 

 

Ian also has interesting characterization. Growing up, he was often overlooked by both his parents and peers, making him a bit of a loner until Hannah entered his life. 

 

Unfortunately, I didn’t really feel the sparks between Hannah and Ian because they met so suddenly and their relationship did not have enough time to develop due to the novella’s length. Had I been given more time with the characters, perhaps my thoughts would be different. 

 

Speaking of more time, I need a whole book full of interactions between all of the characters from Hazelwood’s STEMinist collection. The cameos made by Mara, Liam, Sadie, and Erik were incredibly entertaining and added elements of humor to the story. 

Review: “Stuck with You” is told from the perspective of Sadie Grantham, a civil engineer who finds herself stuck in a New York elevator with Erik Nowak, a rival engineer and the man who broke her heart. With nothing better to do while they await rescue, the two reflect upon their whirlwind romance and where things went wrong. 

 

The premise of Hazelwood’s March publication works perfectly as a shorter work, features a woman in STEM, and is jam-packed with all the tropes romance readers know and love (lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity to name two). Though I am not a huge fan of miscommunication in romance novels, I was willing to look past the use of this trope in “Stuck with You” because of Hazelwood’s well-written steamy scenes. 

 

In addition, each chapter within the novella alternates between the past and the present. I appreciated Hazelwood’s choice to write in this way because it allowed her to both slowly reveal the history of Sadie and Erik’s relationship to the reader and showcase the atmosphere in the elevator resulting from the termination of their relationship. 

 

Another aspect of the story that I enjoyed were the cameos made by Mara, Liam, and Hannah.  The reader is first introduced to these characters in “Under One Roof,” the first of the three STEMinist Novellas. Their reappearance interconnects Hazelwood’s short stories and allows the reader to check in on Mara and Liam’s life together post “Under One Roof.” 

Review: The sequel to “Kingdom of the Wicked” is sinfully good! 

 

Maniscalco leans into the new adult genre with “Kingdom of the Cursed,” giving the reader more mature exchanges between Emilia and Wrath without going overboard. Many of the steamy scenes are perfectly woven into the storyline and do not take away from the plot, but rather contribute to it. Those scenes are also balanced out by Emilia and Wrath’s banter. No matter how many times they clash and despite it being against his nature, Wrath cannot resist caring for Emilia. They constantly switch between being enemies and lovers with each new apparent betrayal and wave of attraction, making “Kingdom of the Cursed” a compelling read. 

 

As Emilia and Wrath’s feelings for each other deepen, so too does the element of mystery. The reader is left in a state of utter and complete shock upon learning more about Emilia’s past. She is left to sort through what is fact and what is fiction while navigating through the Kingdom of the Wicked. 

 

As a reader, I loved exploring the seven circles of Hell and places like the sin corridor, that exist beyond the territories of each prince of Hell. House Wrath’s eerily cold setting perfectly captures the sin that its circle represents and Emilia quickly learns that it is drastically different than the other houses in proximity. Through Emilia, the reader is exposed to said houses and wonderfully chaotic characters like Gluttony and Pride, two princes that did not make appearances in the first book. 

 

I cannot wait to get my hands on “Kingdom of the Feared” in September because the reveals at the end of “Kingdom of the Cursed” were insane! Nothing could have prepared me for the huge plot twist. It was beautifully executed, well-planned, and quite frankly, blew my mind.