alliereadsromance's reviews
42 reviews

If You Love Me by Helena Hunting

funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

One of the things I love most about Helena Hunting’s world is that she doesn’t just focus on players at the top of their game. Roman is on the last year of his contract and on his way out of the league and into retirement. For the last few books he’s been steadfastly not thinking about what comes after retirement so it was fun seeing him develop from loose ends to building a new life and plan. While I will admit I’m getting a little worn down with all of the sneaking around the couples in this series are constantly doing, I love the fact that Roman’s concern is all about Lexi and her future and career. As many characters point out, Roman was born to love and has a whole lot of love and care to give. He’s a nurturer and I love every moment of him supporting Lexi, not because she’s younger and needs help but because she’s so strong and everyone needs someone to fall apart on sometimes. I really can’t wait to see what comes next in this series. #BeaverReviewCrew

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 

Charlotte Stein never disappoints. Funny, emotional, and utterly bingeable, I was unable to put My Big Fat Fake Marriage down and I’ll 100% be picking it up again when the audio is released. There is just something about Charlotte’s writing that makes my brain go brr and I never miss a chance to read her.

Henry is the type of guy who would make you cinnamon rolls while you read spicy romance about a cinnamon roll MMC and then give you multiple Os while you talk about your book. You just can’t help but fall in love with him. In fact, he’s so nice and loveable that Hazel, aka Mabel’s bestie Connie, is pretty sure he’s a serial murderer. All that aside, she’s willing and able to step in to put a shitty coworker of Henry’s into place.

Connie/Hazel (to be called Hazel for the rest of this review) is a badass who doesn’t need anyone. Except, she’s kind of addicted to everyone’s approval and being the posh girl. After years of conditioning from her perception obsessed mother, Hazel doesn’t know who she is or how to be herself. She’s so certain that she’s doing Henry a favor when she joins him on a writing retreat posing as his fake wife but Henry has his work cut out for him too. The way Henry nudges Hazel into being the person she wants to be without seeming to do anything is utterly masterful.

I absolutely loved seeing Hazel come out of her shell and Henry is a blushing, bumbling adorkable giant who is joining the top of my Book Boyfriend list.

Whirlwind by Kayla Grosse

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

After being recommended Kayla Grosse by one of my favorite reviewers, I picked up an ALC of this audiobook completely blind. I was not at all disappointed! This book blew me away (no pun intended). From the start, there was high tension between Finley and Riker. Both of them full of forbidden wanting and frustrated desire, this forbidden age gap was everything I love about the tropes. Add in the drama and action of storm chasing and I could not put it down. While I could have stood a little more groveling from Riker after he steps in it after their first time together, the romance was top tier and the spice just kept spicing. I’ll definitely be picking up more books by this author. I do want to note there were a few places in the audiobook where the silence between chapters lasted an awkwardly long time but the narrators themselves did an amazing job and other than the few times I was afraid my phone died or my headphones disconnected, it was very well-done.

 

Pounded By Produce: An Unholy Romance by G.M. Fairy

emotional funny hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I expected this to be funny. I did not expect the slow burn, full of longing, sweet and spicy journey this book took me on. I knew going it it would have elements of the ridiculous but that was such a small part of it. The dynamic between Robert and Laurent was heartbreaking from the beginning and only got more so as their curse took effect. Emily's in it but slightly on the outside also made my chest ache. From the moment the author shared the concept I was all in but GM Fairy delivered so much more than I ever could have wanted. 

Chase Lovett Wants Me by Helena Hunting

funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Chase Lovett Wants Me: Mistaken identity leads Cammie to share a hotel room with university hockey star and the focus of her unrequited crush Chase Lovett.

It was a cute, fun read. A spin-off of her Toronto Terror, this book felt like a filler episode of a TV series in the best possible way. There are hints at the future of the Terror series, lots of connections to the main series, and probably wouldn’t have stood on its own as well without all of the Easter eggs.

But if you like hockey romance filled with tropey goodness, quick reads, and secondhand embarrassment, it’s a good way to spend the afternoon.

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

slow-paced

2.5

The Scoring Secret by Ainsley Booth

medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I love Ainsley Booth’s writing in general and I was very excited for this one after reading The Girl in the Hockey Jersey and The Playing Game. It did not disappoint.

Ty Connor is a player, both on and off the ice. When he’s traded from Miami to Hamilton, Ontario he’s convinced his life as he knows it is over. He struggles to find his footing on the ice and off of it, accidentally insulting the fans and falling on his face with Kiley (Bestie of the FMC in book 1 and sister to the team doctor).

Kiley is in her Slut Era (no insult intended), determined to enjoy pleasure and dating and not get hung up on another mistake of a man. And she sees Ty as the possible biggest mistake yet. But as much as he annoys her and she is determined to stay away, she can’t help but be attracted to him.

There is little I love more than when a Player meets his match and suddenly he’s no longer interested in anyone but that person. Even before they’re hooking up. I especially love it when the person they’re after continually turns them down. I don’t know, maybe I just like to see grown men on the verge of begging. Whatever the reason, it’s one of my favorite things and Booth knocked it out of the park.

I typically do not enjoy books where people know each other anonymously online and have a relationship there and in person. It almost inevitably leads to one of the parties finding out the truth and hiding it. Lying about one’s identity is a huge red flag for me and just pisses me off. So color me pleasantly shocked when one person figures it out and immediately informs the other person without hesitation. There was no hesitation to do the right thing and it made me love the book even more.

I cannot wait for more of this series!

Bred by the Wolfman by Lyonne Riley

medium-paced

5.0

I usually go out of my way to avoid pregnancy in my books but wolfmen are kind of my thing and I had faith in Lyonne Riley to do a good job. And she nailed it! At times Dee was so infuriatingly dense about herself that I wanted to reach into the book and shake her, Russ is a walking red flag. Together, they're kind of perfect. This book is both steaming hot and sweet and cozy in a way only Lyonne can manage. 10/10 do recommend. 

Faulty by Nicole Parker

funny fast-paced

5.0

 I'm not sure which is more horrifying, the fact that the image of a 7' tall furby is now in my head or the fact that I absolutely loved this book. While furby scares the ever loving crap out of me, Flurbo is somehow sexy in the silliest way possible. This one is short, steamy, and so much fun! 

Handle Me by Unfortunate Reads

funny lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

 As far as sentient object romances go, this one was super fun! Short and sweet and spicy, there's a lot packed into this story. Stick's love and devotion, Jace's growing awareness that there's something more. The ending with Jace admitting his feelings is just *chef's kiss* I'm definitely looking forward to what the author comes up with next!