REVIEW: Bayou Beloved by Lexi Blake
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 28 Mar 23
Papillon in Louisiana is a quirky town with its characters like the gator who greets visitors, the judge who prefers fishing to being in court, and townspeople who get up to all kinds of shenanigans. It’s no wonder this has become one of my favorite contemporary series and I look forward to every new release.
REVIEW: Loathe To Love You by Ali Hazelwood
Stevie‘s review of Loathe to Love You (The STEMinist Novellas #1-3) by Ali Hazelwood
Contemporary Romance Anthology published by Berkley 03 Jan 23
The world definitely needs more romances about women in science, so I picked up this anthology of linked stories in spite of not being keen on the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope. Our three female protagonists have been best friends since grad school, which joins the stories nicely and provides a thread of continuity through the whole book, although there’s less of a link for the three male protagonists other than through their respective love interests. We meet all three women in the first chapter of the first novella, after a flash-forward Prologue, in which we meet our first couple, Mara and Liam.
REVIEW: Girls of Salt and Sea by Natalia Macias Lucia
Fantasy published by Lightkeeper Press 26 Aug 22
A mystical island shrouded in secrecy, mesmerizing writing, intriguing characters, amazing plot twists. This book has it all! I was drawn in so quickly and had to speed read to find out what the heck was going on in Halcyon Bay.
REVIEW: Artfully Yours by Joanna Lowell
Historical Romance published by Berkley 21 Feb 23
This is my first book by Joanna Lowell. I liked the sound of the story when I read the blurb, fun and charming. While I did get that to a point, I had to wade through a lot of super slow backstory that lasts much too long.
REVIEW: Dark Alpha’s Fury by Donna Grant
Romantic Fantasy published by DL Grant LLC 07Mar 23
After Xaneth was captured and tortured by the Queen of the Fae, he’s a changed man. He has become a one-man destroyer and evil cannot escape his reach. He yearns for the soft touch that Aisling represents in his life but does not feel he deserves it. Now he’s become the target of the evil others. Hasn’t Xaneth paid enough? Does he not deserve some form of happiness? Read on to find what happens and how it all comes together.
REVIEW: On the Line by Fern Michaels
Romantic Suspense published by Kensington Books 28 Mar 23
I found this story confusing and, in the end, not very suspenseful. It felt like the author had two stories she wanted to tell and couldn’t decide which one to pick and so ended up with both. I actually thought somehow the Kindle version of the story got compromised and another book got inserted into the middle of mine.
REVIEW: The Love Wager by Lynn Painter
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 14 Mar 23
This is one of my favorite books of 2023 so far! Highly recommend running to grab this book ASAP. It’s a thoroughly good time!
REVIEW: In Isabeau’s Eyes by Lora Leigh
Romantic Suspense published by Berkley 21 Mar 23
A book by Lora Leigh after a long hiatus, and I couldn’t wait to read it. But, alas!
REVIEW: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
Fantasy published by Harper 07 Feb 23
Natalie Haynes is probably my favorite Greek mythology retelling author. I loved A Thousand Ships, and Stone Blind is even better. She bounces around between multiple players, each with a distinct voice and personality.
REVIEW: A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas
Stevie‘s review of A Tempest at Sea (Lady Sherlock, Book 7) by Sherry Thomas
Historical Mystery published by Berkley 14 Mar 23
Having faked her own death to avoid the murderous attention of her arch-enemy Moriarty, Charlotte Holmes needs to keep a low profile. However, a new case is hard to resist, particularly one involving matters of national security and documents hidden in plain sight. Her investigation leads her and Mrs Watson, both heavily disguised, to embark on a cruise to the Mediterranean, on board a ship whose passengers include various members of Charlotte’s estranged family, as well as her lover, Ash, Lord Ingram Ashburton. Even less welcome than Charlotte’s mother (a last-minute addition to the passenger list) are Roger Shrewsbury and his wife, the pair responsible for Charlotte’s original expulsion from polite society.
