In an era when insta-love tends to be the norm rather than the exception, I really appreciate romances that deliver a slow burn. Kulti—which I adored— has that in spades, and now with The Wall of Winnipeg and Me I think it’s safe to say that Mariana Zapata is the queen of slow burn.
I love reading a great book by a new-to-me author. It’s an extra special treat when the book is the author’s first. This Is Love is an enthralling love story that is so skillfully executed it’s difficult to believe it is Caroline Nolan’s debut novel.
Moonshot is a forbidden romance, sports romance, and a murder mystery rolled into one intriguing package.
I started reading So Much More yesterday evening and before I knew it the sun was rising. I simply had to finish it so I got zero sleep. And you know what? It’s worth the yawns, puffy eyes, and dark circles I’m suffering today because once again Kim Holden has slain me with a fascinating story that has all the feels and then some.
This book! I’m still floored. Truth: I’ve wanted to read Kulti for quite some time, but I was put off by the long length. I finally caved when I discovered I could borrow the audio book from the library—16 hours worth of narration. I’m not gonna lie. Kulti has a detailed storyline that unfolds at an extremely leisurely pace. However, it’s totally absorbing. My only regret is waiting so long to read this!
I’m a big admirer of Mia Sheridan’s work. Her stories tend to be unique, absorbing, and thought provoking. The beginning of Ramsay is strong, and I was quickly sucked into the story by all the backstabbing and scheming. I loved the pull between Lydia De Havilland and Brogan Ramsay, and the prospect of a relationship do-over appealed to me. I also enjoyed their role reversal and Lydia eating humble pie. Unfortunately, my interest began to wane as the focus moves from revenge to making restitution to the pair grappling with trust issues.
Sarina Bowen kicks off her True North series with a delightful second chance romance that’s full of heart.
When You’re Ready is a sweet second chance romance. Clare is a widowed mother of a preschooler, Maddie. She’s doing a fantastic job raising her daughter alone, but is neglecting her needs as a woman. Logan is a successful ER doctor, but he’s rather self-loathing and is essentially sleepwalking through life instead of opening himself up to any meaningful relationships. Life changes for both of them when Clare brings Maddie into the ER one night.
Renée Carlino is one heck of a writer. The characters she brings to life have great depth, and her stories are well plotted and very engaging, with awesome angst mixed in. Sweet Thing is no exception.
Reading One True Loves felt a lot like falling in love. For me, it started out as a hesitant attraction to the story and quickly evolved into a passionate affair. I was fully invested and wanted the wonderful feeling to last. As things evolved, however, and complications arose, I braced myself for heartache. I was no longer certain what a fairy tale ending looked like. I just knew the love story would end, and someone would wind up getting hurt.
Showmance is only the second book I’ve read that L.H. Cosway has written independently, but I have to say she has a knack for writing damaged heroes. I was captivated by Damon Atwood, the leery and painfully socially awkward former child star making his stage debut in Moulin Rouge on London’s West End. Rose is a choreographer’s assistant who has been burned in the past by falling for shallow actors. Despite her best attempts to guard her heart, she is understandably drawn to Damon and decides to take him under her wing.
There are some 500-page books that I can fly through reading and they don’t seem very long at all. Sempre isn’t one of them. It felt very much like it is 528 pages long. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the story, because I did. The mafia, human trafficking, sacrifice, vengeance, and forbidden young love are themes that kept me interested. However, the plot unfolds extremely slowly and is bogged down with more repetitive details than necessary. At times it seems like the reader is experiencing life in the DeMarco household not just day to day, but hour by hour. The story could be told in much less time and still be impactful.