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menshevixen's review
5.0
So maybe I'm a little biased! But I do genuinely love this collection--it's got something for every lady-loving romance reader, from mutual MMORPG pining and sassy single moms to Peloton jokes and the cutest dog ever riding shotgun. Each story arrives with content warnings and heat levels, so readers can feel comfortable motoring on through or proceeding with caution!
More thoughts and some fun graphics on Twitter.
Merged review:
So maybe I'm a little biased! But I do genuinely love this collection--it's got something for every lady-loving romance reader, from mutual MMORPG pining and sassy single moms to Peloton jokes and the cutest dog ever riding shotgun. Each story arrives with content warnings and heat levels, so readers can feel comfortable motoring on through or proceeding with caution!
More thoughts and some fun graphics on Twitter.
More thoughts and some fun graphics on Twitter.
Merged review:
So maybe I'm a little biased! But I do genuinely love this collection--it's got something for every lady-loving romance reader, from mutual MMORPG pining and sassy single moms to Peloton jokes and the cutest dog ever riding shotgun. Each story arrives with content warnings and heat levels, so readers can feel comfortable motoring on through or proceeding with caution!
More thoughts and some fun graphics on Twitter.
candidceillie's review
5.0
I love this anthology!
If I wasn't a part of this, it would still be a five star read. You should absolutely pick it up.
If I wasn't a part of this, it would still be a five star read. You should absolutely pick it up.
theinfinitebookcase's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Out for Delivery by Leigh Landry - 2 stars
I didn't love this one - it was too unrealistic for me (come on, you would have to call the police ASAP plus the paper trail they left, with timestamps indicating that they knew about the body for hours before they told the cops? It was a little too outrageous for me) and I didn't really like the characters.
Your Mess is Mine by Dee Holloway - 5 stars
I loved this - it was everything I wanted out of this anthology. The characters and dialogue were realistic, the plot was fun and well-paced, and there was pretty good character development for a short story. Plus, the ending was adorable!
The (Virtual) Bodyguard by Chace Verity - 1 star
I really, really wanted to like this because of the premise (two online friends and a MMORPG), but I just didn't. I felt like the plot was out of touch and I felt like Dallas was pretty unfair to Tala. For example, most online games will show you when your friends are online; if you had plans to do a raid with a friend, wouldn't you check and make sure they were online and available before diving in? I understand being frustrated that an online friend isn't online at the time you agreed, but something could have come up in real life that prevented Tala from logging on even if she wasn't able, and I think Dallas was a bit dramatic/unfair.
The Best Places by Candace Harper - 3.5 stars
At first, I really, really liked this. The plot was the most interesting of the 4, the characters just felt alive, and I thought the mother-daughter relationship was super accurate. (It felt really good to read about a relationship like this.) It was giving me real "Gilmore Girls" vibes. But the ending was a disappointment; while I liked the enemies-to-lovers vibes, but I felt like the romantic relationship was much less fleshed out and strong as the mother-daughter relationship.
I didn't love this one - it was too unrealistic for me (come on, you would have to call the police ASAP plus the paper trail they left, with timestamps indicating that they knew about the body for hours before they told the cops? It was a little too outrageous for me) and I didn't really like the characters.
Your Mess is Mine by Dee Holloway - 5 stars
I loved this - it was everything I wanted out of this anthology. The characters and dialogue were realistic, the plot was fun and well-paced, and there was pretty good character development for a short story. Plus, the ending was adorable!
The (Virtual) Bodyguard by Chace Verity - 1 star
I really, really wanted to like this because of the premise (two online friends and a MMORPG), but I just didn't. I felt like the plot was out of touch and I felt like Dallas was pretty unfair to Tala. For example, most online games will show you when your friends are online; if you had plans to do a raid with a friend, wouldn't you check and make sure they were online and available before diving in? I understand being frustrated that an online friend isn't online at the time you agreed, but something could have come up in real life that prevented Tala from logging on even if she wasn't able, and I think Dallas was a bit dramatic/unfair.
The Best Places by Candace Harper - 3.5 stars
At first, I really, really liked this. The plot was the most interesting of the 4, the characters just felt alive, and I thought the mother-daughter relationship was super accurate. (It felt really good to read about a relationship like this.) It was giving me real "Gilmore Girls" vibes. But the ending was a disappointment; while I liked the enemies-to-lovers vibes, but I felt like the romantic relationship was much less fleshed out and strong as the mother-daughter relationship.
qace90's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
I received an advance copy from the editor for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
Out for Delivery by Leigh Landry
Rating: 3.75/5
Content notes: murder, details of a dead body, references to sexual harassment, mention of gambling
This is a pretty sweet novella. Susan and Casey broke up when Casey used Susan’s computer on an illegal gambling site and Susan got arrested. They both still care about each other, but Susan lost her trust in Casey. When she has to deliver a package to Casey and finds a dead body in the back of her truck, suddenly Casey is the one in her corner as she tries to figure out the real murderer. I liked the way how, even in short story, I was able to see how much Susan and Casey still care for one another, as well as them finding a way to reconnect so they can give their romance a second chance.
Your Mess is Mine by Dee Holloway
Rating: 3.5/5
Content notes: Sexual content, references to infidelity (not MC), reference to marijuana use, in-community use of dyke, alcohol consumption
Trace has built a business where she helps jilted women sell their ex’s left behind items, and often that includes a round of post-breakup sex. But when her own ex messages her after her divorce, she has to decide whether she’s willing to help her while her heart still smarts from how things ended with Tansy.
I feel like this story may have worked better as a full length novel. It ended up being sweet and I liked seeing Tansy’s growth especially, but it also felt like something was missing. I would definitely enjoy more about Trace and Tansy working on rebuilding what they could have, and seeing Colt reconnect with his sister. Your Mess is Mine feels like a story with potential that didn’t quite work for me.
The (Virtual) Bodyguard by Chace Verity
Rating: 5/5
Content notes:character facing potential homelessness; references to a car accident, violence, guns, drugs, estranged family, transphobia, ableism, depression, anxiety, and self-harm; sexual content
Oh my gosh, this was Wonderful! Tala has been the virtual bodyguard for DallasGlow in mafia themed MMORPG for the last five years, but when she misses a raid on Valentine’s Day for a hookup-date, Dallas suddenly ghosts her. When Tala meets Dahlia at the library where she works, she’s immediately smitten, which is only compounded when she realizes Dahlia is Dallas!
This was so sweet and cute! Like, it was perfectly paced where it felt like a complete story and the friendship between Tala and Dallas developing anew IRL and the emotional confession, gah, it’s so good!!
The Best Places by Candace Harper
Rating: 4.25/5
Content notes:Mention of death of both parent-in-laws in car accident (off page), mention of death of spouse by heart attack (off page), mention of animal neglect, mention of animal cruelty, discussion of divorce, discussion of infidelity, discussion of ace antagonism, mention of anticipated (but not shown) homophobia.
This was really sweet. When Rebecca returns to her deceased husband’s hometown at the news of his parents’ death, she is met by Rosalyn, her college roommate and best friend. Over the course of arranging the funeral, Rebecca and Rosalyn reconnect and recognize their romantic feelings. The reconnections between them and having a chance to clear the air of past hurts was overall very sweet.
Overall:
Rating: 4.125
Second Chances is one of my favorite romance tropes, and when I had a chance to read this anthology I couldn’t pass it up! Chace Verity is one of my favorite authors, and I’ve read and enjoyed books by Leigh Landry and Candace Harper; Dee Holloway was the only new-to-me author in this anthology. And overall this was a really cute anthology with really sweet stories. I love the different ways second chance was interpreted, from exes reconnecting to best friends reconnecting and realizing the love the share is romantic. If you’re looking for something sweet and mostly cozy, you should definitely pick up this anthology!
Out for Delivery by Leigh Landry
Rating: 3.75/5
Content notes:
This is a pretty sweet novella. Susan and Casey broke up when Casey used Susan’s computer on an illegal gambling site and Susan got arrested. They both still care about each other, but Susan lost her trust in Casey. When she has to deliver a package to Casey and finds a dead body in the back of her truck, suddenly Casey is the one in her corner as she tries to figure out the real murderer. I liked the way how, even in short story, I was able to see how much Susan and Casey still care for one another, as well as them finding a way to reconnect so they can give their romance a second chance.
Your Mess is Mine by Dee Holloway
Rating: 3.5/5
Content notes:
Trace has built a business where she helps jilted women sell their ex’s left behind items, and often that includes a round of post-breakup sex. But when her own ex messages her after her divorce, she has to decide whether she’s willing to help her while her heart still smarts from how things ended with Tansy.
I feel like this story may have worked better as a full length novel. It ended up being sweet and I liked seeing Tansy’s growth especially, but it also felt like something was missing. I would definitely enjoy more about Trace and Tansy working on rebuilding what they could have, and seeing Colt reconnect with his sister. Your Mess is Mine feels like a story with potential that didn’t quite work for me.
The (Virtual) Bodyguard by Chace Verity
Rating: 5/5
Content notes:
Oh my gosh, this was Wonderful! Tala has been the virtual bodyguard for DallasGlow in mafia themed MMORPG for the last five years, but when she misses a raid on Valentine’s Day for a hookup-date, Dallas suddenly ghosts her. When Tala meets Dahlia at the library where she works, she’s immediately smitten, which is only compounded when she realizes Dahlia is Dallas!
This was so sweet and cute! Like, it was perfectly paced where it felt like a complete story and the friendship between Tala and Dallas developing anew IRL and the emotional confession, gah, it’s so good!!
The Best Places by Candace Harper
Rating: 4.25/5
Content notes:
This was really sweet. When Rebecca returns to her deceased husband’s hometown at the news of his parents’ death, she is met by Rosalyn, her college roommate and best friend. Over the course of arranging the funeral, Rebecca and Rosalyn reconnect and recognize their romantic feelings. The reconnections between them and having a chance to clear the air of past hurts was overall very sweet.
Overall:
Rating: 4.125
Second Chances is one of my favorite romance tropes, and when I had a chance to read this anthology I couldn’t pass it up! Chace Verity is one of my favorite authors, and I’ve read and enjoyed books by Leigh Landry and Candace Harper; Dee Holloway was the only new-to-me author in this anthology. And overall this was a really cute anthology with really sweet stories. I love the different ways second chance was interpreted, from exes reconnecting to best friends reconnecting and realizing the love the share is romantic. If you’re looking for something sweet and mostly cozy, you should definitely pick up this anthology!
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