This week in romance reads…
Well what a week I have had friends. I made intentional and smart changes career-wise, and feel so great about what’s next for me. I got to read an ARC of Everything for You by Chloe Liese, which like *screeching sounds* was EVERYTHING.
I put some action to the work I have been working in therapy and had some difficult conversations with some folks AND only had 2 migraines. Just trying to take all the wins where I can get them, basically. I read some good and less good this week with the stand-outs being a queer sports romance and a historical romance from the undefeated queen of writing the boy falls first, Lisa Kleypas. Alright, let’s get into it.
Everything for You by Chloe Liese (ARC)
Oh lord these Bergman’s are going to be the death of me. I was so freaking excited to be chosen to read this as an ARC. And whew, y’all I loved the-ever-loving-shit out of this beautiful love story between Oliver and Gavin. Full review here.
Those Three Little Words by Meghan Quinn (Free with KU)
It’s been awhile since I read a MQ book, and I had forgotten how some of her stories can be a little wacky. This one was just alright for me. Some parts sparkled with MQ’s normal wit and romance and most other moments kinda felt a little too drawn out and long. Especially the 3rd act conflict, oof. And, y’all the tension was not working for me. Which, I gotta say PAINS me to even write. This is book 2 in her Vancouver Agitator Hockey romance series, and features Penny Lawes (Pacey from book 1’s sister) and Eli Halsey, team nice guy and big time player. I think its pretty telling that I was more excited to hear about the rest of the boys than the main connection between Eli and Penny….
Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas
I love LK love interests. They are always SO soft, cozy and swoony. This is, yet another to add to my favourite love interests: Keir MacRae. And like I tweeted, the thing you GOTTA know about a Lisa Kleypas hero is he is going to be GONE for the heroine by the end of their first meeting. This one was so refreshing, the love and connection, the longing, the AMNESIA… y’all let this one sweep you away.
All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne
Book 2 in the Devil You Know trilogy sees Cecilia “Cecil” Teague locked in a battle of wills with Lord Cassius Ramsay. I REALLY loved the first book in this series, so much. And this one I didn’t love as much. I felt like Ramsay was really cruel to her for most of the book and our sweet soft Cecilia is truly out here looking for scraps of attention and love. I dunno y’all I can handle a lot in romance novels but I don’t think there was enough of a grovel for our man Cassius to get back in MY good graces.
Anything But a Duke by Christy Carlyle
I read and loved Duke Gone Rogue late last year which was my first intro to the romantic AF world of Christy Carlyle. This one was sweet, and I loved the relationship between Aiden and Diana, and the allusions to Dragon’s Den were not lost on me. I enjoyed that these two were truly self made and trying to make their way in the world in which they reside. Diana is such a gem of a heroine, being so deeply smart and so singularly focused on saving her family. And Aiden is, struggling with so much hidden pain over his own past. The B plot surrounding her helping him find a wife was excellent fodder for them to be pushed together and forced to pine so intensely for each other. And doesn’t hurt that I now fan-cast every male lead in a historical romance as JayBae in my mind.
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming (Free with KU)
This popped up on r/romancebooks thirsty Thursday thread and gosh was this adorable. Cinnamon and Fallon set off on an adventure after she accidentally rescues him. Kicking off a series of events that forced Cin to confront everything she thinks she knows about her world This is a quick, fun, steamy read with everything I love about a fantasy romance! Excited to read more from Kimberly!
Snowbound With His Forbidden Princess by Pippa Roscoe
I’ve read very few royal romances that I have liked, so if anyone out there in romancelandia has any to share SLIDE into my dm’s please. This is the story of Princess Freya, and military man Kjell Bergqivst. A betrayal 8 years ago ended their romance, and now Freya needs to convince him to accept a Medal of Honor, so she can renounce her throne and be free from the crushing weight of needing to be… fertile? I dunno y’all this was all kinds of weird for me, and reflecting on it I prob should have just bailed when the heroine said: “she was no longer a woman, because she was infertile... Read at your own risk.