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ratetheromance's Reviews (659)
This was a super sweet (and steamy) romance!
Mia moves to Manchester to get away from an ex who won't leave her be. She is going to spend time on her own and finally work on the novel she's been meaning to write. The sexy bar owner who lives in the flat across from hers is a temptation she wasn't planning on.
This book was a slow burn romance with pacing that is consistent with Brit Lit, much slower than American-written romances with an emphasis on daily life and friendships with others as well as the main romance.
I loved the main characters, Mia and Luke. They were both complex and real with faults and mistakes as well as cute quirks and lots of heart. Their friendships with others in this book were a bright spot as was Mia's fair treatment of Luke's ex (who features in the story).
The teen in this story was very well written! A great blend of sweet and sometimes moody. And very embarrassed of her hot dad.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: teen pregnancy, parent abandonment, controlling ex, sometimes difficult shared child custody
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Mia moves to Manchester to get away from an ex who won't leave her be. She is going to spend time on her own and finally work on the novel she's been meaning to write. The sexy bar owner who lives in the flat across from hers is a temptation she wasn't planning on.
This book was a slow burn romance with pacing that is consistent with Brit Lit, much slower than American-written romances with an emphasis on daily life and friendships with others as well as the main romance.
I loved the main characters, Mia and Luke. They were both complex and real with faults and mistakes as well as cute quirks and lots of heart. Their friendships with others in this book were a bright spot as was Mia's fair treatment of Luke's ex (who features in the story).
The teen in this story was very well written! A great blend of sweet and sometimes moody. And very embarrassed of her hot dad.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: teen pregnancy, parent abandonment, controlling ex, sometimes difficult shared child custody
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There is almost nothing I love more than He's Grumpy/She's Sunshine and THE SWEETEST FIX is delivering IT.
Reese just missed the most important dance audition of her life. Now she's stuck in NYC with shattered dreams and one seriously bad idea to try and get a new audition by kissing up to the Choreographer's son. But once she walks into Leo's bakery and meets him their sparks fly and she can't bring herself to use him when she's busy falling for him.
Reese and Leo are everything I need in a couple! Reese is a great heroine who is hard working, sweet, sunshiny, and passionate. I loved her gentle way of coaxing smiles from grumpy Leo. She was relatable and loveable, even when she was making choices that make you cringe, knowing that it's gunna come back to bite her.
Leo is EPIC SWOON MATERIAL. He is grumpy and gruff, but also sweet and lovable! I absolutely LOVED that he is a male lead that doesn't have a perfectly chiseled body. No six pack abs for this baker and I adored his minor discomfort about his body compared to the lithe dancing body that Reese has. He is still hotter than sin and worthy of reader fantasies.
And speaking of sin....daaaaaammmmmnnnn....this book was HOT. The chemistry, steamy scenes, and dirty talk will melt your Kindle. Buying this book in paperback might be an actual fire hazard. Be warned. I could not get enough of these two and their sizzling draw to each other.
THE SWEETEST FIX is a must read that you will definitely want to add to the top of your TBR!
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: Parent abandonment, lying
Reese just missed the most important dance audition of her life. Now she's stuck in NYC with shattered dreams and one seriously bad idea to try and get a new audition by kissing up to the Choreographer's son. But once she walks into Leo's bakery and meets him their sparks fly and she can't bring herself to use him when she's busy falling for him.
Reese and Leo are everything I need in a couple! Reese is a great heroine who is hard working, sweet, sunshiny, and passionate. I loved her gentle way of coaxing smiles from grumpy Leo. She was relatable and loveable, even when she was making choices that make you cringe, knowing that it's gunna come back to bite her.
Leo is EPIC SWOON MATERIAL. He is grumpy and gruff, but also sweet and lovable! I absolutely LOVED that he is a male lead that doesn't have a perfectly chiseled body. No six pack abs for this baker and I adored his minor discomfort about his body compared to the lithe dancing body that Reese has. He is still hotter than sin and worthy of reader fantasies.
And speaking of sin....daaaaaammmmmnnnn....this book was HOT. The chemistry, steamy scenes, and dirty talk will melt your Kindle. Buying this book in paperback might be an actual fire hazard. Be warned. I could not get enough of these two and their sizzling draw to each other.
THE SWEETEST FIX is a must read that you will definitely want to add to the top of your TBR!
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: Parent abandonment, lying
3.5 STARS
A book that heavily references the 1980's movie SIXTEEN CANDLES? Yes please.
Mackenzie (Mac) is an OBGYN who loves her job, but has had little time for love. Her mother is so focused on Mac's lack of a love life that Mac gets desperate and creates a fake boyfriend to get her mom off her back. But when Mac's sister plans a quickie wedding, Mac will have to find a real life stand in for the fake Neurosurgeon she has been created. She only has 6 weeks to find a real boyfriend or a suitable stand in.
I loved Mac's drive and work ethic. She is smart and caring and also hilariously funny. I laughed out loud more than once while reading this book. Her disastrous dates are wonderfully cringy and her group of close friends who try and set her up are a wonderful addition to this book!
The male lead in this book is sweet and dreamy and very Jake-Ryan-esque!
There's a lot of DRAMA in this story, but not a lot actually happens. I liked that the lead characters had some serious obstacles to overcome (just communicate already), but their relationship was pretty quick and wasn't really highlighted in this book. We get to the "I Love Yous" and it feels like they have spent all of two days together, including exactly ZERO actual "dates". There was plenty of chemistry, but not a lot of actual face-time. It made the obstacles they face in their new relationship overwhelm their actual connection, since that connection was so brief.
This book had some really good points and a great premise, but ultimately fell a bit flat on the actual relationship part of the story.
RATING: 3 1/2 STARS
STEAM LEVEL: Rated PG
TRIGGERS: Cheating, fraudulent marriage, one night stand resulting in pregnancy, LOTS of lying, overly critical parent
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A book that heavily references the 1980's movie SIXTEEN CANDLES? Yes please.
Mackenzie (Mac) is an OBGYN who loves her job, but has had little time for love. Her mother is so focused on Mac's lack of a love life that Mac gets desperate and creates a fake boyfriend to get her mom off her back. But when Mac's sister plans a quickie wedding, Mac will have to find a real life stand in for the fake Neurosurgeon she has been created. She only has 6 weeks to find a real boyfriend or a suitable stand in.
I loved Mac's drive and work ethic. She is smart and caring and also hilariously funny. I laughed out loud more than once while reading this book. Her disastrous dates are wonderfully cringy and her group of close friends who try and set her up are a wonderful addition to this book!
The male lead in this book is sweet and dreamy and very Jake-Ryan-esque!
There's a lot of DRAMA in this story, but not a lot actually happens. I liked that the lead characters had some serious obstacles to overcome (just communicate already), but their relationship was pretty quick and wasn't really highlighted in this book. We get to the "I Love Yous" and it feels like they have spent all of two days together, including exactly ZERO actual "dates". There was plenty of chemistry, but not a lot of actual face-time. It made the obstacles they face in their new relationship overwhelm their actual connection, since that connection was so brief.
This book had some really good points and a great premise, but ultimately fell a bit flat on the actual relationship part of the story.
RATING: 3 1/2 STARS
STEAM LEVEL: Rated PG
TRIGGERS: Cheating, fraudulent marriage, one night stand resulting in pregnancy, LOTS of lying, overly critical parent
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great Friends to Lovers romance that was recommended to me by and Instagram friend. Even though this book (and cover) seems sportsy, it's not OVERLY sportsy. It's more about friends, romantic expectations, facing self doubt, women's self esteem, family obligations, and what's truly important in life. All of these topics are woven into a sweet and steamy book that will have you laughing, tearing up, and cheering this couple on.
I identified with the female lead on so many levels. Putting myself in the funny, supporting, role because of self doubt and body issues. Telling myself that those body issues were me being realistic, and not me short changing myself. And finally finding my own worth, both physically and with everything deeper than the physical.
My only issue with this book was that female lead starts the book out as a virgin. She wants to shed her virginity before her 30th birthday. I'm totally down with that. The issue I had was her language regarding sex. She constantly refers to sex as "THE Sex", calls her virginity her "Maiden Tag" and refers to her breasts as "Taters". Maybe I'm just a grumpy mom of teenage girls nearing the age of their own sexuality, but her attitude and vocabulary about sex didn't come off as funny or quirky to me, just immature and an indication that she is not READY to actually have sex. It really bugged me. If you can't look a potential partner in the eye and say "I want to have sex" without giggling or calling it "THE sex" then you might not be emotionally ready for that step.
Although I found that really irksome, this book is still a GREAT read and well worth a read. It is fun, funny, and meaningful. And, maybe most importantly, steamy as hell.
I identified with the female lead on so many levels. Putting myself in the funny, supporting, role because of self doubt and body issues. Telling myself that those body issues were me being realistic, and not me short changing myself. And finally finding my own worth, both physically and with everything deeper than the physical.
My only issue with this book was that female lead starts the book out as a virgin. She wants to shed her virginity before her 30th birthday. I'm totally down with that. The issue I had was her language regarding sex. She constantly refers to sex as "THE Sex", calls her virginity her "Maiden Tag" and refers to her breasts as "Taters". Maybe I'm just a grumpy mom of teenage girls nearing the age of their own sexuality, but her attitude and vocabulary about sex didn't come off as funny or quirky to me, just immature and an indication that she is not READY to actually have sex. It really bugged me. If you can't look a potential partner in the eye and say "I want to have sex" without giggling or calling it "THE sex" then you might not be emotionally ready for that step.
Although I found that really irksome, this book is still a GREAT read and well worth a read. It is fun, funny, and meaningful. And, maybe most importantly, steamy as hell.
This is my favorite book in Staci Hart's Red Lipstick Coalition series! Maybe it's the Swing dancing. It just GETS TO ME.
Sam is a player with women and he knows that shy Val in the orchestra has a crush on him. SIDE NOTE: I cannot tell you how much I LOVE that our female lead plays trumpet. It's perfect.
Sam is smooth and so dreamy. Soon he has taken Val and her friends into the world of Swing dancing and...*swoon*...the way that Staci Hart describes Sam's stand-up bass playing and the dancing is just hot.
First, I loved the representation. Sam is first generation American whose parents are Lebanese immigrants. Val's grandparents are from Spain. Both of these characters' heritage played an important part of thus story and I loved that.
I really loved that Val is socially awkward and self conscious about her curvy body, but the time spent swing dancing (and with Sam) slowly diminishes those fears. And the sheer JOY that swing dancing exudes takes over.
Beside a beautiful love story and i sanely steamy scenes, PLAYER also has fantastic female friendships and meaningful family ties.
There were many laugh-out-loud moments and just as many contented sighs. This is a sweet, swoony, love story with a perfectly perfect HEA.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated NC-17
TRIGGERS: fat shaming (challenged), past adolescent/teen bullying, MC over-sexualized in youth.
Sam is a player with women and he knows that shy Val in the orchestra has a crush on him. SIDE NOTE: I cannot tell you how much I LOVE that our female lead plays trumpet. It's perfect.
Sam is smooth and so dreamy. Soon he has taken Val and her friends into the world of Swing dancing and...*swoon*...the way that Staci Hart describes Sam's stand-up bass playing and the dancing is just hot.
First, I loved the representation. Sam is first generation American whose parents are Lebanese immigrants. Val's grandparents are from Spain. Both of these characters' heritage played an important part of thus story and I loved that.
I really loved that Val is socially awkward and self conscious about her curvy body, but the time spent swing dancing (and with Sam) slowly diminishes those fears. And the sheer JOY that swing dancing exudes takes over.
Beside a beautiful love story and i sanely steamy scenes, PLAYER also has fantastic female friendships and meaningful family ties.
There were many laugh-out-loud moments and just as many contented sighs. This is a sweet, swoony, love story with a perfectly perfect HEA.
RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated NC-17
TRIGGERS: fat shaming (challenged), past adolescent/teen bullying, MC over-sexualized in youth.
Zoe's childhood best friend and crush is back in the UK after 20 years (and one failed marriage) away. Now that Simon is in London for good can they finally move from childhood pals to something more? Zoe navigates this new relationship while trying to save the struggling Music Magazine she is the Editor of, landing the career-saving interview she needs, and dealing with an immature boy band and their quick-to-anger Publicist.
This book has a lot of potential. I loved the glimpses into the youth and long friendship of Zoe and Simon. They were so sweet!
Sadly, despite that sweetness, I had a very hard time becoming invested in these characters. I found this book extremely slow moving so I had a hard time engaging with either the characters or the story. There was a lack of chemistry between any of the characters. It felt like strangers, interacting with each other in shared space.
Sadly, this one wasn't for me. It wasn't terrible, just an okay read.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
RATING: 3 stars
STREAM LEVEL: Rated G
TRIGGERS: Cheating ex
This book has a lot of potential. I loved the glimpses into the youth and long friendship of Zoe and Simon. They were so sweet!
Sadly, despite that sweetness, I had a very hard time becoming invested in these characters. I found this book extremely slow moving so I had a hard time engaging with either the characters or the story. There was a lack of chemistry between any of the characters. It felt like strangers, interacting with each other in shared space.
Sadly, this one wasn't for me. It wasn't terrible, just an okay read.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
RATING: 3 stars
STREAM LEVEL: Rated G
TRIGGERS: Cheating ex
First things first: it's important that you know that SWOONY BILLIONAIRE is a special edition book that includes 2 previously published titles and a new, never-before-published title.
So, I'm gunna rate this by title and then as a whole.
TAPPING THE BILLIONAIRE
Pubbed: April 2016
Length: Full length
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TAPPING HER
Pubbed: June 2016
Length: Novella
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BE MY BILLIONAIRE VALENTINE
Pubbed: Jan 2021
Length: Full length
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: I liked this novella okay, but it wasn't my favorite and I found it fairly predictable. It had some funny parts and the marriage between Georgie and Kline is super sweet. But this novella didn't add a tone to the previous stories. It was more of a fun, quick, side note.
So, I'm gunna rate this by title and then as a whole.
TAPPING THE BILLIONAIRE
Pubbed: April 2016
Length: Full length
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TAPPING HER
Pubbed: June 2016
Length: Novella
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BE MY BILLIONAIRE VALENTINE
Pubbed: Jan 2021
Length: Full length
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: I liked this novella okay, but it wasn't my favorite and I found it fairly predictable. It had some funny parts and the marriage between Georgie and Kline is super sweet. But this novella didn't add a tone to the previous stories. It was more of a fun, quick, side note.