Great western romance with a fabulously capable, self-saving heroine who has enough flaws and vulnerability to avoid being a Mary Sue. She throws everGreat western romance with a fabulously capable, self-saving heroine who has enough flaws and vulnerability to avoid being a Mary Sue. She throws everyone around her on her back and carries them through illness, death and life in an abandoned fort in frontier Texas.
If it weren't for all the unnecessary twists and turns in the final quarter of the book, this would've been a really great book. Great characterization, strong sense of time and place and sizzling tension. A shame she couldn't stick the landing.
Merged review:
Great western romance with a fabulously capable, self-saving heroine who has enough flaws and vulnerability to avoid being a Mary Sue. She throws everyone around her on her back and carries them through illness, death and life in an abandoned fort in frontier Texas.
If it weren't for all the unnecessary twists and turns in the final quarter of the book, this would've been a really great book. Great characterization, strong sense of time and place and sizzling tension. A shame she couldn't stick the landing....more
I'm just going to stop after the Knox novella. I'm all set with teaser prequels that lack an HEA/ending, and fluffy historicals don't entice me.
I loveI'm just going to stop after the Knox novella. I'm all set with teaser prequels that lack an HEA/ending, and fluffy historicals don't entice me.
I loved Room at the Inn a lot... until the ending. I think Grand Gestures are cheap and lazy as a rule, but this one felt even weaker tacked onto the end of such a thoughtful and emotional story. How does staging a humiliating, public scene in a church during Christmas Eve services strike anyone as romantic? How does a narcissistic, emotionally manipulative stunt like a public proposal atone for 16 years of narcissism and emotional abuse? Protip: it doesn't. It spoiled what had been a top notch story. I'm rating it three stars as the hero's redemption/change of heart was completely believable and accounted for, and I could see their HEA, but the church stunt was BS.
Merged review:
I'm just going to stop after the Knox novella. I'm all set with teaser prequels that lack an HEA/ending, and fluffy historicals don't entice me.
I loved Room at the Inn a lot... until the ending. I think Grand Gestures are cheap and lazy as a rule, but this one felt even weaker tacked onto the end of such a thoughtful and emotional story. How does staging a humiliating, public scene in a church during Christmas Eve services strike anyone as romantic? How does a narcissistic, emotionally manipulative stunt like a public proposal atone for 16 years of narcissism and emotional abuse? Protip: it doesn't. It spoiled what had been a top notch story. I'm rating it three stars as the hero's redemption/change of heart was completely believable and accounted for, and I could see their HEA, but the church stunt was BS....more
Thank god that finally ended. The padded out ending was like salt in an open wound.
I'll try to review this at length later. In summary: too much telliThank god that finally ended. The padded out ending was like salt in an open wound.
I'll try to review this at length later. In summary: too much telling, not enough showing, wooden characters, choppy scene changes, a perfunctory romance and a partridge in a pear tree.
Merged review:
Thank god that finally ended. The padded out ending was like salt in an open wound.
I'll try to review this at length later. In summary: too much telling, not enough showing, wooden characters, choppy scene changes, a perfunctory romance and a partridge in a pear tree....more
I'll admit to being skeptical of the premise, as one does not pull pantyhose on and not notice, but I've enjoyed everything else of Beriko's that I'veI'll admit to being skeptical of the premise, as one does not pull pantyhose on and not notice, but I've enjoyed everything else of Beriko's that I've read, so I gave it a whirl. A good thing too, because it totally worked somehow, and turned out to be a great mix of kinky exploration and working through messy feelings. Beriko's art is what really makes this a great read, though. Nobody draws bedroom eyes or older men better, and every panel was crisp and detailed with expressive faces....more
This is pretty much like every manga by Nagisa Furuya that I've read: a light, relaxing romance with nice art that wraps up in one volume. Enjoyable, This is pretty much like every manga by Nagisa Furuya that I've read: a light, relaxing romance with nice art that wraps up in one volume. Enjoyable, but not life altering. ...more
Despite being a little reluctant to pick up a romance about a woman who's self-conscious about sweating and the hot guy who loves smelling her, this wDespite being a little reluctant to pick up a romance about a woman who's self-conscious about sweating and the hot guy who loves smelling her, this won me over quickly. I loved the literal chemistry between the characters and watching them learn how to lean on each other and work through problems together over 11 volumes was a delight....more
A warm and charming story about two guys in their 20s living in a small town and finding each has something the other one needs. I particularly enjoyeA warm and charming story about two guys in their 20s living in a small town and finding each has something the other one needs. I particularly enjoyed how it showed them supporting each other emotionally, forming a strong friendship as well as a romantic connection. ...more
I've been on an anime kick lately and happened to watch the anime adaptation of this manga the other day when I was looking for a mix of action and roI've been on an anime kick lately and happened to watch the anime adaptation of this manga the other day when I was looking for a mix of action and romance. Well, the anime series leaves off around volume 9 of the manga, and if I didn't get more of Yona and Hak's story I. Was. Going. To. Die. So off I went to Comixology to buy all 17 volumes available in English.
I'm not going to rate and review each volume, but, OMG, I don't remember the last time I enjoyed something this much. It's a perfect blend of action, drama, and light humor with a will-they-or-won't-they romance that has me in knots. If you like road romance, historical fantasy, confronting one's privilege, fighting state oppression, and a true alpha hero who delights in the heroine's growing power, you should give this series a whirl. ...more
Entertaining story of a gruff Scottish swordsmith and the ADHD New Yorker looking for a reboot, but the ending felt really rushed and a little unsatisEntertaining story of a gruff Scottish swordsmith and the ADHD New Yorker looking for a reboot, but the ending felt really rushed and a little unsatisfying. ...more
Ruth might be my favorite heroine ever. Finally, a disabled heroine (she's autistic) who gets to run her own life in her own way without needing a nonRuth might be my favorite heroine ever. Finally, a disabled heroine (she's autistic) who gets to run her own life in her own way without needing a non-disabled hero to rescue her. The sweet, muscular, bearded, blacksmith hero who cooks his way into her life one shepherds pie at a time was a plus as well. Hibbert does an excellent job of writing the characters' POV scenes so I really felt like I was visiting two different heads. Really enjoyed it....more
A marriage of convenience between a bold, impulsive ER nurse and a cool, reserved neurosurgeon 15 years her senior. Wonderful cast of LGBT characters,A marriage of convenience between a bold, impulsive ER nurse and a cool, reserved neurosurgeon 15 years her senior. Wonderful cast of LGBT characters, relatable family drama, and the slowest of slow burns. A really satisfying romance where the characters took the time to fall in love. ...more
Highly amusing riff on Coming to America where an epidemiology grad student gets tangled up with the prince of a fictional African kingdom. Lots of fuHighly amusing riff on Coming to America where an epidemiology grad student gets tangled up with the prince of a fictional African kingdom. Lots of fun situational humor where prince Thabiso tries to be "Jamal" the waiter, snappy dialog, and an interesting friendship between Naledi and her BFF Portia that's devoted but not totally healthy. Completely preposterous at times, but Cole kept it entertaining enough that I remained on board....more
Cute as hell friends to lovers romance between a straitlaced accountant and a free-spirited digital assistant. He's her older brother's best friend toCute as hell friends to lovers romance between a straitlaced accountant and a free-spirited digital assistant. He's her older brother's best friend to boot. ...more
An enjoyable enemies-to-lovers romance between a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent and a high-profile defense attorney set in Atlanta, but the sexAn enjoyable enemies-to-lovers romance between a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent and a high-profile defense attorney set in Atlanta, but the sex writing veered into the silly at times. ...more
Puerto Rican school librarian heroine and an unspecified white tech bro hero and a Harlequin Romance vibe. It had no on-page sex, which I know some pePuerto Rican school librarian heroine and an unspecified white tech bro hero and a Harlequin Romance vibe. It had no on-page sex, which I know some people are always looking for....more
Leyla Karimi can’t help herself. If her smoking-hot neighbor’s going to walk around in his underwear with no Originally posted at Love in the Margins.
Leyla Karimi can’t help herself. If her smoking-hot neighbor’s going to walk around in his underwear with no blinds in the windows while she’s sitting on her back patio one night after work, well, she’s just going to go ahead and watch. Nevermind that Dr. Mason Barrett is four years her junior and her younger brother’s best friend. She’s just going to look with her eyes, not with her hands. No harm, no foul, right?
Only problem is that Dr. Hottie’s noticed his audience, and he’s not about to forget anytime soon. He’d believed his crush on his buddy’s sister wasn’t reciprocal and that she saw him as a little brother. Now that he’s seen her watching him with hungry eyes, everything’s changed. And he’s about to make his move.
First things first, I guess. I’m friendly with this author on Twitter and she gave me a copy of this book and a couple others. I started following her after reading a few of her books and liking her voice and the way she writes multicultural romance. Rai writes stories with characters from many different backgrounds without making a plot point out of it. They are what they are, and that’s that. In a genre where characters from marginalized populations are often used as teachable moments, I find this sort of multiculturalism refreshing.
So anyways, the book. Veiled Desire is an erotic novella packing equal amounts of heat and romance. It’s a friends-to-lovers story, so the conflict is of the “is this worth the threat of losing this friendship” and “her brother is totally gonna freak out” variety. It’s not a terribly stiff conflict, but it’s just right for the story length. They acknowledge their mutual desire, they act on it, they discover sexual compatibility, and then they ride off to the promise of the condomless sex of HEA. It’s really all I could ask of an erotic novella.
I really enjoyed the way Rai handled Leyla’s sexuality. Due to some mixture of growing up in an Iranian family and being busy with work and family responsibilities as an adult, she’s a 31 year old woman who’s had only one sexual partner. Despite this inexperience, she has full control of her sexuality. She masturbates, owns vibrators and knows what she likes. While out to dinner with Mason she whispers into his ear, “I want to do that to you. When we’re done here, I just want to get you alone and watch you come for me.” Leyla is a grown-up woman with a grown-up’s understanding of her sexuality. Mason may be more experienced, but they hook up as equals. It was satisfying to read an erotic romance where a heroine’s inexperience isn’t fetishized.
Unfortunately, some of the sex was a no for me. I found their first hookup kind of too much, too fast and there’s some food sex involving chocolate cheesecake and a nipple. But one scene in particular kind of bothered me. In it, Mason has penetrated Leyla without a condom. When she objects, saying she’s not on the pill, visions of babies dance in his head and this happens:
Hell, no wonder the human race procreated like crazy. It took a strong man to deny this biological urge. “I won’t come inside of you.” Even as he said it, he recognized the ridiculousness of the words.
Her laugh was half amused, half regretful. “Dr. Barrett, you know better.”
He did know better, but he just did not fucking care. That was the problem. For a solid twenty seconds, he didn’t say anything, didn’t move, couldn’t move. The walls of her pussy rippled around him where he was buried so still inside of her. He swore he could feel every tissue, every inch of her. He released her hips and clenched his teeth. “Climb off. I can’t do it.”
She seemed as reluctant as he was to separate their bodies, but he guessed she was just stronger than he was, because she dismounted and knelt on the bed next to him.
I couldn’t read this without thinking of The Myth of the Boner Werewolf. It may be a genre staple as shorthand for father material or as proof of how powerful his attraction to the heroine is, but it renders the hero into a sort of unthinking animal I can’t get down with.
Final Assessment: Anyone looking for a good, quick erotic romance with a solid emotional connection should not be disappointed. You just might need to suspend your belief in spots. B-...more
This was an enjoyable, category-style read with a tight plot and fun setting. The writing was flat and confusing at times, but not enough to diminish This was an enjoyable, category-style read with a tight plot and fun setting. The writing was flat and confusing at times, but not enough to diminish my enjoyment too much.
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