The Weekly Recap
It’s a long weekend where I am, and I am living through a particularly crummy little flare up. I’m writing this from under a pile of blankets and a heating pad set to ‘scalding’. It’s also postseason baseball and y’all THAT Phillies game on Friday was *chef’s kiss*. By the time this is posted, Philly will have played game two and that’s all I’m saying about it.
What else is going on? I read some good ones this week, except for getting two titles confused and reading the one that wasn’t recommended in a reddit thread this week *facepalm*. I also made a WILD rookie move of starting a great romance at 9:30pm on a work-night, pain was had the next day.
Okay, enough rambling.
Beauty Tempts the Beast by Lorraine Heath
A very sweet historical romance between a previous aristocratic but currently shunned and impoverished woman and a man who just wants to care for people and provide safe havens for them. I love Lorraine Heath’s HistRoms, they are alway full of longing, excellent intimacy (hello seduction lessons) between the leads and generally something bonkers that just makes her stories so delicious. Def check this one out.
Taken by the Mountain Man by Kaci Rose
A classic case of me reading this, when I was supposed to read the other with the same title. The entire time I was like IS THIS GONNA GET GOOD SOON?! It’s a pass.
The Sweetest Connection by Denise Williams
Book 2 in Williams Airport Novellas, very sweet friends to lovers romance that works so well in how she tells her story. If you love physical touch, and it’s always been you, plus a little mystery thrown in grab this delightful, quick and sweet read.
Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean
Devil and Felicity. Felicity and Devil. The Angst. The banter. This started with such a bang and just kept me ENTHRALLED. I love a morally grey love interest and MacLean really crushes it with Devil. I am really excited to read Whit and then Grace’s books next.
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison (Free with KU)
OKAY YES Y’ALL WERE SO RIGHT. I f*cking loved this. Found family. Laughs. Friends to lovers. Fake dating. Feeding you is my love language. Physical touch and cuddling. I am so excited to read the rest of these and expect to be buying these in hard copy as well (those covers tho).
Chick Magnet by Emma Barry (eARC)
DNF at 25%. This is totally a me thing and not a critique of this book. The book, a contemporary romance between a sunny social media influencer and a grumpy veterinarian coming out in 2023. The reason I DNF’d (and let me tell you I stuck it out as long as I could) lies in the reality this book is set in: which is now. Will is dealing with the economic outcome of the pandemic and covid quarantines, along with Amazon decimating pet medicine part of his practice. The repeated references to COVID and quarantine, made it feel less that Will was a “grump” and more that he is a man trying to keep his business afloat and survive what at times felt like a mental health crises. Listen I could be VERY much projecting (it’s been a hard 2.5 years for me), but I just couldn’t sit with this one, and pulled the rip cord early. Add to this, some moments where the death or euthanizing of animals are discussed and I just felt like it was better for me to not push myself to finish it.
For folks that aren’t me, this one (I bet) will get a lot of love! It’s written well and who doesn’t love a giant Viking MMC that has a dog?!