booksjenrecs's reviews
328 reviews

Immortal by Morning by Lynsay Sands

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? N/A

4.0

It seems surreal to be thirty-seven books deep into a series and still finding new things to love, but Lynsay Sands does just that with the latest Argeneau vampire romance, Immortal by Morning.

We’ve seen Crispin in previous books in this series, and I was glad to see him finally take center stage with his own romance. Like many of the older immortals, Crispin is growing bored with his everyday routine; it doesn’t help that there’s little to no real detective work for this detective to do. But all that changes when Crispin gets a call about skeletons in a yard, and meets his life mate on the scene.

I actually really loved that so much of the conflict in Abril and Crispin’s courtship comes from outside their romance. There’s no real denial of their feelings for each other, like we’ve seen from many previous mortal life mates, and it was nice to see them both acknowledge and explore the possibility of love outside of the conflict happening around them. Abril also took all the new information about immortals really well, and after being this far into the series, it was great to sort of cut out all the unnecessary and drawn-out disbelief and just let the mortal character accept the new normal.

Given that Crispen has been alive for millennia, he of course knows all our favorite immortals from previous books. I loved getting to see Lucian out doing field work again, rather than in his home environment, and Bricker always brings some fun with him. I also loved getting that throwback mention of Basil and his many children, which we learned all about back in The Immortal Who Loved Me. For a while, the Argeneau books all seemed very self-contained within their own plots, but having all these tie-ins to previous books - events, relationships, locations - only adds to the series as a whole.

Immortal by Morning was another solid addition to the Argeneau lore. Readers get yet another unique introduction to a new life mate without over-explaining the immortal backstory that is present throughout the thirty-six previous books. I loved watching Crispin finally find love after millennia, and Abril had a well-developed story arc that was perfect for this story.

I received an advanced review copy of this title via NetGalley, and my review is based on the pre-published text. All opinions are my own. 

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I'll Keep Her Safe by Jen Morris

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? N/A

4.5

Jen Morris writes age gap romance so well, and this third book in the Forbidden on Fruit Street series is my favorite one of hers yet. 

There is so much to love about Poppy and Wyatt. Despite both main characters fighting their initial feelings, I loved how they both recognized those feelings pretty early on. There was no questioning their love for each other, no possibility of Wyatt using any sort of power dynamic to win Poppy over. Even with their age gap, they were both on pretty equal footing when it came to past relationship experience, and that set the stage for an easy-to-read and easy-to-love romance between the forty-two year old Wyatt and the twenty-five year old Poppy. 

Both main characters had well-developed stories involving professional and personal growth. I loved seeing that acceptance of pursuing your passion, no matter your age or how established you may be in your career. After toxic exes left both Wyatt and Poppy feeling trapped in their career choices, I loved seeing them bring out the best in each other with nothing but encouragement to follow their true passions, no matter how scary it may seem to do so. 

Not only were these main characters the perfect support system for each other, but they sizzled on the page as well. Their chemistry was undeniable, their connection tangible. Once Wyatt and Poppy stopped putting their feelings aside and wondering what anyone else might think, their passion and love for each other was combustible. Of course, having the support of our previous two Forbidden on Fruit Street couples definitely helped move things along. 

I’ll Keep Her Safe was a fantastic, age gap romance that had a heavy focus on moving forward, both in love and in life. It reminds readers of the important things, like doing what makes you happy and brings you peace, while showcasing that love can find you at any age. 

If you love older, protective MMCs with tattoos for days and FMCs who learn to pursue their dreams, you won’t want to miss the spice between Wyatt and Poppy. 

Thank you so much to Jen Morris for providing a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. 

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson

medium-paced

4.5

This Time Next Year by Mariah Jolie
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.

Couldn't feel any chemistry between the two main characters, and the plot lost my interest. 

Her Beary Spicy Valentine by Theodora Taylor

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

Falling Madly by Enni Amanda

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

When we first met Trevor and Teresa in Falling Slowly, I knew I needed to read their story one day. Thankfully, Enni has given us that story in this standalone follow-up Valentine’s Day romance.

I absolutely love Trevor. He’s a bearded Scotsman who isn’t ashamed of his feelings, is very protective of those he cares about, and he has a kilt. What more could you need from a swoon-worthy main character? What I really loved about Trevor is the fact that his love for Teresa toed the line between sweet romance and something darker; his obsession was borderline crazy, but that level of love and devotion was definitely book boyfriend worthy. Trevor was a bit unhinged, but in the best way. It’s been a while since I’ve come across a male main character who was this obsessed in a contemporary, non-dark romance.

It was hard not to feel for Teresa. She went from being cheated on by someone with no devotion to her, to having the complete opposite in Trevor. It would’ve been a lot for anyone to have thrown at them, but she also had a history with Trevor that made his love for her even harder to trust. I loved the journey Teresa took herself on, learning little by little that it was okay to let someone else in. It felt real; there was no miracle fix to their relationship, no all-in love affair. Both Teresa and Trevor had to put in the work, and it made their happily-ever-after that much more enjoyable.

I loved returning to Cozy Creek with Enni. Originally contributing to a larger collection with a shared location, Enni has truly taken Cozy Creek to new heights with this newest title. The Valentine’s Day timeframe made this little town that much more homey and welcoming.

I love Enni’s ability to craft such lovable and relatable characters, and Trevor and Teresa may just be my favorite couple of hers yet. There was just something about Trevor’s obsessive/possessive nature and Teresa’s broken but healing personality that kept me turning the pages. Enni’s writing was just as easy to love as her characters and just as cozy as the book’s setting. This was a perfect Valentine’s Day romance, and I’m so glad Enni gave us Trevor and Teresa’s story.

Thank you so much to Enni Amanda for providing a review copy of this title! All opinions are my own.

Hot Vampire Next Door: Season Two by Nikki St. Crowe

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Petty Cupid by Sarah Blue

lighthearted fast-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? N/A

3.5

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

I think Ali Hazelwood will always be on my auto-read/auto-listen list, and the nemesis-to-lovers definitely kept me hooked in this audiobook. I could easily read a full-length novel featuring the relationship between Viola and Jesse, and I was more than a little sad when this audiobook came to the end.

Working for rival video game developers, Viola and Jesse have a long history of running into each other at industry events. So being sent to a mountain lodge where both companies have to try and work together or potentially lose out on the next big game? Not ideal. But just when things start falling apart on their fragile peace, Jesse and Viola discover that their history is based on misconceptions and misunderstandings, leading readers to the Hazelwood spice that I love so much. I did enjoy the way Jesse and Viola discovered their mutual attraction to each other; it wasn’t too convoluted or drawn out, or too overdone with miscommunication. I love that Hazelwood kept the main characters on the nerdier side, while putting them in a field I could relate to a little more. While I love all the FMCs in Hazelwood’s STEMinist books, a scientist I will never be. At least with video games, I could understand and appreciate the love and respect Viola and Jesse had for the game.

I did enjoy Kelsey Navarro Foster as the narrator. I thought she did a wonderful job bringing both Viola and Jesse to life. Foster was easy to understand, and had a great tone and cadence throughout the story. My only gripe? The way she pronounced Viola’s name. It just wasn’t the same way that I’ve ever heard someone say the name, and it did take a bit for me to get used to. But a different name pronunciation isn’t bad, just different. It didn’t take me out of the narration at all, but it did stick with me.

Two Can Play was another Hazelwood hit in my books. I fell in love with these characters, even with such a short time with them, and I loved how they interacted throughout the story. There was a great cast of coworkers for both Jesse and Viola, and I could easily dive into a romance between any number of of these support characters. Two Can Play was entertaining from beginning to end, and I highly recommend this novella.