TL;DR: If you want to pretend that you’re getting fuzzy warm equality feels, but actually like stereotyping gay men, this is an A+ gold star book. The story is competent. There are cute moments. It’s hot. I get why this is a RITA finalist and why there are a bunch of squeeing reviews on Amazon. If you’re at all remotely anywhere on the queer spectrum, or, you know, if you’re an actual ally? You might … Continue reading Him by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen →
While Wes is now sort of “don’t ask, don’t tell” out to his hockey teammates and coaches at college, he was only really coming to terms with his sexuality when he was eighteen and crushing hard on his best friend at hockey camp. Absolutely desperate for an excuse to touch him, he made a drunken bet and subsequently freaked out after he and his best friend fooled around one very memorable time. Feeling horribly guilty, … Continue reading Him by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen →
While at RT this year, I had a great time talking with other readers and of course, the most prevailing question was, “What do you like to read?” Here at SBTB HQ, we all tend to have our little niches. There’s some overlap, but there is usually a genre or two that each of us really, really loves. For me, I’m a huge fan of contemporary romances with athletes. Whenever I would answer that inevitable … Continue reading The Deal by Elle Kennedy →
This is a hard review to write. I read this book several weeks ago. It had the misfortune of coming to the top of my TBR list at a time when I was crazy busy at work and could only read in fits and starts. I would get through only a few paragraphs at a time before keeling over in exhaustion. So I felt like I never got any momentum going and the book didn’t … Continue reading Midnight Action by Elle Kennedy →
RECOMMENDED LIKE HOLY SMOKING WHOA: Love Irresistibly by Julie James is $1.99 right now. Just… if you like contemporary romance with very smart, very competent heroines who are professionally capable and emotionally and intellectually savvy, you will like this book. It has a 4+ star average on GoodReads, it was a DABWAHA nominee, and it was a two-time RT award winner.
One of my favorite things about this book is that part of the conflict rests on the characters’ jobs, but also on how incredibly busy they are, and how difficult it is to fit a personal life into a busy work life. It sounds so dull when I type it out like that, but even so, I really, really liked this book.
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The things that Elle Kennedy does well – internal conflict, understandable emotion, logical attraction, interesting characters – are terrific in this book. Unfortunately for me, and I place the blame for this on myself and not anyone else, I still struggle to suspend disbelief when reading erotic romance, for a few reasons I'll explain in a moment. I'm going to go into some detail about the aspects of this book and some aspects about erotic … Continue reading Review: As Hot as It Gets by Elle Kennedy →
When former bad girl Genevieve West returns home for her mother’s funeral, she’s prepared to keep her distance from her ex-boyfriend, Evan Hartley. Their history is rife with turbulence. And passion. A heck of a lot of passion… which she’s trying desperately to forget. But it’s impossible not to run into Evan in the small coastal town where they once ran wild. And the moment she sees her gorgeous ex again, it’s clear to Gen … Continue reading Bad Girl Reputation →
Neon Gods by Katee Robert is $2.24! This is the first book in the Dark Olympus series. This is close to the top of my TBR pile and I’ve heard so many good things. A friend read it and wished it were spicier. Are you a fan?
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Bestselling authors Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy return with their first Male / Male romance in 3 years. LobsterShorts, 21. Jock. Secretly a science geek. Hot AF. LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants…a threesome. SinnerThree: Then you’ve come to the right hookup app. LobsterShorts: Have you done this sort of thing before? With another guy? SinnerThree: All the time. I’m an equal opportunity player. You? LobsterShorts: [crickets!] SinnerThree, 21. Finance major. … Continue reading Top Secret →
One, I hope you’ll enjoy the title I came up for this request. Two, this one came from our own Catherine and Sneezy: Catherine: So Sneezy and I were watching Eurovision 1956 and one thing led to another and now we are wondering about a rec league for smutty closet/wardrobe action… Amanda: I’m sure we’re all curious about what led to this! Sarah: I’m sorry what action? Sneezy: Smut actions! In closets! Sarah: So books … Continue reading The Rec League: Take Me to Narnia →
It’s that time again! Whatcha Reading sometimes sneaks up on me. Hope you all have been getting some ready done. It’s okay if not! I’ll be traveling next week and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I can make a dent in my immediate TBR. Here’s what the SBTB staff as been reading lately: Catherine: I just finished The Dare by Elle Kennedy, who is becoming a bit of a guilty pleasure author for me. … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? June 2020 Edition, Part Two →
