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ratetheromance's Reviews (659)

fast-paced

I loved this badass-woman-meets-undercover-movie-star and they renovate a house together romance! 

IN LOVE WITH LEWIS PRESCOTT is a steamy, forced proximity, there was only one HOUSE, story that I devoured! This book is swoony, sweet, and steamy! This series is knocking it outta the park for me.

I took a star off my rating because these characters have zero flaws. Zero. The 3rd act break-up isn't even based on a minor flaw or even a miscommunication with these two. 

I'm a reader who always wants some complexity with the main characters where we see their personal struggles and flaws manifesting in their relationship. There was just none of that in IN LOVE WITH LEWIS PRESCOTT. 

But, flawless main characters DOES give you a feel-good romance with a couple you love to root for! Even though IN LOVE WITH LEWIS PRESCOTT touched briefly on some heavier topics, it wasn't too heavy. 

Definitely loved this book!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated R / 1-4 descriptive sex scenes, may have harsh language. 
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: racism (challenged and unchallenged), past workplace sexual harassment (not specific)
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read. 
funny lighthearted fast-paced

This book starts out with a BANG...literally. And I loved it! From one night stand to a fake relationship to happily ever after, I adored LOVE UNDER CONTRACT.

What's to love? I'll tell you...

She's grumpy. He's sunshine.
I've never cum before.
My sister is marrying my ex.
We come from different worlds.
She's older.

Rebecca and Hudson are the best opposites attract. They have scorching chemistry (played out in scorching steamy scenes) and they are just so right for each other.

I took off a star from my rating because Rebecca is very difficult to like, particularly during the 3rd act break-up. And the clinch scene was pretty meh. There is a loose end that never gets addressed. 

But LOVE UNDER CONTRACT is a great romance! Steamy and funny and sweet. It's a fairly light read that kept me hooked from beginning to end. 

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated NC-17 / 5+ sex scenes, harsh language. *MIGHT* include props/bondage. 
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: past death of parent, parent in cancer remission
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read. 


<b>TRIGGER WARNING: Joke about current war in Ukraine</b>

When I read this attempt at a joke in an early chapter I was completely shocked. 

<i>But that was before his dimple became a more dangerous weapon than anything Putin is flashing around in Russia.</i>

I won't continue reading a book that uses war/people being killed as a punchline. Especially if that war is still currently happening. 

Weapons of war and the senseless killing of innocent people isn't a punchline for a Rom Com. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
funny lighthearted fast-paced
Loveable characters: Yes

Damn, but I love a good grumpy+sunshine and Jack
and Kelly are IT.

TUMBLING HEAD OVER HEELS is a quick read which doesn't ever feel rushed or too insta-love. It's steamy and funny! It's a perfect beach read.

I absolutely LOVED all of the funny references to Pretty Woman. Kelly is hilarious and Jack is such a lovable fuckboy! All the heart eyes.

I took a star off my rating because I didn't fully buy the fact that Kelly is this flighty and forgetful while also being a super chemistry genius. That felt forced for plot interest. 

Next time you have a free afternoon, grab TUMBLING HEAD OVER HEELS! It's fun, sexy, and satisfying. I can't wait for more novellas in this series!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated R / 1-4 descriptive sex scenes, may have harsh language. 
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: none
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read. 

emotional funny tense slow-paced

THINGS WE HIDE FROM THE LIGHT is a good book with great characters, drama, suspense, laughs and steamy sex. But it was too long and the middle was way too slow.

The entirety of Chapter 27 serves no purpose except to show what a "good guy" Nash is, something we already know. This book could easily have 100 pages cut and be better for it.

I know a lot of authors who publish using Kindle Unlimited pad their books because they get paid per page read and THINGS WE HIDE FROM THE LIGHT felt exactly like that was happening. 

With that major flaw aside, the rest of this book is pretty damn great. Yes, the slow burn takes FOOORRREVVVERRR, but once these two start banging they really make up for lost time. 

I would not recommend reading THINGS WE HIDE FROM THE LIGHT as a standalone. If you do you will be lost or confused while reading. 

Overall, this book could have bern a 5-star read if it had been edited for length, but it's still a great 4-star read!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated NC-17 / 5+ sex scenes and harsh language. 
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: Past death of parent, heart condition, pediatric cancer, brief mention of infertility, parent is addict, kidnapping, shooting, domestic & crime-related violence
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 4/5 - Tackled some seriously tough topics. 
lighthearted slow-paced

I'm glad I read the second book in this series first, because if I had started with SET ON YOU I would never have read it. For the record, the second book (Exes and O's) is GREAT.

As for SET ON YOU, I had some issues.

(1) Lots and LOTS of ableism in this book. Jokes about Split Personality Disorder, making light of PTSD, etc. 

(2) The female lead, Crystal, is incredibly unlikable. She judges everyone, treats the male lead, Scott, like absolute crap, and the third act break-up is completely her fault and she is CRUEL to the nicest guy ever. 

The thing about "body positivity" is that you can't demand that others stop judging you on your curvy body, all while completely judging others based on their bodies. Crystal never stops slinging insults at Scott and it's 100% because of his body. He is hot and has a 6-pack so she assumes he is a liar, a player, cocky, a man-whore, a cheater, and on and on. She says these horrid things TO HIS FACE. Not just when they're still enemies, but throughout the entire book! 

SIDE NOTE: I found a major error in the book and I expect better from the editors at Berkley. 

Anyway, there were some good parts of SET ON YOU, but not enough to win over the very unlikable characters, ableism, and a very cringy 3rd Act Breakup. 

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated R / 1-4 descriptive sex scenes, may have harsh language. 
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: fat shaming, brief mention of past racism, ableism (unchallenged). 
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read. 

lighthearted medium-paced

After a super fantastic debut novel, this second book by Falon Ballard had a lot to live up to. 

JUST MY TYPE is a Second Chance romance where high school sweethearts are pitted against each other in a competition for the same job. 

Lana is a really complex heroine. I found her likable, even when she was acting fairly unlikable. And Seth was a great male lead! A definite cinnamon roll hero with a bit of a cocky side. The chemistry between Lana and Seth is FIRE. So much sexual tension! 

And I truly loved the very positive professional Therapy rep in this book!

The middle portion gets reallllly slow. I was almost ready to put the book down. I'm glad that I didn't because JUST MY TYPE picks up again and has a great HEA.

There were a lot of predictable plot lines that I wish were switched up a bit and one truly unintentionally embarrassing tattoo. I laughed out loud at a part that was supposed to be achingly sweet. I won't spoil that part for you, but it gives serious Ted-Mosby-Butterfly-Tramp-Stamp vibes. IYKYK.

In the end, JUST MY TYPE was a pretty predictable, but sweet (and a little spicy) read that I really wanted to love, but ended up just liking.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated R / 1-4 descriptive sex scenes, may have harsh language. 
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: past parent abandonment, emotionally distant parent
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read. 

funny medium-paced

The first half of 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗧 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧 felt like pretty standard friends-to-lovers reading. The sudden attraction. The shifting dynamic. The kissing practice. It was all good. I was predicting giving it a solid 3.5-4 star rating. 

The second half of 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗧 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧 grabbed my heart and didn't let go all the way through the ending and on to the DO-NOT-MISS bonus epilogue.  

Oh. My. God. This. Book. I LOVED IT.

Hanna is complex and hilarious and lovable and so amazing. I love a heroine with a pixie cut. I loved that she was curvy, but the author didn't make that her only attribute. I loved that the hero found her totally hot without the seriously gross need other authors have to have the hero explain why he's "not like other guys" because he appreciates curves. *feminist eyeroll* 

Easton is such a perfect match for Hanna. I love a good Fvckboy Finds Love and Easton has such a squishy soft center to go with all that panty-melting charm. 

𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗧 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧 made me snort-laugh, swoon, smile, and sigh.  And the steam in this book is H-O-T! This book has everything that I love: a strong heroine, a cinnamon roll hero, found family, amazing female friendships, complex (but loving) family relationships, oh...and shower sex. All the shower sex!

You definitely need to put 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗧 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧 on the top of your Spring TBR. Trust me!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated R / 1-4 descriptive sex scenes, may have harsh language. 
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: past death of parent, past parent abandonment
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read. 

slow-paced

This book was waaaaay to long, like a hundred pages too long, and very predictable.  There are also way too many side characters and the villains were all one-dimensional.

I did like how the 45yo leads were written. So often 40s are written like they are in their 60s, but these main characters felt true to their age, but still desirable and still complex.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated R / 1-4 descriptive sex scenes, may have harsh language. 
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: violence, vandalism, cheating ex, past death of parent
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 3/5 - You will definitely feel some feels. 
emotional funny hopeful slow-paced

After a very slow start, in which I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between the lead characters, 𝗚𝗘𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗜𝗘, 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚 totally surprised me and pulled out a win!

I absolutely loved Georgie, with all of her perceived flaws, and how her perception of those flaws shifts as the story progresses. And Levi is such a complex and ultimately lovable lead. These two go through character change and growth that left me feeling inspired and so happy!

𝗚𝗘𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗜𝗘, 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚 tackles some tough topics, but has very funny moments too! 

The female friendship between Georgie and her best friend is EVERYTHING. I loved every second of it.

This book is well worth reading through the slowish beginning to get to the meat of the story and the perfect HEA. 𝗚𝗘𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗜𝗘, 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚 is a heartwarming, sweet, and very feelsy romance that really won me over! 

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated PG-13 / Only 1 descriptive sex scene, may have harsh language. 
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: past drug addiction, family estrangement, past verbally abusive parent, brief mention of past poor treatment in psych facility 
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 4/5 - Tackled some seriously tough topics. 

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.