My first love has always been musical theatre, and I’ve now read two books in a row centering around the lives and loves of Broadway performers. It could be that I’m in a sentimental mood, but reading Roomies released mega endorphins and, quite simply, it made my heart happy.
Broadway, Hollywood, and a second a chance at romance. I’m a proud member of the Theatre Geek Society, so normally I’d be all over this story, but (you knew there was a but coming) there was one problem. Wicket Heart is the third book in the Starcrossed series. I already read the first book, Bad Romeo. You know how in some book reviews the reviewer says they didn’t love it, didn’t hate it? Well, suffice it to say that I pretty much hated Bad Romeo. I finished it, but then decided to wash my hands of the follow-up. When I heard there was a third book, I really didn’t give it a second thought. Some friends convinced me to give it a try, though, and you know what? It’s awesome.
Go ahead and place another tick mark in Sarina Bowen’s “winner” column. If you’ve ever been curious about reading M/M romance, The Understatement of the Year makes an excellent introduction to the genre. It’s a college sports romance that focuses predominately on relationships and emotional intimacy rather than overly explicit sexual activity. It’s more like M/M light, if you will.
Thirty Day Boyfriend is classic Whitney G. She can spin a story that’s equal parts funny, sexy, and sweet.
I am a big fan of CD Reiss’s writing, and although I may not have loved Prince Roman as much as some of her other work, I still found this novella to be quite enjoyable—a solid 3.5 stars for me.
Emma Scott, What have you done to me? The feels! Oh my gosh, the feels upon feels in this book! I’ve lost the ability to even. Forever Right Now is raw emotion wrapped tightly in a cocoon of pure tenderness.
Put a fork in me. I’m done. American King officially slayed me! It is the heart-pounding, breathtaking conclusion to the New Camelot Trilogy. It delivered the fatal blow after pummeling my emotions, but American King just might be my favorite book of the three. As a side note, the trilogy is extremely intricate, with multiple players and cliffhangers galore. For maximum enjoyment, I suggest readers clear their schedules and devote a good chunk of time to reading the three books back to back.
I’m pretty sure Hooking Up was written for me. It certainly seems that way. If I made a checklist of everything I love in a romantic comedy, this book would have every single box checked, plus a couple of write-ins. It’s a DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) book that hooked me from the prologue to the epilogue. I devoured it in one day.
Sarina Bowen’s True North series is consistently refreshing. All the books take place in the same sleepy Vermont farming town. While they involve interconnecting characters, each book is a standalone with a distinctly different feel. Bountiful is like a warm fuzzy blanket. It’s a cozy romance featuring a bartender/barista/baker, a baby, and a babe.
Perfectly Imperfect has a good message about loving oneself despite a fat shaming society that places too much emphasis on unrealistic body image. Unfortunately, the weak execution of the plot eclipses the intriguing premise.
Just when I thought my tender heart couldn’t handle another love triangle, I took a chance on Drive. Truthfully, if it had been written by anyone other than one of my favorite storytellers, Kate Stewart, I probably would have passed. Drive dragged me through a range of emotions—sometimes kicking and screaming—but man, what a great journey.
I’m in awe of Lauren Blakely’s ability to rapidly write hit after hit. The sheer volume of her work is jaw dropping, but it’s the consistent quality of her rom-coms that is truly impressive. Hard Wood marks the end of her Big Rock compilation, and what a way to go out. This book had me smiling so hard my face hurt.