G. Bianco, 2019
![]() If you’re looking for a regency romance to hold you over until Bridgerton S3, then look no further than Amelia Grey’s new novel Sincerely, The Duke which comes out tomorrow! Miss Edwina Fine has one shot at finding a husband before the ton learns her secret. With red hair, green eyes and being one of triplets, she knows the superstitions and rumors about women like her. So when a marriage proposal from the Duke of Stonerick arrives by mail, Edwina jumps at the chance to solve her problems. But nothing could prepare her for the attraction that sparks between them when they finally meet. It will take more than Edwina’s wit to navigate her past, reservations about marriage and the passion that ignites within her for the irresistible duke. Rick, Duke of Stonerick, enjoys his life exactly as it is: honing his expert marksmanship, playing cards and fencing with his friends. He even enjoys exchanging affectionate humor with his mother about his lack of matrimonial engagement. But when a recurring illness reminds Rick he has no heir, he picks a name from the list of prospects his mother presents and writes a simple marriage proposal. Then he forgets about it—until that very lady with an iron will and breathtaking bravery shows up at his doorstep, ready to accept. Edwina tempts him like no other and suddenly, marriage doesn’t seem much of an inconvenience after all. But will keeping his illness a secret cost him her love? While I really enjoyed this book, it wasn’t my favorite historical romance book. I think I just loved the first book in this series (YOURS TRULY, THE DUKE) so much that I had too high of hopes for this one… But regardless, I still loved Rick and Edwina and how their romance blossomed! I think there were a lot of plotlines that got mixed up and while they all pretty much get resolved, I think I would’ve preferred less plotlines and had that added depth rather than too many surface level plots. That being said, I did learn a lot about superstitions from the regency era while reading this story that I hadn’t heard of before so that was an interesting detail added in that made this novel stand out. While I liked the first book in this series better, I still recommend this book to regency romance lovers and am definitely excited to read the new book in this series whenever it comes out! *I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion.
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![]() Chelsea Curto’s latest book Behind the Camera, which comes out today (3/19), was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and let me tell you: this single dad/nanny romance does not disappoint! Maven Wood is ready for a fresh start. After an injury on the soccer field leads to her dropping out of college, she needs a change. When her godfather–the coach of the hottest team in the NFL–tells her about an open position as a sports photographer, she jumps at the chance to apply. The pay is good, but it doesn’t cover her rent after her roommate moves out. Out of ideas, she’s not sure how she’s going to afford to make ends meet… until the cute kicker comes to her rescue. Dallas Lansfield never thought he’d be a single dad, but he’s embracing the role as best as he can. With a four-year-old that has too much energy and not enough time on his hands, he needs help. Desperately. So when he hears that his coach’s goddaughter is looking for a way to make more money, he practically begs her to come be his nanny. Maven and Dallas aren’t allowed to fall for each other. Getting involved with a player on the team is off-limits and a quick way to get fired. But what starts as a professional relationship turns into something deeper. In front of people, they’re colleagues. Behind the cameras, though, their attraction only grows. Late night talks turn into sharing a bed, and soon, Dallas would rather give up his career than give up the feelings he has for Maven. He can’t have her. So why does he want her so damn bad? Chelsea Curto has quickly become one of my new favorite authors and Behind the Camera has just solidified that for me! This book has everything I could want in a romance: a sexy MMC who’s an athlete and a single dad, a sassy and confident FMC, “he-needs-a-nanny-stat!” trope, an adorable child of a MC, forbidden romance, cameos from beloved characters in previous books, new minor characters that add comedic relief, and soooo much steaminess!!! Honestly, I loved Dallas and Maeve as characters and how their relationship progressed. While I found this book to be on the longer side, I still enjoyed every cute moment with June, every sexually tense moment trying to deny their feelings, and every steamy moment after that! While you can definitely read this book as a standalone, I do recommend reading the first two books in this series for fun because they’re soooo good!! If you’re looking for a forbidden sports romance to add to your TBR, then this is the book for you! *I received an ARC from Love Notes PR in exchange for my honest opinion. ![]() One of my favorite YA authors, Ashley Schumacher, has her newest novel coming out tomorrow (March 19th) and it is the new novel to add to your TBR. In the Orbit of You dives deep into the connections we make with the most unlikely of people and why certain people enter our lives at certain times. It's been years since Nova Evans last saw Sam. She was too young then to understand why he had to move away—and what it had to do with the cuts and bruises he got from home and never wanted to talk about. All she knew is that they promised to find each other when they were older, something she thought was impossible thanks to her and her mom moving around constantly. Until she bumps into Sam in her new school, and realizes he has clearly forgotten their childhood promise. Sam Jordan has a plan for his life: accept his college football scholarship, date his girlfriend Abigail, and—most importantly—hide how much he wants to do something, anything other than The Plan™ his parents and coaches have set before him. It doesn't matter if sometimes he finds himself thinking about the new girl he met in the cafeteria, a girl who reminds him of a past that hurts to remember. When a school-wide personality test reveals Nova and Sam to be each others' top matches—not only that, but a match of 99%, the highest in the school—they begin to remember why they were such close friends, all those years ago. As well as the myriad of reasons this new-yet-familiar, magnetic, sparkling thing between them will never, ever work out. Ashley Schumacher never fails to make me feel so many emotions and sob uncontrollably while reading one of her books. As I did with two of her other books, I absolutely fell in love with the lyrical storytelling style and the unique way in which this story was told. Having the book set in such a short time frame while also references moments both before and after the present brought so much depth to the novel. I also loved the cast of characters in this book! The side characters brought a bit of levity and classy YA-ness to this high school story, but Nova and Sam were such amazing characters! The both had the usual characteristics of YA book characters that make them relatable to the reader (not knowing what to do with their future, figuring out what their purpose is, trying to be honest with, while not disappointing, their parents), but the way they almost felt otherworldly is what really made them such memorable characters. These two people that were so ingrained in each other as children that years later are still bound to one another after a chance encounter made me so hopeful that everything happens for a reason and despite there being both good and bad in our lives, things always work out the way they’re supposed to whether we know it or not. Without giving away any spoilers, I honestly think the way Schumacher crafted this story, and more specifically its ending, was masterfully done! I teared up at the smallest little moments in the book and then proceeded to sob my way through the last few characters because I just felt so deeply for these characters and I didn’t want this story to end. This might be a weird comparison, but I feel like Ashley Schumacher has become the YA author that John Green was to many of us in the 2010s. Authors that will leave you both laughing and crying by the end of their book. Authors that will present to you the harsh realities of life, even in the smallest moments of their books. Authors who will continue to draw you in despite knowing you will finish their book in tears, because you know you will be changed for the better after reading it. Anyways, I cannot recommend this book enough and I encourage you to experience Nova and Sam’s story firsthand. You won’t regret it. *I received an ARC from Wednesday Books in exchange for my honest opinion. ![]() In her sophomore novel, Natasha Siegel brings readers to 1660s London in The Phoenix Bride. This masterful must-read historical fiction book comes out on March 12th and you should definitely keep your eyes peeled for it! It is 1666, one year after plague has devastated England. Young widow Cecilia Thorowgood is a prisoner, trapped and isolated within her older sister’s cavernous London townhouse. At the mercy of a legion of doctors trying to cure her grief with their impatient scalpels, Cecilia shows no sign of improvement. Soon, her sister makes a decision born of desperation: She hires a new physician, someone known for more unusual methods. But he is a foreigner. A Jew. And despite his attempts to save Cecilia, he knows he cannot quell the storm of sorrow that rages inside her. There is no easy cure for melancholy. David Mendes fled Portugal to seek a new life in London, where he could practice his faith openly and leave the past behind. Still reeling from the loss of his beloved friend and struggling with his religion and his past, David is free and safe in this foreign land but incapable of happiness. The security he has found in London threatens to disappear when he meets Cecilia, and he finds himself torn between his duty to medicine and the beating of his own heart. He is the only one who can see her pain; the glimmers of light she emits, even in her gloom, are enough to make him believe once more in love. Facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, David and Cecilia must endure prejudice, heartbreak, and calamity before they can be together. The Great Fire is coming—and with the city in flames around them, love has never felt so impossible. This book was such a unique read and I immediately need more books like it! I loved the way grief was tackled in this book and how both Cecilia and David experienced it in their own ways, yet also showed each other that life is worth living to its fullest, despite the fact that loss could occur again. I was so fascinated by the historical aspects written into this book which included the treatment of Jews in 1660s England, the status of women and overall hierarchy of society, and medicinal treatments of the time. I thought the juxtaposition of Jewish culture and the predominant Christian-based English culture was so interesting to read about and I felt like I learned a lot of this time in history that isn’t often spoken about. I loved this forbidden romance and how Cecilia and David’s love story played out. Without giving away any spoilers, I thought their ending was fitting for what the time period was and I thought Siegel did a brilliant job of showcasing what their love story would’ve been like in real life. And despite my desperation for a smooth and happy ending in every book I read, I actually loved the obstacles that the characters had to go through in order to become their best selves. Aside from David and Cecilia having such amazing character arcs, I adored the side characters (especially Jan and Sam!) and even appreciated the more antagonistic characters in the story. Whether you’re looking for a historical fiction book centered around a forbidden romance that dives deep into different cultures during 1660s England or just looking for a unique new read, I highly recommend this book! *I received a complimentary copy of the book from Random House ![]() Even though It Must Be True Then by Luci Adams comes out tomorrow (March 11th), I’m gonna tell you guys about it today because why not! Daisy has realized you really can hit rock bottom when you lose your job, your boyfriend, and are estranged from your sister all at once. Seeking to claw her way out from the very definition of a bad year, her plan is to start by simply looking like she’s clawing her way out of rock bottom. On Instagram. Obviously. But when she takes a stopgap job as a nanny to help a single father with his two young girls, being immersed in a close-knit, loving family starts to poke holes in her plan. Can making her not-so-picture-perfect life look perfect online really help her derailed career get back on track? Can it mend her relationship with her unreliable and painfully irritating sister? And can it get her back in the arms of her unbelievably beautiful and shallow ex…and as she gets closer to someone new, does she even want to? I’ll be honest: this book had me just as confused as our main character is! It took me a little while to get into and yet was also strangely binge-able for me? I found some of the plot to be dragged out too much, yet also I could stop turning the pages to see what was going to happen? If you’re now confused also, then yeah same and I’m sorry… There are some parts in this novel that are cute, but others that infuriated me and while Daisy is supposed to be endearing and relatable, I found her so insecure and not relatable to me that I just want to smack her silly! The book is basically just a bunch of present day situations that make Daisy out to be a hot mess (which she is) and flashbacks that make her look like a desperate idiot. But, as usually, I’m a sucker for cute kids and the single dad trope so that part I think is what had me in a chokehold and kept me reading. Eventually, this book did get better in the end and I’ll admit to tearing up at certain points, but I think Daisy just took too long to reach her character arc for me. While this book wasn’t my favorite, I still found it enjoyable and maybe you’ll like it too! *I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion. ![]() Melanie Harlow returns to Cherry Tree Harbor with the fourth book in the series, Small Town Swoon! This KU series is slowly turning into one of my go-to comfort series and will continue sharing the Buckley Brothers journeys to find love on March 4th. Only in the movies does the Hollywood heartthrob fall for the small town diner waitress. So when Dashiel Buckley returns to Cherry Tree Harbor for a wedding, Ariana DeLuca is determined not to let her massive crush on her best friend’s older brother hijack her good sense. But when Ari’s hand is injured, it’s Dash who steps in at the diner. The moment he realizes she can’t afford to fix her car, he takes care of it. And when he hears about the way her toxic ex treated her, he refuses to let it go. Now it’s not just his blue eyes and sexy smile that have Ari swooning, it’s the way Dash wants to help her. Encourage her. Protect her. She can’t resist. Eventually night after night, Dash warms Ari’s bed, but it can’t last. Their dreams have them on two different paths–Dash wants the lights, camera, action of Hollywood, and Ari will always be a small town girl. Just like its predecessors, Small Town Swoon has all of the charm of a small town romance centered around a tight-knit family that makes you wish you were part of that family too. Throw in a little pining from childhood, a FWB situation, and a he’s-a-Hollywood-actor-and-I’m-just-a-chef plot line and this book is a recipe for success! Seeing these characters open themselves up to love and be willing to take risks in their own respective careers was really fun to read about and made Ari and Dash that much more relatable. I also really loved the cameos of couples from the previous books in the series and cannot wait to see what’s next for the Buckley clan! This one’s for my small town, second chance, best friend’s brother, celebrity romance lovers! *I received an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. ![]() Falon Ballard returns to the romance scene with her newest novel Right on Cue. Set to be released on February 27th, this celebrity romance you need to pick up! Emmy Harper is no stranger to Hollywood, having penned some of the most popular movies of the past few years. But her latest project has hit a standstill—unable to find the perfect leading lady, Emmy’s been recruited to take on the role herself, dusting off acting skills she hasn’t used in over a decade. Things take a turn for the worse when she's left with the one costar she can’t trust: Grayson West. A blockbuster action hero known for his megawatt smile and impossible abs, Grayson is anyone’s dream of a romantic lead. Too bad Emmy still blames him for her disastrous first movie and the early end to her acting career. The friction between the two risks tanking the movie, and no one knows if it’s lingering awkwardness from their youth or unresolved sexual tension. But if they want to save the production—and their own careers—they need to get their acts together quickly, both on and off camera. I honestly had such a fun time reading this book! This was my first Falon Ballard book and I’m honestly really excited to explore her backlist after reading this one! Watching these two characters go from enemies to costars to FWB to lovers was just so endearing! Plus, having a real love story occur while filming a fake love story in a small town was the kind of romcom inception I didn’t know I needed! While I did find the ending a bit predictable, I still appreciated these characters learning to overcome their insecurities and finally just allow themselves to fall in love. Fans of celebrity romances, enemies to lovers trope, or seeing behind the scenes of Hollywood are going to love this book! *I received an ARC from Putnam Books in exchange for my honest opinion. ![]() I coincidentally started reading Till There Was You by Lindsay Hameroff on a day when I ate blueberry pancakes. Considering there are blueberry pancakes on the cover and there’s a whole plot line about it, I think it was a good sign that this book was going to be a good one! Culinary student Lexi Berman, 24, has one goal: to make her late mother proud by becoming an executive chef in a Michelin-star restaurant. And she isn’t going to let anything–or anyone–get in the way. But when she meets Jake Taylor, a dive bar musician who charms her with show tunes, she makes a rare exception to her no-dating rule. After a steamy weekend together, Jake leaves for L.A. to record his demo, and Lexi never expects to see him again. And she definitely doesn’t expect him to become an overnight celebrity, with a breakout single that’s almost certainly about her famous blueberry pancake recipe. As Jake’s star rises and the world speculates about the subject of his song, Lexi keeps the affair to herself. After all, she’s finally found her footing at her new restaurant job, and even has a prospective romance with her coworker. But when a distraught Jake turns up on her doorstep late one night, her carefully-laid plans are thrown for a loop. Though she and Jake try to be friends, things between them soon reheat faster than a bowl of Lexi's matzah ball soup. But a relationship with Jake means risking her face in tabloids, withstanding cruel internet comments, and worst of all, jeopardizing her career. As Jake’s upcoming tour approaches, and rumors swirl about him and another pop star, Lexi has to decide if holding onto her meticulously-planned future is worth walking away from what could be the perfect recipe for love. I binge read this book in one day and I do not regret it! Not only were the food descriptions in this book making me hungry, but I loved the references to actual NYC landmarks and spots. I also loved the Broadway/musical references sprinkled throughout the plot. This book was super descriptive overall while not taking away from the actual romance. Both Lexi and Jake have to learn how to adapt and change their dreams to fit their dream careers and it was so nice to see both of them grow throughout the novel. Seeing an inside look at what it’s like being in culinary school and working in a kitchen juxtaposed with what it’s like to be famous and in the public eye at all times really showcased how similar and different these high-pressure careers are and how the characters cope with it. Additionally, we see these characters grapple with grief, finding a home, and learning to trust each other after a span of time away from each other. Seeing these real life emotions play out made these characters that much more relatable and the love story that much sweeter! If you like rockstar romances, insta-love/second chance romances, or books that highlight iconic geography, definitely check this debut novel!! *I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion. ![]() In case you can’t quite tell from the title, When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein is new UK-set grumpy x sunshine romance! However, what I thought was going to be an opposites attract romance slowly turned into something different. When grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding gets badgered into selling his memoirs, he knows he’s never going to be able to write them. He hates revealing a single thing about himself, is allergic to most emotions, and can’t imagine doing a good job of putting pen to paper. And so in walks curvy, cheery, cute as heck ghostwriter Mabel Willicker, who knows just how to sunshine and sass her way into getting every little detail out of Alfie. They banter and bicker their way to writing his life story, both of them sure they’ll never be anything other than at odds. But after their business arrangement is mistaken for a budding romance, the pair have to pretend to be an item for a public who’s ravenous for more of this Cinderella story. Or at least, it feels like it’s pretend―until each slow burn step in their fake relationship sparks a heat neither can control. Now they just have to decide: is this sizzling chemistry just for show? Or something so real it might just give them their fairytale ending? I feel deceived by the summary of this book. Not in that it’s inaccurate, but that I was so excited for this book and had such high hopes for a cute romcom and instead I started reading a book I was thoroughly confused by… Ok so these two people who are supposed to be a ex-professional soccer player and a prolific ghost writer are having a conversation that’s giving off the same energy as two socially awkward chimpanzees interacting for the first time...? And somehow cleaning someone’s eyes of the pepper spray that you sprayed them with is erotic??? Color me confused! Additionally, the flow of this novel felt very disjointed. For example, some chapters were just 3-4 pages of Mabel’s thoughts during a 30 seconds moment and then the next sentence was like “and then we ate dinner for 3 hours and went home.” Why there were inconsequential moments being stretched out and major plot points being glossed over is beyond me and it made the flow of this novel very bizarre. Aside from all of that, there were a few steamy scenes that I enjoyed and the last chapter/ending was kind of satisfying? But it just took so long to get to any good parts (no joke: I got to a fake dating trope at the 50% mark of this ebook) that I almost gave up on this book a few times. I’m not sure I’d necessarily recommend this book to anyone, but you’re welcome to read this book if it strikes your fancy! *I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion. ![]() Lasairiona McMaster, aka the queen of hockey romances, returns with her latest installment in the Cedar Rapids Raccoons Series, Lighting the Lamp! This sports romance, which is set to come out on February 1st, is the quick steamy read you need to add to your TBR! Tori is offended that Raffi act like they’ve never met! She thought they connected, but after a steamy one night stand, the hockey hot shot ghosted her, leaving her with nothing but wounded pride and two pink lines on a stick. And not the hockey kind. Well, she’s determined to stay away from him and never giving him a second chance to fool her again. Raffi knows Tori’s not a forgettable woman, but is confused as to why she insists she knows him? But then one look at her son and it hits him like a slap shot to the chest. The resemblance is undeniable. But how can he convince the mother of his child to let him be part of their lives, when he doesn’t even remember her? While I don’t normally like accidental pregnancy books, I really enjoyed this one! Maybe it’s because it wasn’t as “oopsy” as the trope tends to be for me or because it was wrapped into a series I already really like, I found myself loving Raffi and Tori’s story! It was also a mix of second-chance and fated mates in my opinion which was just so heartwarming to read. I’m also a sucker for the found family trope and this book not only has that in the biological sense, but in the metaphorical sense as well. As I’ve enjoyed in past books in this series, I love when the hockey guys rally around each other in support no matter what’s going on and so I loved seeing that trend continue in this book. If you like hockey romance, found family, and second-chance romance, then this is the book for you! *I received an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. |
AuthorHi! My name is Elisa and my bookshelf is quite literally overflowing! Join me in my journey of reading as many books as humanly possible! Archives
February 2023
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