Weekly Recap: I read the things!
Oof, y’all this friggen week. Something must be in retrograde. I had a few working days in a row where I was penned in from my first moment until I was able to sign off. Therapy this week was a legitimate gong-show, thoughts and prayers to my therapist.
I’m hesitant to share fully, but lack of down-time and increased “new” day to day stress really hit me this week. And, I guess on reflection a good reminder of the work I need to continually put in to ensure I’m regulating, taking breaks and not getting down on myself when I’m off work and just too drained to focus on reading.
Which I guess leads me a little to my next, uh realization. I’m commodifying a hobby, I truly deeply love and I need to confront and work through that. I think the good news is that it means I need to step back from trying to get access to ARC’s. To try to use this blog as a side hustle, and more of a space for me (and whoever likes to visit) to lean into things I love (reading romance and writing about it).
Okay /endrant
I read a lot of great books this week (including a comfort read), and a new (to me) author. There’s contemporary, sports and historical in there today and I’m not mad at it.
The Varsity Dad Dilemma by Lex Martin
Set in the extended Texas Nights universe, Lex Martin is back with a deceptively delightful single dad collegiate sports romance. Gabby and Rider are a great pairing, with her being the classic academic, “no fun” beauty who is standoffish, and ready to protect herself from feeling too much for Rider, again. And our guy Rider who has (of course) the tragic backstory just trying to make more of himself, and leverage his natural ability on the football field.
Without spoiling it, how they come to find the baby and the resulting dilemma, I will say Martin really has a gift for writing hot AF men with babies. It does something to me.
A Lady’s Code of Misconduct by Meredith Duran
This was a #romancetwitter find, based on some chef’s kiss tropes (bad guy tells good girl, let me be the villain for you) and y’all did this book deliver. There is a lot to unpack here and, oh its also the 5th book in this series that I just dropped myself into cold, which on reflection I don’t think matters. Crispin Burke is a baddie. He’s got legitimate political aspirations and will do ANYTHING to make those happen. And Jane, who has been so sequestered and told over and over again her place.
This also has an AMENSIA plot which just slayed me. It was truly perfection, especially watching Jane struggle to reconcile the “two” versions of Crispin, and our man Crispin, getting to peek inside his heart and mind when we know how terribly he treats Jane in the beginning is, truly a delight. A perfect mix of historical touch points, high steam, suspense and great pacing. The mystery core to the attack Crispin suffers helps lead you to the next book, which IS wonderful too.
The Sins of Lord Lockwood by Meredith Duran
Ah this being the next in the series after ALCoM sees recently found man Liam Lockwood as he works to take revenge on the men responsible for his abduction and treatment over three years in captivity. Anna only knowing he left her on their wedding night, as no idea why he’s returned now (after three years) and is about to land on his door step to demand some answers.
Oh my word this book is so delicious. The banter, wit and chemistry these two have right from the get-go is so wonderful. You’re heart will absolutely hurt with what was taken from them, and what they both went through during their separation. Perfect for fans of Kerrigan Byrne’s Victorian Rebels series.
Twisted Hate by Ana Huang (free on KU)
The long awaited Josh and Jules story landed on KU this week and, I dove in immediately. I gotta say I was sceptical, coming off Twisted Games (which I liked but found the Eldorra royals stuff a little campy) that Twisted Hate might be a regression in the overall series. But my lord, am I so happy to tell you it was so, so, so well done.
This is a true enemies to friends to lovers and wow Josh Chen can get it. Seeing him take care of Jules really did something to my heart, and the “best ever date” he planned for her was the stuff dreams are made of. Now I’m over here dying for Christian and Stella’s story and conclusion of the series.
The Belle and the Beard by Kate Canterbary (free on KU)
I read The Boss in the Bedsheets (book 1 in the Santillian triplets series) last year and lost my mind over Ash and Zelda, so I have no idea what took me so long to get on board with picking up the rest of these books. I am a KC convert, and am now strategizing as to when I’m going to dig into the Walshes series, because I know they are going to also wreck me: body and soul. I digress.
Here we have political fixer Jasper and Arborist Linden in all their pansexual glory. God I love KC’s hero’s. They are just steady, physical touch loving, I see into your soul, big hands having babes and I can’t get enough of them (see: The Worst Guy and The Before Girl). As usual this one does not disappoint and seeing Linden taking Jasper into his home, space, life and heart was really special, and OOF. Hearing about his past really punched me in the gut, and a good lesson for anyone: life is short tell folks you love them when you have the chance.
Against a Wall by Cate C. Wells (free on KU)
The small town, bully romance I didn’t know I needed. This has, recently been making the rounds on r/romancebooks and I gotta say I was skeptical. I like a enemies to lovers situation with the best of them, but something about the MC bullying the other MC always makes me feel a little, I don’t know sad? I gotta say, it was a little clear what Cash was up to with Glenna, but Cate really made their connection, and progression of their relationship work. Her books, are really fun, deeply easy to connect with and the banter really made this one even more enjoyable. I also cast the new hot man that plays Jack Reacher, so theres also that.
Daddy in Cowboy Boots by Laylah Roberts (free on KU)
This is just straight up smut and I needed it.