AHHHHHHHHHHH! OK, now that I got the squees and heart-eyes out of my system, I can calm down and write an actual review.
I LOVE this book. LOVE. I'm aAHHHHHHHHHHH! OK, now that I got the squees and heart-eyes out of my system, I can calm down and write an actual review.
I LOVE this book. LOVE. I'm a sucker for a mistaken identities, and for some reason the whole fake-dating his bestie then meeting (and falling for) his/her brother but can't DO anything about it because I'm dating his SISTER (or brother) - but it's more delicious if it's his sister because then there's the oh yeah, also not only does he think I'm dating his sister, he also thinks I'm straight. The mayhem! The confustion! O, what a tangled web we weave!
...I am aware that is a confusion tangle of nonsense, but I'm leaving it because that's the level of just cackling and glee this book leaves me with. This is the first book I've read by K.C. Wells, but you'd better believe I just added most of her backlist to my TBR.
If you love this one and want more fake dating for *reasons* and falling for her brother, go check out The Christmas Swap by Emma Lyon...more
AHHHHH. I hesitated to pick this book up because I loved the first book in the series (The Husband Game) so much that I was sure this one could never AHHHHH. I hesitated to pick this book up because I loved the first book in the series (The Husband Game) so much that I was sure this one could never live up to it.
Guys. It. Is. BETTER. HOW?!
Nico. Oh my gosh, Nico when he wakes up - I just - I can't. Wahhhh. I just want to hug him and squeeze him and I can totally see why August had a hard time resisting him - who WOULDN'T fall for this sweetheart once his walls are down?
I'm trying to think about what I can say about this book without spoiling it, and I've just got nothing. SO GOOD. It's so hot, there's some really great enemies hate banging, an amnesia twist on the fake dating trope (sort of While You Were Sleeping except falling for the coma/injured/sleeping dude instead of his brother haha). Also, what hockey romance reader has not YEARNED for a hockey player/referee romance?! There are plenty of super hot scenes, ranging from anger banging to really sweet lovemaking. There were so many moments where my heart HURT and I just wanted to hug basically everyone. Nico's team is SO AMAZING and I can't wait to read more of their stories.
This is the second book in the Relationship Goals series and can be read as a standalone. That being said, book one (The Husband Game) is SO GOOD so you're going to want to read it as well anyway. May as well read them in order! :)
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Frat Bro is a very low angst, sweet & hot romance with a guy who's been burned too many times by love before and the hot, straight (oRating: 3.5 stars
Frat Bro is a very low angst, sweet & hot romance with a guy who's been burned too many times by love before and the hot, straight (or maybe no-so-straight) bartender who's roped into a fake relationship with him for Reasons.
I loved the first two thirds-ish of this book, but then it seemed to sort of drag on longer than it needed to. I think my favorite part of the book was actually Jax's frat bro's reaction to his big reveal, haha. This is a great book if you need a comfy, sweet bit of escapism. I can't wait for the next book about Harlan and Sawyer!
This is the third book in the Fixer Brothers Construction Co. series and can be read as a standalone. I actually read book one (Flip Job) and skipped book two (Straight Dad) because the tropes are not my jam, and filled in the blanks just fine.
CW: alcoholism/recovering alcoholic
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
This book has allll the best tropes - roommates, teammates, friends-to-lovers, fake dating, straight best friend, bi-awakening… *le sigh*
Logan and DylThis book has allll the best tropes - roommates, teammates, friends-to-lovers, fake dating, straight best friend, bi-awakening… *le sigh*
Logan and Dylan show up as side characters in the previous books in the series (and come on Dylan, did you really think you were "not queer"?) and it was OBVIOUS there were some major vibes there, so I was thrilled to get to their story! The chemistry between Dylan and Logan is so great from the very first moment, when they meet and Logan offers to let Dylan stay with him while he looks for a place. A few days turns into a few weeks then months as these two become besties... and then more. I really appreciate the way these guys actually TALK to each other when there are issues (mostly - there is of course the obligatory miscommunication tension you basically have to have in a fake dating romance). Their friendship is amazing and so fun to read, and when it develops into MORE... *heart eyes emoji*
Audiobook specific comments: I listed to this on audiobook, narrated by Darcy Stark, so this bit of the review is just about the audio version. While I did mostly appreciate Darcy Stark's narration, for some reason he decided to give Dylan's voice this super annoying tone. The first time he narrated some of Dylan's dialogue, I thought "Well that sounds super annoying and super nerdy." And I guess Dylan is kind of nerdy, but geez, did he really need to make him sound as nasally as Kermit the Frog? The entire rest of the audiobook I liked - he does a great job on the actual text (non-dialogue text? - I don't know what to call it) and I appreciate how he makes each character's dialogue/voice distinct and unique - but MAN, I sure wish he'd made a different stylistic choice for his portrayal of Dylan - it really grated on my nerves through the entire book.
This is the second book in the Miami Piranhas series, and can be read as a standalone. That being said, there are spoilers for earlier books in the series, as well as connection to events that happened in another of Beth Bolden's series, The Riptide (I assume, I haven't read that series yet). There's also a fair amount of lead up in this to Miami Piranhas book three, Playing by the Rules.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Stepbrother romances aren't really my thing, but himbos definitely ARE, so I decided to give Himbro a chance!
This is a really cute romance where JessStepbrother romances aren't really my thing, but himbos definitely ARE, so I decided to give Himbro a chance!
This is a really cute romance where Jesse goes along with his younger stepbrother Devon to a vacation wedding so Devon doesn't have to go solo. There they run into Devon's total [expletive deleted] of an ex, so of course fake dating shenanigans ensue!
I REALLY like Jesse. Yeah, he's not the brightest crayon in the box, but what himbo is? He's so sweet and attentive to Devon, and is just clearly an all-around good dude. The chemistry between Devon and Jesse is really interesting to read as the deep love they have for each other shifts from brotherly to, er, not-so-brotherly. Them calling each other "big brother" and "little brother" while making out was a little squick to me, but again - stepbrother romance isn't my jam. If it IS your jam, you're going to love this one!!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Ari is sort of an annoying side character in the first two books in the Love in No Man's Land series, but I really enjoyed getting toRating: 4.5 stars
Ari is sort of an annoying side character in the first two books in the Love in No Man's Land series, but I really enjoyed getting to know him better in this book. He sort of stole my heart right out from under me! Underneath his brash and sort of bratty personality, he's really sweet to his friends, and surprisingly self-effacing. And Marcus clearly WANTS something to happen there - read the scene with the bet the entire premise hinges on and you will know.
I love the chemistry between Marcus and Ari, when they're semi-antagonizing each other with ridiculous bets and then when they're fake dating and the lines between what's fake and what's real start to blur (like they doooo). The third act drama was sort of (okay totally) expected, but it still WRECKED MEEEEEE and I was going "No, Ariiiiiiii!!!"
This is the third book in the Love in No Man's Land series, and can be read as a standalone (though there are some minor spoilers for the first two books). If you want to read everything that's come before, Becca Jackson also has a novella that's not technically linked into the series on Goodreads/Amazon that comes before this one (The Boyfriend Sham), which the leads of that book are prominent side characters in this one.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Parker is considered "The Romantic" in his friend group of four who have a podcast together - the others being Declan (The Loner), Marcus (The RealistParker is considered "The Romantic" in his friend group of four who have a podcast together - the others being Declan (The Loner), Marcus (The Realist), and Corban (The Charmer). For being the Romantic of the group, Parker sure does fight hard against going out with Elliott! I'll admit, for the first part of the book I kept reading because I needed to know just why Parker dislikes Elliott (or pretends to dislike him, anyway!)
Elliot has pursued Parker for a year, but Parker keeps shooting him down, convinced that Elliott is just trying to get into his pants. I knocked a star off my rating because for someone who is supposed to be a hardcore romantic, Parker sure shoots Elliott down a LOT and is very negative about what he perceives to be Elliott's intentions. I didn't really buy it all the time and it seemed like Parker as a person would have given Elliott more of a fair shake during several of the circumstances.
I had to add a new tropes shelf to my Goodreads for this one - woke up married! It's like fake relationship, except they're REAL married - the perfect breeding grounds for all sorts of misunderstandings and wacky hijinks! Elliott's dad is in a prominent political position, and Parker's dad is a true romantic, so they decide to fake it for their families. Oh fellas, I could have told you that's not going to go the way you think it will... ;)
Oh gosh, I fell so hard for Elliott - and his family! When he finally brings Parker home to meet his parents - UGH. I won't say anything more than SO GOOD, because I don't want to spoil it for anyone! But I just want to hug and squeeze both these guys and their families and keep them in my pocket forever.
This is the second book in The Vers Podcast series, and while it can be read as a standalone there are spoilers for book one (The Loner) and this series is really just overall better if read in order. Be prepared to want the rest of the group's stories too!!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
This is the first book I've read by Lily Morton, but BOY HOWDY, you can bet it won't be my last! I immediately got me to her backlHoly shit, my heart.
This is the first book I've read by Lily Morton, but BOY HOWDY, you can bet it won't be my last! I immediately got me to her backlist and added... er, well, ALL OF THEM to my TBR. Oops?
This book made me ugly cry. They just both love each other SO MUCH and both just keep messing it up SO BAD. I love that it opens with Joe returning to his apartment after their divorce, then we go back in time and get to experience them falling in love, then go through the heartbreak of their divorce in real time before picking back up again several months later. I don't even LIKE the second chance trope, and I yeeted myself into this book so hard I did not come up for air.
Y'all, the tropes in this book are too much (in the best of ways). It's a second chance romance, but we get to experience them falling in love in an opposites attract sort of way. Then there's an enemies to lovers vibe after the divorce, and... can you be fake dating when you're already married? LOL And there's only one bed! WHILE they're snowed in! I can't, I just CAN NOT. Ugh, just thinking about it makes me need to reread this book right now!
OK, I'm calm, I'm calm. The chemistry between Joe and Lachlan is just delicious, throughout all the rollercoaster stages of their relationship. They hilarious together, with a Lorelie and Rory from Gilmore Girls level of pinging quick, snarky banter off each other. It's delightful, and I'd really love to see this as a movie (especially with all the funny wedding shenanigans at Joe's jobs!)
This is the first book in the Confetti Hitched series and can be read as a standalone. I am very much looking forward to seeing what the next book will be about!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
I feel like you don't see many marriage of convenience tropes in contemporary romance, so this was so fun to see Saxon James play witRating: 4.5 stars
I feel like you don't see many marriage of convenience tropes in contemporary romance, so this was so fun to see Saxon James play with this trope in a contemporary setting.
HOO BOY, Christian sure is one big hot mess!! I love how supportive of him Émile, how he just rolls with all the disasters and messes Christian manages to get himself into. And in turn Christian is very real and down to earth, and brings Émile grounding - plus a whole wacky found family!
Probably even more than Christian and Émile's romance, I was really invested in Christian's found family and all those fellas living at the house. I'm really hoping to see more of them as the series continues. I also LOVE how Saxon James has crossovers with her other series. Molly from the Divorced Men's Club series makes an appearance at the end of this book, and there are rumors that Aleks' love interest in the next Puckboys book makes his debut appearance in this one. Here's hoping!!
This is the first book in the Accidental Love series and can be read as a standalone. I can't wait to see whose story is next!!...more
GUH. What a stunning installment in the Bodyguards series. There's an enemies to lovers vibe as Jack has bought into the mentality that Matt, former CGUH. What a stunning installment in the Bodyguards series. There's an enemies to lovers vibe as Jack has bought into the mentality that Matt, former CFO and now CEO of the pharmaceutical company responsible for the super-flu that's killed tens of thousands of people, is basically evil incarnate and the embodiment of corporate greed.
And then there's Matt... Oh, Matt. I wanted to just hug him and tell him everything will be okay, and that I don't blame him for his company's actions. He's so willing to take on the weight of responsibility for something he didn't actually have anything to do with, and I just ached for him. Thankfully Jack (eventually) manages to open his eyes and see Matt for who he really is. The push and pull between them just killed me, their chemistry is so great.
I feel like throughout this series, the danger and threat levels to the people being bodyguarded (is that a word?) just keeps ramping up and up! I tell you, the number of times I gasped! Despite all the danger and adrenaline, this entire series is pretty low angst.
This is the fourth book in the Bodyguards series, and while it technically could be read as a standalone, for this one I really recommend reading book three, In the Air, first, as this book has major spoilers for book three, as well as In the Air having a lot of background for the suspense plot in Fool's Gold.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
This is such a fun book! Don't you just love an enemies to lovers fake relationship? Such good tropes to combine, when they hate eachRating: 4.5 stars
This is such a fun book! Don't you just love an enemies to lovers fake relationship? Such good tropes to combine, when they hate each other but have to pretend to be in love. *sigh* A.J. Truman executes this one-two punch trope combo flawlessly, with the gradual slide from enemies into tentative friends to red-hot lovers feeling so organic and believable. And I laughed out loud at the two of them trying to explain/understand the other through their own lenses, like Everett calling half-time in the football game "intermission," lol!
Drama! is the perfect blend of witty banter, heart-breaking misunderstandings, tender romance, and super steamy scenes. This is the first book I've read by A.J. Truman, but you'd better believe I'll be back for more!
This is the second book in the South Rock High series, but can be read as a standalone. That being said, I'm going to have to go back now and read the first book in the series, Ancient History, because I need Hutch and Amos' story! And I am really hoping for Julian's story next, please!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
It absolutely *SLAYS ME* when a character thinks there's no way they're anywhere near good enough for theOhhhhh Parrish. My sweet summer child. *sigh*
It absolutely *SLAYS ME* when a character thinks there's no way they're anywhere near good enough for the other person. Make that both of them feeling that way, with no self-confidence and thinking the other person, I dunno, invented cake or something - nngh. Such feels, so good. Add in that fake relationship insecurity about whether they're faking or mean things for real and this book just overflows with tension and mutual pining.
And of course, once again, I couldn't get enough of the Licking Thicket small town antics. They're just all so hilarious and at the same time so genuine and kind.
The only thing I wish is that the epilogue was more of a follow up on Parrish and Mal's relationship. Instead it felt more like a segway into book three, Fools - which was actually still pretty okay with me, because I immediately picked that book up upon finishing this one (and read them both in their entirety in the same day... oops!)
This is the second book in the Licking Thicket series, and can be read as a standalone. That being said, I recommend reading this series in order just because it's SO GOOD, and you get to meet both Parrish and Diesel in book one, Fakers, so it's great seeing them get their own story. ...more
I picked this book up because someone in a Facebook group asked for recommendations after they loved Mr. Romance by Louisa Masters and said they hadn'I picked this book up because someone in a Facebook group asked for recommendations after they loved Mr. Romance by Louisa Masters and said they hadn't laughed that hard since the Licking Thicket (by Lucy Lennox and May Archer) and Frat Wars (by Saxon James) and asked for other funny, snarky books. Since Louisa Masters and Saxon James are two of my favorite M/M authors and I hadn't previously read anything by either Lucy Lennox or May Archer, I decided to check it out. ...And read the entire series over the span of two days. Oops. IT'S JUST SO GOOD.
I love how Lucy Lennox and May Archer take some a popular trope like fake relationship and put their own wacky spin on it. Unlike your typical fake relationship romance, both leads are faking a relationship with someone who is not the other lead! And there's a little bit of enemies to lovers in there, as Mal sees Brooks as the enemy for breaking his best friend Ava's heart ten years ago, and Brook thinks Mal is not being a good boyfriend to Ava because he's flirting with Brooks! Then there's a little bit of mistaken identities in there too, and some forced proximity as well.
The chemistry between Brooks and Mal is so good. There's an instant attraction there, but then some tension thrown, not least because Brooks thinks Mal is dating his ex-girlfriend. I felt really bad for Brooks on several occasions, when he seemed to try so hard to be what everyone expected him to be and sort of lost himself along the way.
This setting is SO fun. Licking Thicket reminds me of the TV show Schitt's Creek, only make the small town even crazier somehow. This bonkers small down drew me in and kept me coming back for more book after book, and I never wanted to leave.
This is the first book in the Licking Thicket series and can be read as a standalone. That being said, you're definitely going to want to keep coming back to the Thicket for more. I highly recommend this series if you're a fan of Louisa Masters, Saxon James, and/or Eden Finley. ...more
Guh, so good! I can't rec the audio version of this book enough.
This book is my everything. *sigh* Friends to lovers fake dating bi-awakening is quickGuh, so good! I can't rec the audio version of this book enough.
This book is my everything. *sigh* Friends to lovers fake dating bi-awakening is quickly becoming my favorite trope combo - add in Christmas time, there's only one bed, and some hardcore pining and nngh. You get the PERFECTION that is The Christmas Leap.
The chemistry between Will and Michael is so lovely and it made my heart hurt so much. Michael has been in love with his best friend Will basically forever, and in an effort to get over his crush cut Will out of his life completely. Will doesn't know why his best friend has suddenly ghosted him, and it hurts. Cue a series of unfortunate circumstances for poor Michael, and these former besties are thrown together at Christmas in a pressure cooker of tension. THERE IS ONLY ONE BED, PEOPLE. What's not to love?!
I listed to the audiobook narrated by Greg Boudreaux. I read a lot of M/M romance and I definitely have my preferred narrators. This was the first book I've listened to narrated by Greg Boudreaux, by he INSTANTLY went onto my auto buy narrators list! He does such an amazing job at making Will and Michael's voices unique (and I love Will's Scottish accent! ahh!)
This is the second book in the Festive Fakes series, but can be read as a standalone. That being said, I immediately went and bought book one, The Christmas Deal. There are some minor spoilers for book one in this book, but not much more than you'd read on the back cover blurb. There are also some side characters whose books I can't wait for! Liam and Cody's book Flash Rip is already out, and Logan and Seth's son Conner's book will come out for Christmas 2023! (I already can't wait!!)
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
I fell in love with Circus in the first book of the Never Just Friends series (Just Friends) and I was SO EXCITED for him to get his own book!! AHH!
ThI fell in love with Circus in the first book of the Never Just Friends series (Just Friends) and I was SO EXCITED for him to get his own book!! AHH!
This one has some content warnings for homophobia, assault, death of a parent, and grieving.
Okay, now that all that yucky stuff is out of the way, let's get to the good stuff! I love how Saxon James manages to have both light-hearted fun and snarky banter, as well as serious and deep-rooted issues, which both Rowan and Circus struggle with. The folks of Sunbury are just so REAL, I feel like I live there with them! This book more than most, I want to just give both broken MC's a big, squishy mom hug.
I love an enemies to lovers trope, and I was all set to hate Rowan but gosh, I just felt so awful for him. This one also has ALL the tropes - second change, fake dating, enemies to lovers (though sometimes Rowan seems to be his OWN worst enemy...) I do think Circus forgives Rowan too easily, but also Rowan is holding enough of a grudge against himself for the both of them. I like the way their chemistry builds and shifts as their relationship evolves. Speakingof relationships! This book really let Leon, in his role as a side character and Circus' BFF, shine and show more of who he is, and I'm really excited to read his book next!!
This is the second book in the Never Just Friends series. While all the books can be read as stand-alone novels, I recommend reading the series in order. Roo and Tanner, the MCs from the first book, Just Friends, are major side characters in this one, plus Circus is introduced in the first book. This book also has a bit at the end that's a soft set-up for book three, Getting Friendly....more
Aww, I really liked Tate when he showed up briefly previously in the series, wanting to be part of Tony's new Food Truck Warriors food truck collectivAww, I really liked Tate when he showed up briefly previously in the series, wanting to be part of Tony's new Food Truck Warriors food truck collective but struggling to make the minimum sales threshold to be invited.
I LOVE a long-term pining romance, and add in that we get to see the amazing chemistry between Tate and Chase in high school, and then they're both secretly hung up on the other TEN YEARS LATER? Yes. Yes please. Want to add on to the drama of ten years of mutual pining? Okay, let's throw some fake dating in there, why not! Only Tate is trying his best to keep Chase at arm's length because he's been obsessed with him for ten years and knows that getting to taste what a real relationship with him could be like and then losing it will destroy him. Meanwhile, it's never really been fake for Chase at all... It's delicious (and I'm not just talking about all the cheesey food truck goodness!)
This book, more than any of the others in the Food Truck Warriors series (so far, I'm not done yet...) really pulled at my heartstrings and at certain points just HURT to read. So much yearning, and I ached for them both just so bad! I especially love Chase, as I felt like I could really relate to some of his mental health and anxiety struggles - especially that feeling of worthlessness that makes you want to say eff it and just burn it all down around you. UGH, I just want to hug Chase SO BAD. Now I need to go read the entire Riptide series so I can see him hanging out as a side character and supporting his queer teammates/besties.
This is the second book in the Food Truck Warriors series, and can be read as a stand-alone. That being said! I'm pretty sure Chase is a side character throughout another series of Beth Bolden's, The Riptide (I haven't read any of them and was able to follow just fine - may be some spoilers in this book for books in this series though.)
Related series: Kitchen Gods, Star Shadow, The Riptide, Food Truck Warriors, Miami Piranhas ...my characters all exist in the same universe, and often cross-over... you can read out of order. Connecting books can be read in order to give a deeper, wider understanding of the universe, but are never necessary.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
I love a fake dating romance with a touch of mistaken identities thrown in. I absolutely fell head over heels for Alivia, a Black woman who was tired I love a fake dating romance with a touch of mistaken identities thrown in. I absolutely fell head over heels for Alivia, a Black woman who was tired of being misled by false claims for beauty products that claimed to be for Black women and failed so she started reviewing the products on social media and eventually started her own product line. There are some really beautiful interactions in this book between Alivia and her followers that I just adored. 5 stars for Alivia!
The plotline with Alivia/Moe/Travis was at times really great, and I love the chemistry between Alivia and Travis. Sometimes it was rather contrived, or some of the things Moe/Travis did were just... kinda of skeevy. I'd be drawn in by their chemistry and then put off by something that came off as just wrong. 3.5 stars for the fake dating goodness.
And then there's the weirdness with Alivia's male BFF Dan and his wife Donna. What the heck. It felt like it was going to go a certain way and then sort of bobbed and weaved all over the place. Their relationship was for sure toxic AF and they need couples counseling, stat. I see how it was supposed to contribute to the overall plot, but I feel like Shellee Marie just did Donna really dirty. I don't love when other women are just blatantly ill-used to make a main character look better. 2 stars for the whole Alivia/Dan/Donna storyline.
Finally, this reads as a bit more women's fic than romance, as Alivia is dealing with so many things outside of the central couple (and there's a bit of who is the male lead supposed to be? Moe? Travis? Dan? What's happening now?) I'd give this 4 stars as a women's fic novel, but it's a 3 (still a fun read!) as a romance novel.
A digital ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
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