(Trigger warning for rape that’s supposed to be romantic) Let’s rap a bit about rape! When is rape ever okay as a romantic fantasy? The way you answer this question will largely determine how you feel about Say My Name. You might guess by my grade how I feel about it. Old Skool romances in the 1970s and 80s were rife with sexual assault for a variety of reasons, as nicely summed up by Candy … Continue reading Say My Name by J. Kenner
I just…I still…What the hell was this book? The trigger warnings alone…I had to take notes as I went so I wouldn’t miss any. Check out this list: child abuse (emotional and physical) drug addiction mental illness emotionally toxic parent child death mentions of child sexual abuse memories of marital rape attempted suicide/suicidal tendencies fat shaming slut shaming The thing is…only half of these were relevant to either the plot or the development of the … Continue reading The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak
This book, like the one I reviewed previously, is part of another series, but boy howdy am I happy to say that it’s the first one. Some iffy points stand out, but overall I enjoyed this book so, so much. Scott blends coming-of-age, political intrigue, high fantasy, and romantic themes into a coherent and compelling story—I finished this book in two days, mostly because pesky things like work got in the way of tearing through … Continue reading The Shattered Court by M. J. Scott
If I had not signed up to review this book, I would never have thought about it critically (or at all). Unfortunately, I did, and there are…problems. Let’s get this straight: I love this story. Love. I just want to acknowledge that it is liable to enrage some folks, so let’s wade right into trouble. But first, so as not to have spoilers ahead of the jump, and also because I cannot refrain from referencing … Continue reading Tremaine’s True Love by Grace Burrowes
When I saw Grace Burrowes’ Tremaine’s True Love on the 2016 RITA review list, I grabbed it like a can of insect repellant in high bug season in the Northeast back-country. While I love a well written historical, until this review, I had never read anything by Burrowes. However, I had accidentally purchased a couple of her books a year ago when I was getting ready to write a 2015 RITA review of one of … Continue reading Tremaine’s True Love by Grace Burrowes
Teen vampire Della Tsang doesn’t have time for love. She’s too busy clearing her father’s name. But the charge against him – that he stabbed his own sister to death years ago – connects Della’s human family to her secret vampire community, especially her handsome bondmate Chase. So Della is forced to probe her own heart as she works to prove her father’s innocence. Many things keep Della and Chase apart: Della’s continuing friendship with … Continue reading Unspoken by C. C. Hunter
This is a second chance romance with a very dark backstory and a pretty yummy beta hero. Trigger warning for spousal abuse and rape. Sally Ryland is a widow who owns and runs Ryland Riding outside of Caribou Crossing, British Columbia. She was married for several years about seven years ago. She and her late husband bought and built the place, and Sally has maintained the business in the years since his death through incredibly hard work, a gift … Continue reading Love Somebody Like You by Susan Fox
This was my first time reading Kimberly Kincaid, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the book. Fire Me Up is a quick moving story about two passionate young people determined to follow through on their self-appointed paths of duty. The book held my attention and kept me wanting more – not to that crazy point where you try to hold the book with one hand while you squeeze the toothpaste onto … Continue reading Fire Me Up by Kimberly Kincaid
Fair warning: if faux-dialect is not your thing, you will have a tough time with Must Love Chainmail. Even the ‘modern’ character’s POV gave me some trouble, but I am a grumpy old lady before my time. I also did not particularly like the modern heroine, who seemed at once a bit hyper-modern but at the same time too quick to blend seamlessly into medieval Wales. Must Love Chainmail is the second in the ‘Must … Continue reading Must Love Chainmail by Angela Quarles
This book is part of a series. Roxanne St. Claire has written a lot of “Barefoot” titles: Barefoot Brides, Barefoot Billionaires, and now Barefoot Bay Undercover. Is it just me or is it getting crowded in Barefoot Bay? They are all loosely connected and each can be read as a stand-alone, including Barefoot with a Bodyguard. Although it really does help if one reads the prequel to Barefoot with a Bodyguard so one knows why … Continue reading Barefoot with a Bodyguard by Roxanne St. Claire
A man and his young daughter go on the run when Argentinian arms dealers massacre his family. After more than a decade of running, the man finally settles down in Small Town, USA, where his now-teenaged daughter can put down roots, and he can pine for the recently-divorced mother of two with an abusive ex-husband who is begging for a manly beat-down. When the man survives a convenience store robbery and discovers the event might … Continue reading She Can Kill by Melinda Leigh
