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ratetheromance's Reviews (659)
RESOLUTIONS
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Friends to lovers with lots of sweet moments and steam. There seemed to be gaps in the story where I was thinking, "What just happened?" and "Did I miss something?". But it had lots of heart and some serious steam.
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BEAR WITH ME
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was NOT prepared for this to be a shape shifter romance (I didn't notice it in the blurb). Turns out it's not MY thing, but the book was well written and I LOVED that the female lead was the vapid girlfriend we are prone to dislike from the first book. Character complexity is important to me and writing a story about a character we may have previously disliked and who we now adore is some GREAT writing.
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BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK BOYFRIEND
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I usually prefer full-length novels, so I am a hard sell on novellas, but THIS is a great Novella! Mike and Jordyn were the cutest couple! I loved the diversity, loved their shared love of romance novels, loved their banter, loved ALL OF IT!!! This novella was laugh-out-loud funny and epically sweet!
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Friends to lovers with lots of sweet moments and steam. There seemed to be gaps in the story where I was thinking, "What just happened?" and "Did I miss something?". But it had lots of heart and some serious steam.
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BEAR WITH ME
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was NOT prepared for this to be a shape shifter romance (I didn't notice it in the blurb). Turns out it's not MY thing, but the book was well written and I LOVED that the female lead was the vapid girlfriend we are prone to dislike from the first book. Character complexity is important to me and writing a story about a character we may have previously disliked and who we now adore is some GREAT writing.
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BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK BOYFRIEND
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I usually prefer full-length novels, so I am a hard sell on novellas, but THIS is a great Novella! Mike and Jordyn were the cutest couple! I loved the diversity, loved their shared love of romance novels, loved their banter, loved ALL OF IT!!! This novella was laugh-out-loud funny and epically sweet!
3.5 STARS
Man, do I ever love He-Is-Grumpy-She-Is-Sunshine! And This book rocks it!
There were some really amazing parts of this book. Sheesh...the chemistry was panty-melting goodness! These two characters have sizzle from the instant they lay eyes in each other and they are HOT. I truly loved that Tess was a smart, hard working, driven, entrepreneur. She is passionate abut her business (and about life in general). I also loved how unapologetically Tess longs for children and a family.
Liam is all buttoned-up rules, charts, schedules, and business. Watching Tess loosen him up was a delight!
One thing I struggled with was Liam kind of morphed into an Alpha half way through this book (and then stayed there). On multiple occasions he gets jealous of HIMSELF when Tess refers to him in the third person. I mean....? That pretty ridiculous. There is a lot of you're "my woman" talk and I just don't like that. I get that some readers LOVE ALPHA MALES and they would really love this book. But it felt oddly out of place for me, especially considering that Tess is a highly driven business woman. It wasn't total caveman, but it was enough to have me rolling my eyes once or twice.
There were a lot of super-sweet and swoony moments between these two and a lot of steamy sex. I liked the friendships in this book and the familial relationships as well!
TRIGGERS: Drug addiction (not main character), emotionally distant parents.
I received an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
Man, do I ever love He-Is-Grumpy-She-Is-Sunshine! And This book rocks it!
There were some really amazing parts of this book. Sheesh...the chemistry was panty-melting goodness! These two characters have sizzle from the instant they lay eyes in each other and they are HOT. I truly loved that Tess was a smart, hard working, driven, entrepreneur. She is passionate abut her business (and about life in general). I also loved how unapologetically Tess longs for children and a family.
Liam is all buttoned-up rules, charts, schedules, and business. Watching Tess loosen him up was a delight!
One thing I struggled with was Liam kind of morphed into an Alpha half way through this book (and then stayed there). On multiple occasions he gets jealous of HIMSELF when Tess refers to him in the third person. I mean....? That pretty ridiculous. There is a lot of you're "my woman" talk and I just don't like that. I get that some readers LOVE ALPHA MALES and they would really love this book. But it felt oddly out of place for me, especially considering that Tess is a highly driven business woman. It wasn't total caveman, but it was enough to have me rolling my eyes once or twice.
There were a lot of super-sweet and swoony moments between these two and a lot of steamy sex. I liked the friendships in this book and the familial relationships as well!
TRIGGERS: Drug addiction (not main character), emotionally distant parents.
I received an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
I've started a new category of books I read called FOREPLAY-DESTROYED CLOTHES where, at some point during the steamy scenes, one character rips the clothes off the other. Destroyed panties, dress shirt buttons flying everywhere, you get it. THIS BOOK is the winner of said category! Holllllyyyy HOTNESS.
Now that we have the most important information out of the way, Drew and Emerly....*swoon*! Emerly is perfectly wonderful as the lead who is equal parts sweet and fiery. She is smart and hilarious and so likable! Drew is cocky, but with the sweetest insides. I loved watching his sweetness unfold as the story went on. He never lost his cocky, brash, attitude. And his love for his son is extra swoony. Although, AS ALWAYS, his son is a perfect angel of a child. *eye roll* DO BETTER, Single Parent romances!
This book is filled with great banter, major dirty talk, lots of steam, super sweet moments, and a wonderful theme of what family means and risking your heart for love.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated NC-17
TRIGGERS: Cheating, parent abandonment, hostile divorce, hostile child custody arrangements
Now that we have the most important information out of the way, Drew and Emerly....*swoon*! Emerly is perfectly wonderful as the lead who is equal parts sweet and fiery. She is smart and hilarious and so likable! Drew is cocky, but with the sweetest insides. I loved watching his sweetness unfold as the story went on. He never lost his cocky, brash, attitude. And his love for his son is extra swoony. Although, AS ALWAYS, his son is a perfect angel of a child. *eye roll* DO BETTER, Single Parent romances!
This book is filled with great banter, major dirty talk, lots of steam, super sweet moments, and a wonderful theme of what family means and risking your heart for love.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated NC-17
TRIGGERS: Cheating, parent abandonment, hostile divorce, hostile child custody arrangements
I freaking obsessively LOVED the first book in this series, so A VERY FRIENDLY VALENTINES DAY had big shoes to fill. This was a great book!...just not quite as good as the first.
Eddie and Birdie have been best friends since college and suddenly sparks are flying. Will they change from friends to lovers?
Birdie is perfectly quirky, smart, and hilarious! I loved her nerdy side. And Eddie is so accepting and likable and hot. These two have hilarious friendly banter! I adore them.
This book had great family relationships and friendships and plenty of funny moments. It also has one of the sweetest romantic gestures of all time. You will happy-sigh from the depths of your soul.
The issue I had with this book was it was completely devoid of conflict. They ONLY obstacle in this book was "will they-won't they?". Once they cross that bridge they are just together. Smooth sailing. No internal adjustments to the new state of their relationship. No bumps in the road. It felt both unrealistic and slightly boring to read.
This book has sweetness, laughs, steam, and a great Happily Ever After! Definitely a great book to start off 2021!
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
Eddie and Birdie have been best friends since college and suddenly sparks are flying. Will they change from friends to lovers?
Birdie is perfectly quirky, smart, and hilarious! I loved her nerdy side. And Eddie is so accepting and likable and hot. These two have hilarious friendly banter! I adore them.
This book had great family relationships and friendships and plenty of funny moments. It also has one of the sweetest romantic gestures of all time. You will happy-sigh from the depths of your soul.
The issue I had with this book was it was completely devoid of conflict. They ONLY obstacle in this book was "will they-won't they?". Once they cross that bridge they are just together. Smooth sailing. No internal adjustments to the new state of their relationship. No bumps in the road. It felt both unrealistic and slightly boring to read.
This book has sweetness, laughs, steam, and a great Happily Ever After! Definitely a great book to start off 2021!
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
Who knew a frigid mountain climb could be so very hot?! I loved the first book in the Moose Springs, Alaska series by Sarah Morgenthaler. The second book wasn't quite as good for me so I wondered how I would like the third. Well, let me tell you, ENJOY THE VIEW is AMAZING!
River is an actress whose acting career has stalled and is dipping her toe into Producing and Directing in an attempt to prove her merit. She gets a job filming a documentary for the Alaska Tourism Board in Moose Springs, Alaska. But the residents of Moose Springs are not very welcoming. When an opportunity comes up to hike the nearby mountain and film the ascent, River's guide is none other than gentle and gruff giant, Easton. With camera equipment in hand a team starts their climb, having no idea how this will play out.
River and Easton are PERFECETION! *dreamy sigh* River is such a strong, badass female lead. She is smart, determined, tough and a fantastic leader. We need more romances (and books in general) with female leads that show incredible leadership qualities while leading a team. River is also lovable, hilarious, and sweet. Her character complexity and growth throughout the book is a testament to Morgenthaler's great writing.
Easton is also written with skill and you cannot help but to fall in love with him! He is dependable, sometimes gruff, but seriously sweet deep down. He is certified: swoonworthy!
This book is seriously steamy, despite being "closed door". River and Easton burn up the pages with chemistry, kisses and lots of sexy banter. There are also plenty of laugh-out-loud moments to make you smile. This is a story whose characters will stay with me and that I will definitely be reading again in future. I cannot get enough of this swoony and sweet romance.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated PG
TRIGGERS: Life Threatening Situations
Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
River is an actress whose acting career has stalled and is dipping her toe into Producing and Directing in an attempt to prove her merit. She gets a job filming a documentary for the Alaska Tourism Board in Moose Springs, Alaska. But the residents of Moose Springs are not very welcoming. When an opportunity comes up to hike the nearby mountain and film the ascent, River's guide is none other than gentle and gruff giant, Easton. With camera equipment in hand a team starts their climb, having no idea how this will play out.
River and Easton are PERFECETION! *dreamy sigh* River is such a strong, badass female lead. She is smart, determined, tough and a fantastic leader. We need more romances (and books in general) with female leads that show incredible leadership qualities while leading a team. River is also lovable, hilarious, and sweet. Her character complexity and growth throughout the book is a testament to Morgenthaler's great writing.
Easton is also written with skill and you cannot help but to fall in love with him! He is dependable, sometimes gruff, but seriously sweet deep down. He is certified: swoonworthy!
This book is seriously steamy, despite being "closed door". River and Easton burn up the pages with chemistry, kisses and lots of sexy banter. There are also plenty of laugh-out-loud moments to make you smile. This is a story whose characters will stay with me and that I will definitely be reading again in future. I cannot get enough of this swoony and sweet romance.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated PG
TRIGGERS: Life Threatening Situations
Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A closed-door romance? Not for me.
A closed-door romance by Sarah Adams? ALWAYS.
I don't know how she does it, but this author manages to make these books hot as hell without any descriptive sex scenes.
*gif of Leonardo as Jay Gatsby toasting with a glass of champagne*
This book is WONDERFUL. Seriously, if you don't usually read PG romances I urge you to give this book a try.
Lucy is my favorite kind of heroine: kooky, smart, hilarious, real, sometimes uncertain, can be socially awkward, and a fantastic mom!
And Cooper is a wonderfully complex hero! He has recently been a "playboy" and instead of the author just making him a one-dimensional man-whore we see his reasons WHY. Why his past has informed his recent romantic relationships and how he makes peace with it and moves forward. He is so sweet and swoony and sexy!
This book is snort-laughing funny and isn't a "heavy" read, even when it tackles important topics like single-parenthood, low self esteem, heartbreak, family relationships, and living life more fully.
I took off 1/2 star from my rating because the son in this book is mostly not around and when he is he is perfectly perfect.
I LOVED THIS BOOK! You must read it. That's an order.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
STEAM LEVEL: Rated PG
TRIGGERS: Break up when pregnancy is revealed
A closed-door romance by Sarah Adams? ALWAYS.
I don't know how she does it, but this author manages to make these books hot as hell without any descriptive sex scenes.
*gif of Leonardo as Jay Gatsby toasting with a glass of champagne*
This book is WONDERFUL. Seriously, if you don't usually read PG romances I urge you to give this book a try.
Lucy is my favorite kind of heroine: kooky, smart, hilarious, real, sometimes uncertain, can be socially awkward, and a fantastic mom!
And Cooper is a wonderfully complex hero! He has recently been a "playboy" and instead of the author just making him a one-dimensional man-whore we see his reasons WHY. Why his past has informed his recent romantic relationships and how he makes peace with it and moves forward. He is so sweet and swoony and sexy!
This book is snort-laughing funny and isn't a "heavy" read, even when it tackles important topics like single-parenthood, low self esteem, heartbreak, family relationships, and living life more fully.
I took off 1/2 star from my rating because the son in this book is mostly not around and when he is he is perfectly perfect.
I LOVED THIS BOOK! You must read it. That's an order.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
STEAM LEVEL: Rated PG
TRIGGERS: Break up when pregnancy is revealed
*HALLELUJAH CHORUS SWELLS*
It FINALLY happened! A Single Parent romance with children who act like actual human children! I can't believe it took this long to find one (and by "find one" I mean it was recommended to me after a recent rant about perfect kids in romances).
Okay, now let's get to the book.
Ingrid is a single mom with three kids, a renegade pet squirrel, and a bookstore. Her kids are AWESOMELY REAL. They break rules, shove crap up their nose, complain about bedtime, fight with each other. It's AWESOME. Levi is a former boyband member turned solo artist who comes home for a visit and ducks into Ingrid's bookstore to avoid fans.
These two are freaking ADORABLE. This is a slow burn with sizzling hot chemistry and lots of sweet moments. There is also a truly well-done look at single moms that I loved. Levi's relationship with Ingrid continually makes him see his own single mother with new respect and watching his awareness increase was such a great part of the story.
This book has great friendships, found family, and females supporting females. ALL good things!
I took a star off my rating because this book part of a series (it's billed as a stand-alone within that series) and it is absolutely NOT great as a standalone. I haven't read the previous books and my head was spinning trying to take in the constant back-tracking and ever-revolving cast of characters from the previous books.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: absent spouse, divorce, parent abandonment
It FINALLY happened! A Single Parent romance with children who act like actual human children! I can't believe it took this long to find one (and by "find one" I mean it was recommended to me after a recent rant about perfect kids in romances).
Okay, now let's get to the book.
Ingrid is a single mom with three kids, a renegade pet squirrel, and a bookstore. Her kids are AWESOMELY REAL. They break rules, shove crap up their nose, complain about bedtime, fight with each other. It's AWESOME. Levi is a former boyband member turned solo artist who comes home for a visit and ducks into Ingrid's bookstore to avoid fans.
These two are freaking ADORABLE. This is a slow burn with sizzling hot chemistry and lots of sweet moments. There is also a truly well-done look at single moms that I loved. Levi's relationship with Ingrid continually makes him see his own single mother with new respect and watching his awareness increase was such a great part of the story.
This book has great friendships, found family, and females supporting females. ALL good things!
I took a star off my rating because this book part of a series (it's billed as a stand-alone within that series) and it is absolutely NOT great as a standalone. I haven't read the previous books and my head was spinning trying to take in the constant back-tracking and ever-revolving cast of characters from the previous books.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: absent spouse, divorce, parent abandonment
Iffy start...great middle...amazing ending!
I feel like that could be the entirety of my review, but I guess I'll expound. (Psssst...I'm a GIVER).
This book started like a fairly standard Innocent Buttoned-Up Virgin meets Sportsy Sexpert Bad-Boy. I was enjoying reading the beginning it just wasn't knocking my socks off. But OH MAN did this book just get better and better!
Giselle is the kind on heroine I ADORE. Super smart, quirky, hilarious, and real! She is so sweet and I really loved her back story.
Devon was just SWOONY! Yes, he is gruff and emotionally closed off to relationships, but the more I read the more complex he became. The reader gets to see exactly why he is closed off, but there's more nuance than we usually get in these characters. It wasn't the standard "hurt once so he's a total jerk to everyone" story. He is still kind, still loves his friends and family deeply. He still helps others and cares. He just has particular hurts that make him hesitate when it comes to emotional romantic relationships.
I loved the very real and not easily dismissed conflict in this story.
And WOWZA—did this book ever bring the HEAT! I loved every second of the steam in this book.
It was also very funny in parts. There was a laugh-out-loud scene centered on a lengthy dinner prayer that will have you snort-laughing!
I took off 1/2 star because it is clear this is a second book in the series. I had not read the first book and there were times when I felt a little lost when storylines from the previous book were mentioned.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: alcoholism, cheating in past relationships, parent abandonment, past attempted sexual assault (not overly graphic).
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I feel like that could be the entirety of my review, but I guess I'll expound. (Psssst...I'm a GIVER).
This book started like a fairly standard Innocent Buttoned-Up Virgin meets Sportsy Sexpert Bad-Boy. I was enjoying reading the beginning it just wasn't knocking my socks off. But OH MAN did this book just get better and better!
Giselle is the kind on heroine I ADORE. Super smart, quirky, hilarious, and real! She is so sweet and I really loved her back story.
Devon was just SWOONY! Yes, he is gruff and emotionally closed off to relationships, but the more I read the more complex he became. The reader gets to see exactly why he is closed off, but there's more nuance than we usually get in these characters. It wasn't the standard "hurt once so he's a total jerk to everyone" story. He is still kind, still loves his friends and family deeply. He still helps others and cares. He just has particular hurts that make him hesitate when it comes to emotional romantic relationships.
I loved the very real and not easily dismissed conflict in this story.
And WOWZA—did this book ever bring the HEAT! I loved every second of the steam in this book.
It was also very funny in parts. There was a laugh-out-loud scene centered on a lengthy dinner prayer that will have you snort-laughing!
I took off 1/2 star because it is clear this is a second book in the series. I had not read the first book and there were times when I felt a little lost when storylines from the previous book were mentioned.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: alcoholism, cheating in past relationships, parent abandonment, past attempted sexual assault (not overly graphic).
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
*slow clap for this author's debut novel*
Angie Hockman certainly made a splash with her first novel (see what I did there? My teens would be so embarrassed)! But, dad jokes aside, this book is FANTASTIC! Described as "The Hating Game" meetings "The Unhoneymooners" and that pretty much sums it up. It's Enemies to Lovers, workplace romance, on a vacation cruise ship!
Henley is a great lead female. She is smart, driven, kind, and relatable. It is sometimes hard to stomach her allowing herself to be steamrolled at work by her slimy misogynist boss, but as hard as that is to READ I think it is very true to real life. It's so easy to get mad at book characters and say "SPEAK UP!", but so many women (myself included) have stayed silent in similar work situations to "keep the peace".
Henley also is surrounded by a wonderful group of supportive girlfriends and female colleagues, which I always love to read in Romances. Female friendships FOR THE WIN! This book also included some great family relationships that are complex and filled with love, even among misunderstanding.
Graeme is a super-sweet lead character. We see a lot of his kindness, but also his internal struggles as the book progresses. He's so swoony! *feminine sigh*
This book was humorous, but not laugh out loud funny to me (but everyone's humor is different). I also wished there was a bit more hate-banter between these two. The "hate" portion of their Enemies to Lovers is pretty light and fairly one-sided. It's also cleared up fairly quickly.
Overall this is a GREAT read and a wonderful first book for an author I can't wait to read more from!
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 STARS
STEAM LEVEL: Rated PG-13
TRIGGERS: Workplace inequality, mention of domestic abuse, gas-lighting, fatal ALS, death of parent
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Angie Hockman certainly made a splash with her first novel (see what I did there? My teens would be so embarrassed)! But, dad jokes aside, this book is FANTASTIC! Described as "The Hating Game" meetings "The Unhoneymooners" and that pretty much sums it up. It's Enemies to Lovers, workplace romance, on a vacation cruise ship!
Henley is a great lead female. She is smart, driven, kind, and relatable. It is sometimes hard to stomach her allowing herself to be steamrolled at work by her slimy misogynist boss, but as hard as that is to READ I think it is very true to real life. It's so easy to get mad at book characters and say "SPEAK UP!", but so many women (myself included) have stayed silent in similar work situations to "keep the peace".
Henley also is surrounded by a wonderful group of supportive girlfriends and female colleagues, which I always love to read in Romances. Female friendships FOR THE WIN! This book also included some great family relationships that are complex and filled with love, even among misunderstanding.
Graeme is a super-sweet lead character. We see a lot of his kindness, but also his internal struggles as the book progresses. He's so swoony! *feminine sigh*
This book was humorous, but not laugh out loud funny to me (but everyone's humor is different). I also wished there was a bit more hate-banter between these two. The "hate" portion of their Enemies to Lovers is pretty light and fairly one-sided. It's also cleared up fairly quickly.
Overall this is a GREAT read and a wonderful first book for an author I can't wait to read more from!
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 STARS
STEAM LEVEL: Rated PG-13
TRIGGERS: Workplace inequality, mention of domestic abuse, gas-lighting, fatal ALS, death of parent
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I feel like one should figure the cost of therapy into the purchase price of this book. Damn, but you feel ALL THE FEELINGS.
This is a beautiful, heavy, sad, emotional book. Yes, it's got a happily ever after, but getting there is a journey. It's worth that journey if you're up for it.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM: Rated PG-13
TRIGGERS: alcoholism, domestic violence, abandonment, fatal cancer, gaslighting, death, heart failure, cheating, premature birth and NICU stay
This is a beautiful, heavy, sad, emotional book. Yes, it's got a happily ever after, but getting there is a journey. It's worth that journey if you're up for it.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM: Rated PG-13
TRIGGERS: alcoholism, domestic violence, abandonment, fatal cancer, gaslighting, death, heart failure, cheating, premature birth and NICU stay